What do you do about doctors who don't write scripts for narcotics/sleeping pills etc

[Blackcat99]

We sometimes have doctors who say they are going to send in new scripts right away. The problem is that they say they are going to do it and then they don't. Of course, the resident and the family members are upset because so and so is in pain and the doctor didn't write the scripts. What do you do to get your doctors to write scripts?

[jtmarcy12, BSN, RN]

Sorry, I have no sympathy for doctors who do not properly care for their patients and that includes not giving them pain medication. They can be accused of doing harm. SO ask your nurse manager what should you do about it. If they do nothing I will humbly speak with the doctor myself and let him know he is possible be causing harm to the patient. Sometimes we have to take a bold stand.

[pomegranate]

In Texas surveyors ALWAYS look at pain management of LTC patients and, uh, 10 days is NOT ACCEPTABLE anywhere. ONE day is not acceptable for a patient to not receive their pain meds. You better make sure you are charting your ass off about harassing the doctor to get those meds or you will get in trouble too when they come asking why the meds weren't there, because the doctor sure as hell isn't going to say that they 'forgot', they're gonna say the nurse didn't call. Put it on the 24 hour report, chart every time you call, and you better be calling at least 3x/shift... it sounds like it's time to get your DON/Admin involved and if they don't care...you need to look for another job, because ain't nobody got time for that.