I'm curious how you learned meds when you started off as a new RN?
I started med training in a nursing home. We have 98 residents, each resident has about 10 medications or more. The way they are teaching me, is to just give the drug. I don't know anything about them yet Im giving them. I dont feel good- I know my professors would be ashamed of me.
But at the same time, how am I supposed to look up all those drugs when I'm so limited in time? What can I do to make sure I practice safely and complete my meds on time?
Mostly because no matter who prescribed it, drew it up, put it in the cup, or mixed it, if you give it, you're responsible if the pt goes south because of the med. It's a Big Deal.
Wow! I did not know that! What about if an LPN gives out meds (they can do that, right???) Do they have the same liability? Like can a CNA I or II rub prescription cream on a patient's legs? That would be the same liability for them then as well, right? So is it common that a Px error is made and the RN loses a license for a mistake made by the prescribing party? What about all of the older people who are on a bloody buffet of meds? How are you supposed to learn what interacts with everthing else?
As you go on you will see that there are a lot of meds that are common to many pts. Look those up as you go and make note of the important facts about them. As you pass the med if you briefly state a fact about them it will reinforce the info in your memory. Our mgmt wants us to educate our pts. regarding their meds, use, side effects, and on and on...
Specializes in pediatrics, ED, Medical / surgical.
I have been using a PDA since nursing school and now I use my iphone to check any meds i am unfamiliar with - it is a lot easier to look it up in a digital format than to look through a book. there many free apps out there as well as paid apps. you may also have resources on the computer to look these meds up quickly - never give a medication without knowing what it is for - the proper dose and the common side effects, as well as knowing when not to give! the more frequently you do this the more comfortable you will be with the medications you give. I have looked up meds that i have given many times before, and have found errors in the MD order - they make mistakes - and we have to watch for them
If you have a smartphone, download Davis' Drug Guide or a similar book. It takes almost no time to look up drugs, side effects and drug interactions. Or get one of the "pocket guides" out there. Better to be a bit slow at first and learn the meds than make a mistake. You'll get faster as you get familiar with the common medications in your SNF.
If I give a med that was inappropriately prescribed, both the prescriber and I are liable. Know your meds, and question anything you think is wrong or potentially harmful.
We have drug books on our unit, as well as sites on our hospital system that we can use. If I see a drug that I am not familiar with, I can look it up.
RevolutioN2013
185 Posts
Wow! I did not know that! What about if an LPN gives out meds (they can do that, right???) Do they have the same liability? Like can a CNA I or II rub prescription cream on a patient's legs? That would be the same liability for them then as well, right? So is it common that a Px error is made and the RN loses a license for a mistake made by the prescribing party? What about all of the older people who are on a bloody buffet of meds? How are you supposed to learn what interacts with everthing else?