[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

Originally Posted by earle58

although our p&p doesn't cite the method in which we are to dispose, it only states that 2 rn's are required.
over the yrs, we were wasting down the sink/toilet.
but now, contamination is a concern.
now, we're disposing everything in our sharps containers.
we discard solutions in there (not the vials/bottles, only solution);
crush pills then discard into sharps;
and cut up patches into little pieces then discard.

most everyone seems to be satisfied with this method.

leslie

Leslie...

NO WAY!!!

This just came up at a conference...do we want junkies to root thru sharps containers for Oxcontin??? Hep B and HIV, here we come!!

Her in VA, we crush, mix with kitty litter, and double bag.

[earle58]

blue, there's nothing detectable in the sharps.

last yr i had asked about using kitty litter....
the dir gave some unintelligible excuse about a homeless person eating it...
not sure of specifics, but it deterred the facility from using this method.

leslie

[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

Originally Posted by earle58

blue, there's nothing detectable in the sharps.

last yr i had asked about using kitty litter....
the dir gave some unintelligible excuse about a homeless person eating it...
not sure of specifics, but it deterred the facility from using this method.

leslie

Yea, I guess it's different in facilities that have waste removal companies.

This came up in reference to home settings....where sharps in coffee cans and laundry det. bottles go with the general trash. If word got out, there'd be drug seekers in the trash looking for a fix...not healthy.

The cheap kitty litter is pretty inedible.

Guess there is no good answer---so terrible we can't donate to third world missions who could do so much good with them...

[aimeee]

Originally Posted by BlueRidgeHomeRN

so terrible we can't donate to third world missions who could do so much good with them...

That is what bugs the heck out of me. The hospices in Africa have to charge their patients (most of whom have next to nothing) for morphine (if they can even get what they need) and here we are dumping it out right and left. It is SO WRONG.

[MassED]

Originally Posted by Sabby_NC

Hi

The procedure we follow is that any opioid we have had prescribed for the patient while under our care is disposed at the time of death.

We have a family member observe us counting and flushing the opioids then signing the appropriate Med Disposal Form.

Personally I would be very uncomfortable signing over unused opioids to Funeral Home or Coroner's office to dispose of.

For me I wanna see those suckers circling the drain LOL

giving narcotics to anyone that is not the patient is just insane. I can just imagine a funeral home representative saying "I need the narcotics..." what reason could they possibly give that wouldn't make them look like they want their drugs??? To bury them with them?? I have heard that flushing the medications at the residence when pronouncing a patient is common practice.

[czyja]

Originally Posted by aimeee

That is what bugs the heck out of me. The hospices in Africa have to charge their patients (most of whom have next to nothing) for morphine (if they can even get what they need) and here we are dumping it out right and left. It is SO WRONG.

Drives me nuts too. The NY Times did a big piece on pain management in Africa a few months ago - what an eye opener. They reported that a combination of expense and heavy handed narcotics laws make it difficult to get even a Tylenol 3 for a pt with end stage cancer.

If I ruled the world I would pay the poppy farmers in Afganistan top $ for their crop and send the morphine to folks in Africa that need it. The fact that people die in pain when we have a safe and cheap way to make them comfortable makes me want to pull the few remaining hairs on my head out.

[koalalu]

Originally Posted by Sabby_NC

Very true and that is a valid concern... Just wonder how else we could safely destroy opioids where no roaming fingers could help themselves!!

Hi,
Am new to the site and welcome all the great feedbacks I have been reading. I can tell you from my experience that I take a "clean" diaper (and you would be surprised why I say clean..LOL.) and drain the liquid Morphine and Haldol in the diaper to be absorb before throwing out. I also disolve the pills with hot water and also pour them in the diaper. I have had in the past a blow out among a husband and son regarding disposal. The property had a septic tank so the father refused to have things flushed and the son refused to have the liquids poured on the lawn for the animals to eat. I have found this method to be the most efficient and the families are very appreciative.

[earle58]

Originally Posted by koalalu

Hi,
Am new to the site and welcome all the great feedbacks I have been reading. I can tell you from my experience that I take a "clean" diaper (and you would be surprised why I say clean..LOL.) and drain the liquid Morphine and Haldol in the diaper to be absorb before throwing out. I also disolve the pills with hot water and also pour them in the diaper. I have had in the past a blow out among a husband and son regarding disposal. The property had a septic tank so the father refused to have things flushed and the son refused to have the liquids poured on the lawn for the animals to eat. I have found this method to be the most efficient and the families are very appreciative.

that sounds like a wonderful idea!!

leslie

[hospicemom]

great idea!!!!!!!!!!!!

[saribeth]

well get a load of what we do...our manager heard about this at a reginal meeting...plastic zip lock bags with kitty litter...dump the liquids, pills etc and patches (opened and folded in half) and buried deep in the trash with a prayer almost everyone has a zip lock type bag and if I don't have the litter with me I use paper towels to soak it up!!!!!!!