Nursing and Prescription Authority

Inspired By Silence · Dec 30, 2009

Here is your 1st thread on dealing with Prescriptive Authority. I think you'll find your answer there:
https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/nurse-independent-prescriber-433508.html

With all due respect, you're mistaken. That thread was meant to clear up confusion regarding a foreign nurse position that has no merit in the United States. The answer the question I'm asking has not been answered there nor here. Let me try again.

Your friend has a headache, rather than suggestinghe take Tylenol, you give him a bottle of Tylenol to take from if he so chooses. You are not diagnosing, nor are you administering medication. You gave your friend a bottle to take from on his own will. You did not suggest he take Tylenol. You did not recommend he take Tylenol. He had a headache, you offered him a bottle of Tylenol. No words were exchanged.

Did you just commit a wrong?

If I'm still not being specific enough, let me know kindly.

JC_Smith2009 · Dec 30, 2009

Such like saying? "I have some tylenol, if you want you can take it". I do not technically see how the rules apply to a situation like that. If it is RX then thats a whole different story. But if they are complaining of sxs and you know in your mind that it could help but you DO NOT say, but are thinking : " This will get rid of your headache, take it".... Then you should be fine in that scenario. There is a clear difference between having something and offering it and then in another words prescribing it to them verbally or diagnosing them. It is up to them to accept it or not. anybody can have x number of otc drugs around the house and it is at their own discretion to take it or not. You are NOT ordering them in no way nor advising them to take that medication. Just simply letting them know its their should they need it. Thats their own free will and choice at that point.+

And its not like you are saying, " oh you have a headache, there is tylenol or ibuprofen in the bathroom, have at it" nor is it saying " your having muscle cramps, well take such and such" thats the difference.

Inspired By Silence · Dec 30, 2009

Such like saying? "I have some tylenol, if you want you can take it". I do not technically see how the rules apply to a situation like that. If it is RX then thats a whole different story. But if they are complaining of sxs and you know in your mind that it could help but you DO NOT say, but are thinking : " This will get rid of your headache, take it".... Then you should be fine in that scenario. There is a clear difference between having something and offering it and then in another words prescribing it to them verbally or diagnosing them. It is up to them to accept it or not. anybody can have x number of otc drugs around the house and it is at their own discretion to take it or not. You are NOT ordering them in no way nor advising them to take that medication. Just simply letting them know its their should they need it. Thats their own free will and choice at that point.+
And its not like you are saying, " oh you have a headache, there is tylenol or ibuprofen in the bathroom, have at it" nor is it saying " your having muscle cramps, well take such and such" thats the difference.

Thank you kindly. It's very much a relief to finally be understood. I appreciate your input.

JC_Smith2009 · Dec 30, 2009

Your welcome, I know this because I was a pharmacy technician for a little while and we must know the boundaries in which to not ever advise patients on what drugs they should take. That is for the pharmacist to do. There is an extremely fine line that must not be crossed when dealing with medications, period. Hope that helped some.