Would you hold Metformin fot a BS level of 149

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I personally wouldn't. Then again, I am a new nurse. We all know that normal BS levels are 60-100. So, the paitent was hyperglycemic. My supervisor told me to hold the Metformin for this BS reading " in tand put "held due to low BS reading of 149" in the pts chart. Is she full of it? Trying to sabbotage me?

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

I agree that some education is in order on your unit, specifically for diabetes treatments and how they work. However, I humbly suggest that you be a little less stand-offish about it. Hopefully you have a bit (a lot?) more tact when having interactions with your co-workers and your boss.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma ICU, CVICU.

If you disagreed you should have called the provider for clarification. I would be willing to bet the provider would have told you to give the medication.

I would have given it, no questions asked and reviewed symptoms of hypoglycemia with the patient.

Even though you are new, don't let yourself be bullied. Be confident in what you know you know! You were smart to question her recommendation.

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I agree that some education is in order on your unit, specifically for diabetes treatments and how they work. However, I humbly suggest that you be a little less stand-offish about it. Hopefully you have a bit (a lot?) more tact when having interactions with your co-workers and your boss.

Haha, yeah. I don't work with this group (nurses or pts) often enough to say anything but oh, ok or "really?"

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If you disagreed you should have called the provider for clarification. I would be willing to bet the provider would have told you to give the medication.

I would have given it, no questions asked and reviewed symptoms of hypoglycemia with the patient.

Even though you are new, don't let yourself be bullied. Be confident in what you know you know! You were smart to question her recommendation.

Thanks for the advice. I wouldn't say I'm super confident, but I am more confident than I was when I first wrote this. Learning that I can't lean on other nurses. I went against my gut feeling bc she was my boss and no longer will I do that. Every day I work, it seems like I'm learning something new --even if it's just communication thing;)

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Specializes in dementia/LTC.

I would not hold the metformin. Perhaps if the pt typically runs in the 200-300 range AND was recently put on it or if they were very brittle. In other words if 149 was considered very low for them I would consider holding, especially if they were not going to be eating anytime soon.

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Specializes in Public Health.

Do you have parameters to hold it? No. Just because it's a DM drug, doesn't mean it is drastically affecting BS. I don't understand why a person would hold a drug like that unless there are specific instructions to hold it.

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I wouldn't hold it or even think to hold it. In your particular situation with the sup saying that, I would have called the provider or HO and asked to clarify.

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Do you have parameters to hold it? No. Just because it's a DM drug, doesn't mean it is drastically affecting BS. I don't understand why a person would hold a drug like that unless there are specific instructions to hold it.

I don't either, and I think the nm is very inexperienced and crazy uninformed.--- but, "she has a great personality!!!" And that's why she was promoted. That's the scoop. I was new, realize I have a lot to learn, but I shouldn't have questioned my self on that one. Live and learn.

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Specializes in Oncology.
I wouldn't hold it or even think to hold it. In your particular situation with the sup saying that, I would have called the provider or HO and asked to clarify.

Off topic but what exactly does "HO" stand for? I've see. It before but can't figure it out.

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Critical Care Nursing.
Off topic but what exactly does "HO" stand for? I've see. It before but can't figure it out.

House officer

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