Co-worker hitting up the Dr.s for meds during shift?

annmariern · Sep 4, 2006

]The other day, a new nurse in our dept. (wenursery) came to work sick (elevated temp and sore throat). The charge nurse wouldn't tell her to go home (didn't want to hurt her feelings :rolleyes: ). She said she was going to ask the Dr. to give her a Rx when she made rounds. I thought this was inappropriate, and I told her so. Our unit director came in later in the morning and sent her home.

Am I the only one who feels it is unprofessional to come to work sick and then hit up the docs for an exam and some meds?

depends on the situation and how well you know the doc, if you were having trouble getting an appt for instance or over a holiday, then why not? More concerned that someone with an obvious infection is coming in to work around babies.

emsrn1970 · Sep 4, 2006

This is done quite frequently in the ER call it professional courtesy. Why is it any of your business if she wants to ask the doctor for a script?

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Sep 4, 2006

One my first day on the floor I was told I would be fired on the spot if I asked any Dr for a script.

ktwlpn, LPN · Sep 4, 2006

I have gotten scripts from docs on rounds a few times for routine sinus crap.It's professional courtesy.I don't see a problem with asking a doc you have established some rapport with...There are many I 've worked with for yrs that I would not ask...

rn/writer, RN · Sep 4, 2006

I don't think I'd do it, but the docs are adults. They can say no.

I have a far greater problem with her coming to work sick and exposing patients and other staff to her germs. The charge nurse needed to head that one off at the pass.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Sep 4, 2006

I have before, for a renewal of BC pills. If i were asking for a rx for something like abx., odds are good that i shouldn't even be at work.

CaseManager1947 · Sep 4, 2006

We had a nurse at our hospital who was terminated for doing this. I think years ago, no body thought much about this practice, but it is certainly frowned upon today, and in fact many hospitals and facilities have policies prohibiting this.

neneRN, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2006

Not uncommon in the ER, but we work with the same docs day in and day out and have a good rapport with them.....but there are some who will not do it and that's fine too. Usually its for antibiotics. I've had docs say to me, "why didn't you just come up here and get a script?" when they've heard me talking about myself or one the kids being sick on my day off. Its a professional courtesy, and I've never heard of anyone abusing this by asking for repeated Rx or inappropriate meds like narcs. I think its fine as long as its a once in a while thing that doesn't become overused; the nurses in my ER have enough respect for the docs not to abuse this courtesy.

HappyNurse2005, RN · Sep 4, 2006

Well, I suppose it depends on the doc and the nurse! Some docs I worked with in the unit I just left I wouldn't dream of asking them for an extra pen, much less a RX for amoxicillin. One of the PA's did check out a CNA"s ear once and give her a RX for her ear infection. He was a cool guy like that, though.

Had a internal med doc offer me a RX for a decongestant when i was discussing a patient issue wiht him and obviously sounded stopped up ( i was on the tail end of a cold and no longer even felt badly, just sounded bad)

i personally would never ask, unless i was really comfortable with the doc. I'd never ask one that i just knew casually. (too shy)

HappyNurse2005, RN · Sep 4, 2006

PS-

i dont fault others for asking, unless they continue to do so when asked not to. Or, of course, if against facility policy.

I don't think it should be against facility policy. Shouldn't be a fire-able offense, in my opinion.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Sep 4, 2006

Most of our docs won't write scripts for us anymore. They were told they couldn't. Once in a while we hit them up for a refill until we can get to the docs office for stuff like allergy meds, but they won't give us antibiotics.