What is the dumbest order you ever read?

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I thought I had seen some AH orders but yesterday took the all time win! I had a 97 year old man admitted from ER with impaction and the order said---- "Give oil retention enema and have pt. hold for one hour." I am LMAO as I am thinking "OK where am I going to find a cork.:roll :chuckle

I've even gone so far as to steal the oxygen hookup from the room . . .
No offense, but not too smart.
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Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

Hi, TiredMD!

Welcome back! I'm sure you've never written any "dumb" orders.:lol2:

ebear

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Hi, TiredMD!

Welcome back! I'm sure you've never written any "dumb" orders.:lol2:

ebear

Of course I have. Everything is a learning process. When I'm writing orders for things I'm not too familiar with, it probably sounds pretty dumb. Even worse is when I've been up for 30hrs or more . . . completely incomprehensible what I was trying to write for in the first place. Fortunately I spend most of my time on the surgical ward, and our nurses are truly excellent at catching my screwups.

Of course, in my defense, I move services every month or two. My home department is Orthopedic Surgery; is anyone suprised I don't know the appropriate way to titrate up tube feeds or write for a stim test?

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

TiredMD,

Why do you change services every couple of months? Are you a resident? Orthopaedic surgery,ay? I've worked ortho. surg. for many moons. (OR nurse)

ebear

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TiredMD,

Why do you change services every couple of months? Are you a resident? Orthopaedic surgery,ay? I've worked ortho. surg. for many moons. (OR nurse)

ebear

Yes. There is no better field.

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IS q2h when awake.

Order was on a 6 month old who was intubated. Gotta love those first year residents.

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Specializes in pediatric ICU, Hospice.
No offense, but not too smart.

I am still hoping it was a joke. What's next take away the call light and cover the code blue light with a shelf?

Talk to the nurse aides but leave the vital necessary equipment in the room.

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Specializes in cardiac ICU.

Had a patient who was comfort care only, and I asked the doc for an order for some morphine in case she needed it to be comfortable. She asked me how to write the order and I told her what I thought was appropriate--the doc was not a native English speaker and I guess she was really tired, but I thought the end result was really cute--

"Morphine 2 mg IVP Q1-2 hr PRN for agitation or recklessness."

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this one wasn't really dumb, but i was kicking myself for leaving my cake mix and easy bake oven at home:

Please get the patient a cupcake. It is her birthday.

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.
Had a patient who was comfort care only, and I asked the doc for an order for some morphine in case she needed it to be comfortable. She asked me how to write the order and I told her what I thought was appropriate--the doc was not a native English speaker and I guess she was really tired, but I thought the end result was really cute--

"Morphine 2 mg IVP Q1-2 hr PRN for agitation or recklessness."

LOL I LOVE it.. hahahahhaa :lol2:

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.
One order stands out:

DC black crap.

The patient was using a coal tar bath solution for psoriasis, and the doctor could not recall the name of it.

"

This one made me laugh out loud. But all are are great!

I know I should be doing something .... but I can't stop reading this thread .... :lol2:

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.
60 mgs tylenol iv q4 prn........

"please check VS q4h"

"please check temp q4h"

"please check BP q4h"

"please check pulse ox and respers q4h"

"please check heart rate q4h"

"please place on continious oximeter"

At least the doctor said please .... :lol2:

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