RE: subq MS in LTC

[Fritz, Donna]

Yes, I've heard of it.  Have also seen it in home care on occasion.  No flushing required!  Very low maintenance.  Tissue tolerance would be based on frequency of injection and concentration of morphine.  Would be concerned if this is done in a person with little subq tissue.

 

Donna Fritz, MN, RN, OCN
Oncology/Pain Clinical Nurse Specialist
Cancer Center
St. Mary-Corwin Medical  Center
719.560-5215
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 2:43 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: subq MS in LTC

Has anyone heard of placing a subq needle and giving morphine by push, capping off the extension tubing and administering it either routinely or prn? This situation came up in a LTC facility where the local pharmacy states that a hospice company is doing that and not using a PCA pump. It sounds great because nurses in LTC don't use a PCA pump very often and they don't feel comfortable with one, whereas just pushing the MS through an indwelling needle saves the resident many sticks. I am interested to see if other nurses around the country have heard of this practice.

 

Thanks,

Diane Jiles, RN-CRNI

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