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Mouth checks

By Susan Chulyk posted 11-22-2010 09:42 AM

  
As a practice I check everyone's mouth. I let the patients know I am an old timer & it makes me feels better to check. They are usually okay with that. For those tricky patients, I keep them on supervision for cheeking for about 1/2 hour after they take their meds. They need to sit with staff. I explain why to the patients and staff. I have even done mouth sweeps which of course my least favorite & last effort to make. It is not all fool proof, but I have less incidents then someone who isn't up front about assuring that they will check for cheeking. When I do checks I really check, not just an "open your mouth," I really look, "tongue up tongue down". I check the paper pill cups too. I document that pt is cheeking, pass it on in report & encourage peers to really check on so & so.
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11-29-2010 09:18 PM

Good for you! With you on the watch we can really take your initials on the MAR confidently. I think we need more orally disintegrating products. Before they make another antipsychotic wouln't it be great if every big pharm company concentrate on an oral disintegrating version of their medicine. It would be a time saver - and provide time well spent in other interpersonal areas.
Regards
Another old timer
Edmund Bouley RN