Any Nurses On This Site?

[poodicat]

When we dispense medication where i work, the management say that we should crouch down to dispense them,as some of us are of a certain age we cant crouch down to see that the medication is at the right amount,they dont provide us with a unit that is self adjusting,so that we can see at eye level and adequate lighting,surely nurses dont do this when they are dispensing,i know they a movable unit,when they are doing their rounds,it really peeves me off the way we have to do this,can any nurse tell me how they dispense medication,this charity that i work for takes everything to the extreme!

[RATTER15]

Poodicat: in my workplace, I usually pick the pill pot up to dispense meds, but equally accurate would be to pour mads onto a 5ml med spoon and then pour it into pot, or use a syringe, do you not have a nearby shelf you could use to pour it at eye level, I prefer to pick up the pill pot, it is more accurate as you can see the lines on the pill pot more clearly.

[rowanwitch]

Like I said if mobility is a problem you or your colleagues need to get DEA involved
Your employer should not be placing staff at risk of accident or injury (includes pain from repetitive manoevres) so if they are making you do something which causes pain or distress they will be in breach of the health and safety at work act. If you contact them via their webiste they may be able to give you some ammo to hit your employer with.

[Mamyalynne]

Well as others have said if they are sat a table at breakfast, then you sit too and that is resolved.

[poodicat]

Thanks guys,but still wouldnt be allowed to pour into a 5ml spoon measures,use pots,or syringes or large pipettes,might contact that site you suggested!

[RATTER15]

Its crazy, I also dispense controlled drugs accurately with this method, its never been a problem, it sounds like they are being way over cautious, I have completed various medication courses covering dispensing and administration, nowhere have they ever suggested that you should dispense by this method, just that the meds are dispensed accurately.

[poodicat]

mamalynnne,must read out to them,but not allowed to dispense when sitting along side,ratter the voice of reason at last,they take it to the extreme,when we drop a pill its a major incident!!

[marie26]

Hi,
This reply may be a little late. However, the NMC Code of Conduct and Standards of Medicines Management (2010) covers most, if not all eventualities of medicine administration, and the local 'protocols' that your employer have added to it, do seem rather extreme. These protocols should be agreed by all professionals before being accepted as a standard in an area of practice.

[poodicat]

Thank you marie, not to late will write that down for the next partnership meeting

[poodicat]

Also marie maybe they have, think not,where is the evidence of this agreement i wonder!

[joko]

can you not just use an upside down box? some sort of level sided wooden box....
very cheap...

[boxtops]

poodi, here is the NMC standards document http://www.nmc-uk.org...ManagementBooklet.pdf

[RATTER15]

Why are they making so much fuss!! if I drop a pill, I bag it, record dose, date,time etc and just take the last pill from MDS blister to allow time to replace it, accidents happen, they need to accept it.

[slimguydave]

I also agree with Bedknobs. Am a registered nurse (learning disabilties) and administer countless tablets and some liquids. It is perfectly safe to hold the medicine pot in front of you, the bottom of it being at eye-level (important). Make sure that the front and back of the bottom of the cup are level with each other: this ensures that the pot is level unless you have double-vision! Hold the pot steady then pour the liquid into the pot, observing the level of the liquid rising up to the line of the required amount. I challenge managers and nurses to disprove this. I hope common sense prevails. Best wishes.

[slimguydave]

Rowanwitch has the most accurate solution but it may not be necessary for Lactulose for example.