when you stay in a hospital is it normal for the nurse to give less pain killers then doctor prescribes?

Answer 1

I've been a "regular" in hospitals over the past 5 years, and I really like to keep on top of things with my doctor (ex. amount of painkillers or other meds that I need). Nurses are prone to error, and there are some I think that I just wouldn't trust. I recently fractured my knee and was in for 2 months. There were a couple of nurses that I wasn't crazy about. They acted like they had more authority than they really did. Stay informed on what you are being given, and if you suspect or know that a nurse is not administering your drugs properly, speak up.

The only reason why a nurse might be right in giving you less, is if the doctor wants you to be weaned off the drug (ex. morphine, change from a shot to a pill which takes longer to work, but is less addictive). Mind you, I've seen the opposite happen too (giving more drugs) as it happened to me. My mother became aware of it and had to speak up for me.

It's important to have someone designated as having "power of health" if you are in a vulnerable state.

Answer 2

It depends on how the orders read. If the pain meds are PRN aka as needed then YOU have to ask for them before the nurse will bring them. If the doctor has them scheduled say 3 times a day or every 4 hours then the nurse must bring them to you. The doc may have one or two tablets ordered every 4 hours around the clock or PRN. If that is the case the nurse will bring you one or two tablets based on how you rate your pain on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the worst pain you have ever had in your entire life and 1 being almost no pain. Based on all of this information if you post more about this situation like how the meds were ordered and how often you really got them etc more help can be provided.

Answer 3

Yes and no. Sometimes the docs order ranges of meds and the nurse can administer within that range. Also, if the patients vital signs are not what expected, she can withold the meds until talking to the doc, and sometimes obtain orders for a less amount of meds.
To the nurse who 'worked with nurses' on a power trip---where you an RN? Where did you work? I sure hope you repoted those nurses or you are liable too. You are not talking like an RN, that's why I ask.
There are patients bill of rights, one right is to have pain managed. If patients think their pain isn't being managed, they should ask to speak to their doc. Nurses, in general, are not going to do anything to jeoporadize patients health, and that includes pain management! I've been one for 30 years, have never seen a nurse knowingly with hold meds without a good reason!!!

Answer 4

Sometimes a doctor writes an order for PRN pain medication, meaning as needed. Your doctor may have said to you they will give you pain medication every 4 hours but the actual order is written as (Medication) every 4-6 hours as needed for pain. The nurse just doesn't ask if you want or need pain medication and you end up getting every 6 hours. If this is happening to you or to prevent it it the future talk to your doctor. It isn't necessarily a conscious decision by by the nurse but sometimes it happens.
As another responder suggested yes there are nurses on power trips and somehow think you should tough it out or your drug seeking. Certainly talk to your doctor, nurse manager or hospital administration if this happens to you.

Answer 5

Usually pain medication is ordered for the maximum amount of pain killer that would be needed. It is hard for the doctors to know how each individual feels pain. Some people feel it a lot and some a little. Nurses here (Ontario) have a lot of leeway as to pain killers. If your loved one is in pain tell the nurse.

Answer 6

each and every so often they do, as melancholy could have actual manifestations like issues, sore muscle groups, etc. yet this is often taken care of with an aspirin, so it is not something that they could prescribe. whilst psychiatrists do prescribe soreness killers, it incredibly is generally a soreness killer-antidepressant mixture pill that mixes the affected person's prevalent SSRI or SNRI medicine with an analgesic. If a affected person does not have actual indications of melancholy that warrant taking painkillers (and that's the case for a lot of human beings) then a prevalent actual soreness reliever won't do something to assist the affected person. they are under emotional and psychological duress, and desire drugs specific to that situation set.

Answer 7

Usually when you are staying in the hospital although the doctor give med orders the nurses give them to u as needed to ur pain management. assuming that they have to follow regulations and standards. also they want to make sure ur arent addicted and want to give it to you just when u need to most. at least thats what my mom said she was told to do as a nurse... hope it works out!

Answer 8

The nurses job is to carry out the doctors orders, an the only way she could reduce the med is with another doctor order. The nurse doesn't call the shots she is only there to administer the care the patient needs and care involves the doctors orders.

Answer 9

Nurses usually asess you for themselves before giving pain medication. With the addiction rate so high they want to make sure you are truly in pain before giving you medication. If you feel they are making unjust decisions ask to speak to the charge nurse if that gets you nowhere complaign to your doctor. Some nurses act higher than God and are determined no one gets pain meds and you must complaign to your doctor. That will let both him and the staff know you are truly in pain.

Answer 10

The doctor usually writes 2 prescriptions, 1 for maintenance and 1 for if you need additional pain relief.

Ex: you may be ibuprofen every 4 hours for the pain, but if you complain you may also get percoset.