Being Ordered to Give Whiskey

[purplegal]

So, the another night, we got a new admit. Along with this new person, amongst all the busyness that accompanies new people, was a strange order that made, and still makes, me nervous. Apparently, we are to give him whiskey along with his evening medications. This worries me since alcohol interacts with so many medications. Not to mention that, if we were to need to manage any pain, we would have to give dilaudid, which shouldn't be given with alcohol. It is an order, and he said he legally is able to do so, but it still makes me uncomfortable. It doesn't seem right as part of my nursing duties to be giving patients alcohol.

Has anyone ever heard of this? Am I right to be leery about this order?

[sevensonnets]

It's a whole lot better to give it to them now than to deal with the DTs that will come in a couple of days!

[klone, MSN, RN]

I'm just curious how this is dispensed (does pharmacy send it to the unit? Are they in single-dose vials like Bicitra? Or is it a bottle and you give a certain ml amount in a medicine cup?).

[DeeAngel]

I have given it before and I just treated as I would any other medication.

[Sour Lemon]

I have also seen this as an order.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'm just curious how this is dispensed (does pharmacy send it to the unit? Are they in single-dose vials like Bicitra? Or is it a bottle and you give a certain ml amount in a medicine cup?).

In the nursing home settings where I've worked, the bottles of wine of liquor were kept in the locked medication room. The nurse poured the prescribed amount of alcohol into a 120cc cup and handed it to the patient to enjoy during dinner or bedtime.

[loriangel14, RN]

We just kept the bottles locked in the med room.

[purplegal]

I'm just curious how this is dispensed (does pharmacy send it to the unit? Are they in single-dose vials like Bicitra? Or is it a bottle and you give a certain ml amount in a medicine cup?).

It is a bottle of whisky stored in the patient's refrigerator, and you pour out the correct amount. I would feel better if it did come pre-measured.

[purplegal]

Also, I feel that keeping the alcohol locked up in our medication room, like we do with our narcotics, would better than keeping it in the refrigerator.

[Emergent, RN]

I'll have to talk to my kids. If I end up in the rest home, make sure I get my before dinner glass of wine, or two...

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Also, I feel that keeping the alcohol locked up in our medication room, like we do with our narcotics, would better than keeping it in the refrigerator.

What is the policy on storing alcohol at your facility? It is prudent to keep alcohol locked up on a unit, suggest you speak to your manager about your concerns.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I had a patient on an alcohol drip once. ICU, not nursing home, obviously.

[purplegal]

What is the policy on storing alcohol at your facility? It is prudent to keep alcohol locked up on a unit, suggest you speak to your manager about your concerns.

Since this is the first time I've ever seen alcohol as an order, and, for some reason, thought it was an alcohol-free facility, I've never even looked for any policy regarding alcohol storage or administration. I do agree, however, that it should be stored more properly. Although the patient is basically confined to his bed, I can foresee other issues that may arise if the whiskey is kept in the refrigerator.