Administering Tylenol to a friend

Published

Hi everyone, I'm a second semester nursing student and today in class my professor said something interesting I had never considered. We are learning about medication administration currently and her question was: "Your best friend is at your house and complains of a headache. She asks you for some of your Tylenol. Do you give it to her?" Almost everyone said yes that it was ok because it was your friend, not in your job setting, and she was a consenting adult capable of making her own decision to take the medication. Our professor said that was wrong and that you can't give any medication to your friend because you are not a licensed prescriber and you could lose your license if something happened your friend. She also said that same applies to your own children. So what are you supposed to do if your kid is sick and needs cough medication? You're always accountable if something bad were to happen?

APAP is worse on the liver than ibuprofen ;)

Ibuprofen is bad on the kidneys. SO don't give that out either unless your friend with a headache likes dialysis.

Vit. C and lavender oil?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The smell of lavender gives me a headache. Ironic LOL.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

Uh, is the prof forgetting that's why its an OTC medicine, and therefore a doctor is not involved, and people should - theoretically - be able to read the label and take an appropriate amount for an appropriately-related condition? (As an aside, how many of you have heard people say things like 'Oh, my headache was really bad, so I took 4 Tylenol' (or Ibuprofen))... drives me crazy).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Uh, is the prof forgetting that's why its an OTC medicine, and therefore a doctor is not involved, and people should - theoretically - be able to read the label and take an appropriate amount for an appropriately-related condition? (As an aside, how many of you have heard people say things like 'Oh, my headache was really bad, so I took 4 Tylenol' (or Ibuprofen))... drives me crazy).

There is a difference between a friend "taking" and a nurse "administering". Where that line is the crux.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
There is a difference between a friend "taking" and a nurse "administering". Where that line is the crux.

Friend: "Hey, do you have any Tylenol?"

Nurse friend, in her own home: "Yeah, it's over there on the counter."

Friend: "Thanks."

There is no fine line there, imo.

In order for a child to take a medicine, it would have to be "administered" by someone capable of understanding the directions, warnings, and implications of all of those. That's not somewhere I'd be willing to go unless it's my own kid. And according to the OP's instructor, I am not allowed to use my own parental judgment to give MY OWN CHILD a medicine. Apparently my role as a nurse invalidates my role as a parent, and I'm supposed to take my own child to the doctor so that they can administer a dose of OTC medicine. I have fewer rights as a parent than joe schmo down the street simply because I have a nursing license.

That's complete bunk.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Friend: "Hey, do you have any Tylenol?"

Nurse friend, in her own home: "Yeah, it's over there on the counter."

Friend: "Thanks."

There is no fine line there, imo.

There is no problem with that scenario as described above, it's pretty clear. Where is gets murky is this scenario:

Friend: "Hey, I have a headache"

Nurse friend, in his own home: "I'll go get you something for it" and comes back with APAP and gives it to friend.

Friend then has some sort of damages and wants to sue previous nursing friend for "administering".

In order for a child to take a medicine, it would have to be "administered" by someone capable of understanding the directions, warnings, and implications of all of those. That's not somewhere I'd be willing to go unless it's my own kid. And according to the OP's instructor, I am not allowed to use my own parental judgment to give MY OWN CHILD a medicine. Apparently my role as a nurse invalidates my role as a parent, and I'm supposed to take my own child to the doctor so that they can administer a dose of OTC medicine. I have fewer rights as a parent than joe schmo down the street simply because I have a nursing license.

That's complete bunk.

That's totally different, assuming you are the legal guardian of your child.

What if it's was a neighbor's kid?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
There is no problem with that scenario as described above, it's pretty clear. Where is gets murky is this scenario:

Friend: "Hey, I have a headache"

Nurse friend, in his own home: "I'll go get you something for it" and comes back with APAP and gives it to friend.

Friend then has some sort of damages and wants to sue previous nursing friend for "administering".

That's totally different, assuming you are the legal guardian of your child.

What if it's was a neighbor's kid?

Who do you people hang out with?!

Geez, with the lawsuits already!

Neighbor's kid- send them home.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What if it's was a neighbor's kid?

Not sure why you'd ask that since I addressed it explicitly.

In order for a child to take a medicine, it would have to be "administered" by someone capable of understanding the directions, warnings, and implications of all of those. That's not somewhere I'd be willing to go unless it's my own kid.
The OP's post states her instructor has said she administers OTC medicine to her own child at peril of losing her license.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Not sure why you'd ask that since I addressed it explicitly.

The OP's post states her instructor has said she administers OTC medicine to her own child at peril of losing her license.

Maybe I just missed it? Happens sometimes.

Maybe the OP's instructor isn't the legal guardian of his/her kids? Though theoretically it's the same issue if the kid for some reason wanted to sue his/her parents for damages sustained from the administered med.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Maybe I just missed it? Happens sometimes.

Maybe the OP's instructor isn't the legal guardian of his/her kids? Though theoretically it's the same issue if the kid for some reason wanted to sue his/her parents for damages sustained from the administered med.

ARRRRRRRRGGGHHHHH!

Maybe not only NOT the legal guardian, but the kid is walking around with undiagnosed cirrhosis, someone switched out the water for straight vodka and the kid also suddenly developed a huge instantaneous Tylenol allergy!

ETA: And yes, I am keeping "suddenly" and "instantaneous" :cheeky:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would have thought Nurses would find more interesting / educational subjects than what is basic common sense.

Try asking what is the significance of the Observation charts we are taking hour after hour, day after day . What /when Is the Nurse expected to ring "alarm bells " or

To what level of skill is an RN expected to have , Medically, to deliver the healthcare the training and certificates they hold warrants.

We all know Nurses don't make final diagnosis , but are an important link in the chain to those qualified to do so.

or suggest a way the paperwork of the modern day can be reduced so RN's can be RN's again and not book keepers.

or , why in some areas, drugs have to be counted , witnessed on every change of shift .

or , are Nurses becoming more risky drug addicts than the people they are providing care to.

By the way .. Rare yr kids right and they won't need much medicating . If I read the word Tylenol again I"m gonna SCREAM.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.
I would have thought Nurses would find more interesting / educational subjects than what is basic common sense.

Try asking what is the significance of the Observation charts we are taking hour after hour, day after day . What /when Is the Nurse expected to ring "alarm bells " or

To what level of skill is an RN expected to have , Medically, to deliver the healthcare the training and certificates they hold warrants.

We all know Nurses don't make final diagnosis , but are an important link in the chain to those qualified to do so.

or suggest a way the paperwork of the modern day can be reduced so RN's can be RN's again and not book keepers.

or , why in some areas, drugs have to be counted , witnessed on every change of shift .

or , are Nurses becoming more risky drug addicts than the people they are providing care to.

By the way .. Rare yr kids right and they won't need much medicating . If I read the word Tylenol again I"m gonna SCREAM.

Meh, so keep looking around, I'm sure you'll find some topics more to your liking.

Yo...Tylenol!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion