Hair vs. Chemo
14 years ago
Friday, May 15, 2009
Feeding the habit
A patient with known substance abuse is admitted to the hospital with an infection and of course says they are having some pain. The patient requests Dilaudid for pain and Morphine is prescribed upon admission. Days later the admitting physician writes an order for Dilaudid every 2 hours for pain as requested by the substance abuse patient. Why does this happen? We already know the patient is a drug seeker and we give them what they desire. I don't have any problems with treating her "pain" but why give exactly what she wants? I have struggled with this question for many years and maybe someone can enlighten me on why this is. Is it to keep the patient from bugging the doctor?
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Of course its to keep from bugging the MD. I have only met a few doctors who have the balls to stand up to the patient and say no to drugs (get it...HAHA). We as nurses have to let patients know in a tactful, caring way that even though they are there for pain control secondary to another disease process, we will not continue to perpetuate unhealthy dependancy on narcotics.
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