Doctor's orders

Yesterday I wrote an order for Percoset 5 times. And spent 20 minutes figuring out how to order Colchicine without the nurse being on your case about overmedicating. I am beginning to hate the page that begins with "Hi, are you covering for [insert name]? I have an order for...". It's never good news. Once you start writing the order, the cascade begins. Change the IV infusion rate. We don't carry this formulary/dossage/form. We don't give it at this frequency. Change your dosage. You can't crush the pills. Patient is NPO; order the IV form. You will kill the patient with this dose. This does isn't strong enough.

Writing orders is an art, one which I will not master any time soon, most likely.