Benadryl without an order

Lacie, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2006

Simplyput - NO NO NO!! I had to surrender my license for 4 months and a 2 year suspension for giving mylanta in lieu of maalox!! Maalox was a standard order of the docs and it was 4 am in the morning. The pt refused maalox as he takes mylanta at home. I thought same thing as this was also a Burn ICU. No need to call doc at 4 am over mylanta - WRONG! My new manager had a dig for me and this is exactly how he got me! Again if it isnt written dont do it. Dont write it and expect the doc will sign it in the morning either. This is what I did and bang I was busted big time for something so very simple. It was over 16 years ago but something like this never goes away!

rita359 · Dec 23, 2006

Do not think there would be any policy about giving benadryl as standing order. Benadryl was formerly used for geriatric patients for the sedating side effect as a sleeping med. State agencies and best practice frowns hard on this practice now. Would not give benadryl without a specific order knowing 1. its not right and 2. licensing agencies etc could put you and your institution through the mill over something like that.

CHATSDALE · Dec 23, 2006

if you have a standing order write on order sheet 'PER STANDING ORDER'

i have seen nurses do some dangerous things, both to license and to pt health, so don't go by what the other nurses do

won't help yo if you are all caught in the same net

pickledpepperRN · Dec 23, 2006

I know most of us already know not to give anything to a visitor either.

We lost a hardworking, caring CNA who was our friend because she gave two tylenol to a patients family member.

tatgirl · Dec 23, 2006

No way would I gave a med (otc or otherwise) w/o an order.That's a good way to get into lots of trouble and lose your license. It only takes a minute or two to make the call to the dr. Where I work (LTC) we have standing orders for meds like tylenol, mom, etc. But I have worked with nurses who do give otc w/o orders and these are older nurses who know better. I relieved one who told me she gave mylanta to a pt with heartburn. Later in the shift he asked for more, and I went to the mar and couldnt find the order there, went to the chart, no order there either. So I took 2 minutes and got the order from the doc. I guess she didnt want to take a couple of minutes out of her shift to make a phone call.....

Wendy

LPN

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2006

It's a really bad idea to do this with any med. If the doc wants this done without phone calls, he needs to write a PRN order in the first place. The only circumstance where I have done it was when I was administering blood to a patient and was waiting for the doc to get back to me. The pt was well known to us and had always been pre-medicated. I also knew this doc's practices well and knew it was an oversight on her part. The blood was already on the floor and had to be run slowly because the pt. had CHF. If I had waited for the doc to call back, the pt would not have gotten all of the blood before it expired. I figured to give it in this particular circumstance was better than treating a preventable transfusion reaction in a not-so-stable patient.

suzanne4, RN · Dec 23, 2006

There is always time to get an order..............and Benadryl is not even used for a severe allergic reaction.

Please take the time to consult with a health-care provider before administering any medication, even if it is OTC..............or your license can be at stake, as well as your career.

allantiques4me · Dec 23, 2006

Hi, I am an LPN and I was told that I just need to use common sence when a person needs benadryl and give it even though the person has no order for this. Some of the Nurses where I work have done this, I have refused because I have been taught that no meds are given without an order over the counter or not. I was told by a 3rd party that this is what the house doctor said.
Thanks,
NO COMMON SENSE

You were using common sense and knowledge from school.You are not supposed to give any medication without a Doctors order,even over the counter.It might seem like an easy thing to do,but its not right.As far as the house doctor,Does your facility have standing orders??We have standing orders forPRN meds such as benadryl,motrin,and such.They are doctors orders that we use if We assess the patient and feel they need the med.Is that what you might be referring to(about the house doctor)Do a little research and see if they were refering to standing orders.:uhoh21:

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2006

It's a really bad idea to do this with any med. If the doc wants this done without phone calls he needs to write a PRN order in the first place. The only circumstance where I have done it was when I was administering blood to a patient and was waiting for the doc to get back to me. The pt was well known to us and had always been pre-medicated. I also knew this doc's practices well and knew it was an oversight on her part. The blood was already on the floor and had to be run slowly because the pt. had CHF. If I had waited for the doc to call back, the pt would not have gotten all of the blood before it expired. I figured to give it in this particular circumstance was better than treating a preventable transfusion reaction in a not-so-stable patient.[/quote']
Oh, and you can bet that when the doc called back the order received was PRN with first dose now and not just a one time. But like I said, it was a one time exception. I'm all about covering my butt. It sounds like the other nurses at your facility expect you to distribute meds without orders regularly.

elizabeth321 · Dec 30, 2006

Do not give meds without an order...what is the matter with health care professionals??? I work in an er we do not give drugs without an order...if a patient comes in urgently ill we page a doc to the room and go from there....nothing is that big of an emergency and if it is get a doctor paged stat.

Liz

AfloydRN, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2007

No order- No drug.It's your license and we are not allowed to prescribe.