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It drives me crazy how our nurses are pulled
away from med pass just because a family member calls and wants to hear ' she is
doing just fine' everyday or 50 other minor things that could wait til after med
pass but then I see nurses punching pills and medicating residents while at the
same time they are jabbering into a cell phone without once 'really' looking at
her patient then whine that they don't have time to assess their
residents.
Timma
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 7:13
PM
Subject: Medication Errors
Am I getting too old,is it time to retire?I feel I work at a
facility that gives very good care and we have a great reputation in
community.,our beds are always filled with a waiting list.Having said all this
I am seeing an increase in medication errors on our snf unit as I am the PPS
person.As a new grad I remember making only one medication error that blew me
away.I was so upset.I am seeing new nurses not too concerned with their
mistakes and our DON doesn't appear too worried.In the Northeast where I work
we are seeing a growing shortage of nurses esp RNs so we have hired new LPN
grads.They are very nice girls but what are they being taught.I am not trying
to get into a LPN vs.RN issue.Our choice is to either contract with nsg
agencies or hire new nurses and LPNs are who have applied.I know I recently
read somewhere about the growing med errors in acute care also[most acute care
nurses are RNs]I never thought I would hear myself say that maybe med techs
are the answer.Are we asking too much of the nurse giving meds so that they
can't concentrate.I know when I use to do a med pass,I had to pay
attention.I didn't want to be interupted during the pass.We have signs on our
med carts to not disturb.I am very concerned with this trend I am seeing.Does
anyone else have this concern in their
facility?
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