Can't give a friend an aspirin at home?

jadednurse · Aug 30, 2003

That is absurd. If they're an adult, they ask you if you have aspirin, you do, they want it, you give it to them.

Of course as a nurse you'll find yourself asking: Do you have any allergies to aspirin-containing products? Are you taking any blood-thinners (ASA will also thin out the blood)? Do you know ASA can be rough on the GI tract? Etc.

Just be careful when people start asking you to do things like stitch up a nasty laceration on their friend's arm (I had that happen to me recently)!

IowaKaren · Aug 30, 2003

This is news to me, we weren't told anything of this nature in school. An instructor once told me she had a slight headache and I offered her a Tylenol, she didn't say anything to me except, "Thanks but I have some in my office."

RNMBA · Aug 30, 2003

Nursing professors certainly have your best interest at heart but that doesn't mean their instruction is always correct. The final authority on what you can and cannot do while working as a nurse is the state practice laws. Each state has a nurse practice act that defines actions that are allowable (and punishable) in the performance of professional duties.

I would not advise arguing this or any other point with an instructor but you are responsible for your conduct and therefore you must be willing to read and understand your states practice laws. I seriously doubt giving a friend an aspirin will put you in violation of any laws.

essarge · Aug 30, 2003

While you are a student, you are not held liable for your state's nurse practice act. You are working under your instructor's liscense while you are in clinicals and it is their responsibility to make sure that you practice nursing correctly. At home, you are not held responsible for your actions because you are not yet liscensed.

But, that being said, the above poster is absolutely correct, never correct an instructor. That is the fast road to failing....saw it happen several times in my class.

Fbgtexas · Aug 30, 2003

My understanding of this is that you can't suggest it as you are recommending therapy then, and could be viewed as practicing medicine.If they ask you for one (aspirin) and then they take it of their own accord then they self medicated. Pretty dumb huh? Although your friend is never going to complain, and how would any licensing authority ever know you had done this?: :rolleyes:

PennyLane, RN · Aug 30, 2003

I know, of course my friend wouldn't complain to anyone that I had given her an aspirin. But it seems so strange that they expect us just to say--contact your doctor. Can't anyone go into a drugstore and buy ibuprofen if they want?

Of course I could always say you know where the bathroom is, and I have a medicine cabinet. Whatever they do then is their own choice.

When working at a restaurant we weren't allowed to give customers ibuprofen even though we had a first aid kit for employees. That did make sense to me, because the person may have an allergy, etc, and the restaurant could get in a lot of trouble if they're acting as a drug store. But a friend in my house who has indigestion? Come on...

moonshadeau, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, APN, NP, CNS · Aug 31, 2003

I vaguely remember this from nursing school. I think the jist of it was that I could provide tylenol but I couldn't actually physically give them to another person. They had to take it out themselves. Still is a stupid rule...

pokey sn · Aug 31, 2003

The way it was taught to me in class was that the scope of nursing is not to diagnose ailments or prescribe any medications. To do so, would be outside the scope of nursing practice. As a nurse (my sister's a nurse), you constantly have people ask you, what do you think I should take for this...Since she is licensed she could be held (theoretically) for any damage done due to her recommedations.

Your instructor seems like she is asking you to take this concept way too literally in order for you to understand such a simple concept of liability.

That's just my two cents...:)

Brownms46 · Aug 31, 2003

Originally posted by essarge
While you are a student, you are not held liable for your state's nurse practice act. You are working under your instructor's liscense while you are in clinicals and it is their responsibility to make sure that you practice nursing correctly. At home, you are not held responsible for your actions because you are not yet liscensed.

But, that being said, the above poster is absolutely correct, never correct an instructor. That is the fast road to failing....saw it happen several times in my class.

I totally agree with this poster, and you will find if you check the nurse practice, it will tell you the same thing. I have read many state's nurse practice act, and they adddress this. Not saying there isn't one that doesn't allow it, but I highly doubt it. Please always consult your state's nurse practice act. :cool:

PennyLane, RN · Aug 31, 2003

Thanks all! :kiss:

nursing 101 · Sep 6, 2003

Well when I read your post I was shocked...

Well today I got the double dose of shock!... Here comes our teacher with the same theory about nurses giving out meds even something like tylenol... "you are no longer lay people" she said and that "we have to think about the consequences"...

Go figure! :eek:

For some advil??? Give me a break! :eek: