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Only When Needed

Medication Support · Episode 10

Only When Needed

Gloria asks for her pain pill again. Kevin checks the clock, and the order.

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Key takeawayAs-needed medicine: check the orderFor an as-needed medicine, read the order first: what it's for, the dose, and how often it may be given. Check when the last dose was given. Never give it early, and try comfort measures. If the need continues, call the nurse. Write down the reason, the time and whether it helped.

In this scene

Gloria: My knee's aching again. Can I have another pain pill?

Kevin: Last one at four. The order says every six hours, as needed. It's only six.

Kevin: It's too soon for another pill, Gloria. Let's put your leg up and try a warm pack.

Watch the episode to see what happens next.

Questions to think about

  • Gloria asks for her as-needed pill two hours early. You:
  • Before an as-needed dose, check:
  • After an as-needed dose, document:

About this series

For direct support staff who help people with their medicine: the rights of medication, refusals, not pre-pouring, missed doses, medication errors, documenting, side effects, outings, locked storage and counts, and as-needed medicines. Follow your agency's medication policy, your nurse's instructions and your state's rules on who may give medication. See the whole series

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