HWK Question (Medication Administration)?

Question

i'm taking a class, medication administration... what is the definition for a "routine or standing order" and a "standing protocol?" thanks.

Answer 1

A routine or standing order is an order set that is put in place by the doctor that gives the health care team a "script" on how to take care of the patient. I'm a cardiovascular ICU nurse. Every time I take care of an open heart patient, I get an order set, or standing orders (these can sometimes be 5-7 pages long). Think if the doctor had to re-write the same orders over and over.......his hand would fall off. Or is he had to write 5-7 pages on every patient! So he wrote orders......meds, diet, oxygen, chest x-rays, labs, etc.......Then we have copies of them in the drawer. When he operates on a heart, we get the orders out and he just signs them.

On the other hand...............

A standing protocol is a specified way that a procedure needs to be completed. When our patients come out, they usually have chest tubes, or tubes that are in their lungs. There is a protocol on how I am to remove those tubes. The protocol tells me when it is ok, how to pre-medicate the patient, how to remove the tube, and how to care for the patient afterwards. Like step by step instructions on a procedure.

Good luck with your class!