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3. Second, you will write in the times you will give the medication:
4. Third, you use lines on the MAR to indicate when this medication starts
and stops. Since it is starting on the 4
th
, and needs to be given for 14
days, the last day to give it would be the 17
th
:
As you can see, the medication clearly starts on the 4
th
, and is not given
after the 17
th
. Anyone trying to document after the 17
th
would not have a
place to write their initials. This is very important with medications like
creams, lotions, or shampoos, because there is often medication left in the
tube or bottle when the time for giving it is over. With medications like
antibiotics that are given for an ordered number of days, the pharmacy only
dispenses enough medication for that time period, so there are no extra
doses to give. However, all medications ordered for a limited time are
written on the MAR exactly like this, whether there is a supply of the
medication left over or not.
You should pay special attention to limited time orders if you are using
medications out of a stock bottle, and not a client specific supply. If you are
using stock for an order that reads, “Ibuprofen 800mg by mouth every 12
hours for 3 days,” you will not run out of medication – but you must not
give the medication that way for more than 6 doses, or 3 days.
You do not need an order to discontinue a time-limited order. The date to
stop the medication is in the original order.