Unit Dose Woes

kataraang, BSN · Oct 13, 2016

I have a penlight, hemostat, and scissors in my pocket at all times! It is really the best way to make sure I'm well prepared. :yes:

Meeshie · Oct 13, 2016

I have a penlight, hemostat, and scissors in my pocket at all times! It is really the best way to make sure I'm well prepared.

I'm not so sure I'd be carrying scissors in my pocket in an inpatient psych floor. Some places have protocols against it.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Oct 13, 2016

I always thought that unit dosing was more of a safety issue that anything else. I would think (?) it would be cheaper to send fifty Metoprolol pills in a pill jar than to send fifty unit dose packs.

I do agree, that some of the unit dose packages are difficult to open, but I think they serve a purpose.

kataraang, BSN · Oct 13, 2016

I'm not so sure I'd be carrying scissors in my pocket in an inpatient psych floor. Some places have protocols against it.

Ah I saw geriatric but my brain skipped psychiatry. I mean, I guess it depends on your policy protocol. I've never worked psych, and in my psych clinical it was court ordered patients. So many had very violent tendencies. Obviously there meds were handed out through a glass window.

Sour Lemon · Oct 13, 2016

Is it just me? My favorite is the tiny little scissors shown on a couple of the packages. How cute when I am at the bedside and the nearest scissors are back in the med room.

I've found scissors don't work well on those packages even if you do manage to have scissors around. :bored:

BeckyESRN · Oct 14, 2016

Our pharmacy started packaging pills in the single dose packets and would get really annoyed when we called them because half the time the meds were not in the dang packet! You'd get a string of empty packets and someone, somewhere would have one packet with 5 pills in it.

allnurses Guide · Oct 14, 2016

Ativan breaks easily. We have packages that don't have that nice little pull tab. I have to struggle popping that stupid little pill out of its tight little nesting spot. Then the pill breaks apart and crumbles.

Well, this has caused issues for me in psych. The worst/funniest was the psychotic lady who got super angry when her pill snapped in half! Her eyes bugged out in indescribable anger as she called me a "b", pushed the full water cup I was holding into my chest, and then chased me down the hall :up:

EKUGRAD, BSN, MSN, RN, CNS · Oct 18, 2016

Oh, yeah. Another fun day in Psych. How about the Zyprexa Zydis that dissolves while you are trying to get it out of the package.... The L.O.P.'s (Little Old People) get fixated on "my pills" and they will not take any that are not the exact size, shape and color. Of course, the hospital pharmacy caters to these folks, NOT ! When I worked Prison Psych the inmates frequently had their meds change size, color and even shape for the same generic meds, depending on the current contract; sometimes as often as monthly. That was always fun to explain.

CanadianRN16 · Oct 20, 2016

I find when I try to rush opening the med packs, pills fly everywhere...-_-

Do you have access to the pill crusher pouches? If I have to crush 10+ pills I try to do them in one go with the pouches.

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Oct 20, 2016

EKUGRAD, you read my mind. These blister packs are worse to open than before. Most make you push them through and they break. My wife keeps telling me to clip my nails, but I really need some length to my fingernails to work with these hideous packages. Thanks for validating my belief.

EKUGRAD, BSN, MSN, RN, CNS · Oct 22, 2016

I know it doesn't fit safety protocol but I carry the small Swiss Army knife "Executive" at work, deep in my scrubs pocket. Knife blade and little bitty scissors are a life-saver.