Misinterpretations 1.0--Drugs

Next....this post is all about saying the wrong thing. If you all don't know, I'm a nurse. A "Nauti Nurse" for that matter. (mental note: blog about funny boat names) All "us nurses" love to find humor in our jobs and one of those things is when our patients ask for drugs. There are so many ways that they do it too....

You've got the person that has been on every single narcotic possible and you know damn well that they know damn well exactly what they want and when they can have it. They "just happen" to push the call light when the next available dose is about three minutes away from being available. They set their alarms. They watch the clock. They can be sound asleep and snoring through a tonado and next minute their pain is a 10/10 on the pain scale. It's okay, though. You see, I have a chart and I write notes to doctors. So we know what's up dude....we know!!

Then you have the person that you really want to give something to, but you can't because it would be unethical. Sometimes I think, "Please, just ask for something!!!" Not just pain meds, but sleepers, anxiety meds, suppositiories even....ugh!!!

Then you have my favorite drug requstor....the one that just can't get the pronunciation right. I love those people. My favorite drug is "Dilautin" aka Dilaudid and not to be confused with Dilantin. They are asking for the pain med, not the seizure control drug. Then we have "Avitan" aka Ativan. Narcan for Norco....which is kind of funny if you are a nurse!! I also love giving out "Vicotin" aka Vicodin. Ampeen for Ambien....I have no idea where that one came from!!

http://www.ismp.org/tools/confuseddrugnames.pdf

Well....apparently this is a very common thing and the Institute for Safe Medical Practice actually has a list of drugs and what they are confused for. I have to laugh at some of the things on the list....of course I went straight to Viagra....common mistak is Allegra???  Roxinol for Roxicet...which reminds me of Roxette.....