Meds. off floor taste YUMMY!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

So, just curious as to what everyone else thinks about this. I've seen several nurses drop meds on the floor in front of their patients, pick them up, and give them anyways. Is this common? I asked one nurse about it and she said that it saves the hospital money... but I was taught that's not proper practice. So what do you think about this and what do you do when you drop meds?

~Crystal

Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

No way. I've had patients offer to take it. I let the floor nurses know to expect a med coming up to them, then call pharmacy and let them resend it!

I did this myself in a fast food joint a few weeks ago. I was starving, but took my prenatals, and they made me very nauseous. I had ONE Zofran, opened it up and BOOM! on the ground. I grabbed it, got some drink, went to the bathroom and took that sucker. My only nausea pill, and it costs me how much??? You can be SURE I'm taking it!!! :chuckle

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My home, probably, depending on where it dropped (high traffic area no), the hospital, never.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, Home Health, Oncology.

Absolutely Not!!

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Specializes in L&D.

Remember the 5 second rule. If you get it within 5 seconds its still ok LOL!!!!

But seriously, you can't Ever use a pill thats fallen onto the floor...period.

Now, have I seen it done?

YES!!!

No way. I've had patients offer to take it. I let the floor nurses know to expect a med coming up to them, then call pharmacy and let them resend it!

I did this myself in a fast food joint a few weeks ago. I was starving, but took my prenatals, and they made me very nauseous. I had ONE Zofran, opened it up and BOOM! on the ground. I grabbed it, got some drink, went to the bathroom and took that sucker. My only nausea pill, and it costs me how much??? You can be SURE I'm taking it!!! :chuckle

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

That's sick! If you would not pick it up from the hospital floor and consume it yourself.....neither shouls another living being. :rolleyes:

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Specializes in LDRP.

I've dropped them and had pt's offer to still take them. i'm like, no, no, i'll get you another one.

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When I was in nursing school I saw a nurse drop a suppository on the floor and pick it up and shove it in the pt's butt. Of course he had his back turned to her. I was appalled! She said "honey, your butt is far from sterile". Whatever, thats just gross.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

we waste all pills dropped on floor. Patient not charged and narcs are cosigned as wastage. How can ANYONE give a med that has fallen on a nasty hospital room floor????

If you did that to me or mine, I would be OUTRAGED.

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Im just curious if anyone knows of any literature in regards to using pills that have been dropped.... Maybe something from the CDC or ANA?

Just curious, because many nurses do it, and I would like some type of reference.

Thanks

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

WHY DO THEY?

Anyone who had basic hygiene/Nursing 101 and micro classes would KNOW better. Why would we need a position statement from any agency to know this practice would be risky? Just wondering....

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
WHY DO THEY?

Anyone who had basic hygiene/Nursing 101 and micro classes would KNOW better. Why would we need a position statement from any agency to know this practice would be risky? Just wondering....

Exactly! Respectfully saying....common sense and a little knowlege in micro should be sufficient. Like I said, if YOU wouldn't pick it up from a nasty hospital floor and swallow it yourself of give it to your child (orally, rectally, or whatever)........then don't give it to another human soul :stone

why would anyone sacrifice another's well-being or health for a mere "savings" for the hospital. If anyone makes you or tries to enforce that dropped and dirty pills should be passed out....I am sure they would get themselves in hot, deep water. :uhoh3: (Hello?)

As a pharmacy tech......pills that were chipped, or even flew down the dispensing counter (off the pill counter) had to be placed aside and documented as "waste" by the tech and properly discarded by the pharmacist along with his signature. No one (other than the other techs or pharmacists) would see this, so it could easily be placed back on the dish.....but NO it was nasty. (mind you that the counter was constantly being cleaned with alcohol throughout the day)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

That's nasty. While I have had patients offer to take them, I would NEVER ever do that... hospital floors are too gross! Yuck!!

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