Being Ordered to Give Whiskey

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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?

I work in an ICU and have seen it given as well. I had a fresh CABG patient come out with orders for beer with dinner and 30ml of brandy HS. The beer was sent up from the kitchen with his dinner tray (who knew we had beer on premises - might need to raid the fridge on my way out!!) and the family brought the brandy and we kept it in the med room, slapped a patient sticker on it and what not. There was no point in detoxing him, he was in his 70's, and had no intention of doing away with his beer or nightcap. Don't blame him either - you've lived that long, enjoy yourself!

On an aside, my mother is a nurse trained in Ireland, and they used to give the patients a pint of Guinness every night, as it contained vitamins. Probably didn't hurt for an easier night for the nurses either!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That's because, beer IS food, duh. Especially dark, craft beer. :yes:

I don't disagree -- what puzzles me is why liquor is considered a different category, a "drug" that is dispensed by pharmacy. Why the different standards?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU, SchoolRN, MICU, PCU/IMU, ED.

A long time ago, before we started our CIWA protocol, we used to give cheap beer with every meal. When I first started doing it, it felt weird but after talking with some of the doctors about it I began to understand - I was new to that hospital and hadn't seen someone in full blown DTs. I'd check your ETOH Withdrawal protocol/policy for clarification.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had an ortho patient (on narcotics and warfarin) who received a glass of wine every evening post op while in the hospital. Lived to tell about.

A healthcare worker by the way, who knew what to ask for.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Did it plenty of times. The beer that came up from pharmacy with meals was cheap and terrible but it kept people out of DTs.

One of my favorite patients was the little 96yo man whose 71yo son would 'sneak' up to the floor with a flask tucked in his jacket and would pour Dad a shot of Jack Daniels every night around 2130. I should've probably gotten an MD order for it but it didn't cross my mind at the time. My thought was a) the man has probably had a shot of Jack every night for 75 years, why stop now?, b) it helped him sleep at night, which beat him trying to crawl out of bed; and c) he's 96, let him have whatever he wants, he has earned the right. Didn't hurt him, apparently, for about three years after that I heard he was still alive and kicking.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

The more experienced nurses at my hospital talk about how they used to give wine and beer. The only time it came up for me was with a patient who wasn't an alcoholic but just wanted a beer. He'd been so sick for so long and was finally doing better and all he was dreaming of was a Corona during the World Cup games. My clin spec tried to talk his oncologist into letting him have one but it was a no go, so I cut out a picture of a six-pack and put it on his wall.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
The more experienced nurses at my hospital talk about how they used to give wine and beer. The only time it came up for me was with a patient who wasn't an alcoholic but just wanted a beer. He'd been so sick for so long and was finally doing better and all he was dreaming of was a Corona during the World Cup games. My clin spec tried to talk his oncologist into letting him have one but it was a no go, so I cut out a picture of a six-pack and put it on his wall.

Thats so sad. Why the heck not?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't disagree -- what puzzles me is why liquor is considered a different category, a "drug" that is dispensed by pharmacy. Why the different standards?

different concentration. some states have a "beer and wine" selling lic, that does not include "hard" liquor.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The more experienced nurses at my hospital talk about how they used to give wine and beer. The only time it came up for me was with a patient who wasn't an alcoholic but just wanted a beer. He'd been so sick for so long and was finally doing better and all he was dreaming of was a Corona during the World Cup games. My clin spec tried to talk his oncologist into letting him have one but it was a no go, so I cut out a picture of a six-pack and put it on his wall.

I think that's just downright mean. Like one beer is going to make or break him.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric & Adult Oncology.

This thread was so interesting. Thanks for posting the topic - I had never heard of dispensing alcohol as a med before. Would have been helpful with some of our post surgical patients before dts.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Over the years I have given wine, beer and other adult beverages to patients when working as an RN. I remember it was dispensed via the pharmacy and locked away as a controlled substance. When I asked why it was locked away I was told we had some staff under the age of 21 and they were required to do so. The bottom line the patient is not in the hospital as a prisoner and he can ask his provider to include his typical beverage of choice and if there are no contraindications it should be just fine. They are not serving to get the patient drunk.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

If you dont give him the whisky....well have fun managing his ETOH withdrawl. Some people when they are admitted...there is no point in letting them go through withdrawl. Say the come in with appendicitis. They will be admitted for a day or 2. They have zero intention of quitting drinking. You dont give them alcohol, they will go through withdrawl/ DT's. Which will keep them hospitalized for likely a week or more, put them at risk of seizure, needing intubation due to heavy doses of ativan. LEtting someone go through withdrawl when they dont want to or need to is dangerous and scary. I honestly think we should be letting more people have their booze (not to intoxication but to prevent withdrawl). If they dont want help, they dont want it. Its a waste of time and resources to do it. So you should have discussed the reasoning more with the doc so you would understand the rationale. Sure it could have interactions with medications....but likely nothing major. If your worried have pharmacy figure out if there is anything dangerous to really watch for. Keep a closer eye on his mentation with the narcotics and alcohol combo. He may not need as much narcotic. So yes it is part of your duty to "medicate" him with his shot of whisky. I often see 1-2 shots tid with meals. Its not common to see, but its certainly not wrong or unethical.

Other times you may see it is on palliative patients. Who are we to deny them a beer or glass of wine if thats what they want?

Our pharmacy will send up the dose of alcohol when it needed. Its scanned into the computer like any other drug.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment