Today... there was an internal conflict. Nurses deal with it on common grounds.
What happenes when a patient asks for pain medication (Dilaudid) and knows exactly when they are scheduled (PRN) and claims they have a pain rating of 7 and their face is showing a 4 or less, or when returning from the medication area with the Dilaudid in hand you find the patient sleeping?
Can we accuse of abuse?
Very difficult questions: do we continue giving the medication, or deny them. We have bjective and subjective data but when it somes to pain, isn't it very subjective???
Hard questions. I learned to pick up on signs, and I also learned to pray for them. Waht mroe can one do? Until you see an extreme behavior for example the patient screaming "Give me the medication! I want it!"
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