nursing ques.

In LTC does a nurse need a Dr's order to disimpact a resident prn?

When i was an aide in LTC, the nurse had to have Drs.orders.

The orders were written for "if no BM after _____ days"

We have Standing Orders for M.O.M. and Mylanta, but not disimpaction. May depend on facility/M.D.

'Cat'

cougarnurse wrote:We have Standing Orders for M.O.M. and Mylanta, but not disimpaction. May depend on facility/M.D.

'Cat'

Please don't give M.O.M. to a patient on dialysis or with ESRD. They cannot clear the mag from their systems. Thanks. Many PCP's are not aware of that fact nor are orthopods.......

Note I mentioned MD/facility standing orders. Of course, MD would also take into consideration the patient's dx.

'Cat'

PS.....I work LTC; have had only ONE dialysis patient in the 8 + years I have worked there.

cougarnurse wrote:Note I mentioned MD/facility standing orders. Of course, MD would also take into consideration the patient's dx.

'Cat'

PS.....I work LTC; have had only ONE dialysis patient in the 8 + years I have worked there.

Most nurses tend to follow standing orders. Do your's say do not give to dialysis patients.

I know you work long term care. Some LTC's are adding on dialysis units. Rather than transport patient out. ERSD is on the rise.

As I mentioned previously many PCP's don't know about M.O.M. so how would they take the patient's dx into consideration. As I said the orthopods didn't know it when I worked in the hospital. I had to educate them.

I didn't realize you had to have an order for disempaction until a little while ago, but it makes sense since you have to have an order for things like ice packs. This came up recently at the hospital I work at, a dr refused to order it and said it was 'illegal'.

disholicious wrote:I didn't realize you had to have an order for disempaction until a little while ago, but it makes sense since you have to have an order for things like ice packs. This came up recently at the hospital I work at, a dr refused to order it and said it was 'illegal'.

Illegal???? I've never heard that before- that's kind of funny- I WISH it was illegal- because it's one of the nastiest nursing tasks there is........ Thank god I don't have to do it that often in the ER...... :) But in all seriousness, yes, you should have an order before doing digital disimpaction.

When i hear disempaction i think VAGAL NERVE STIMULATION!!! DR.'s order PLEASE!!!!! But an order for ice packs??? Interesting...

i would WANT an order. that's not something i would choose to do.