Colleague asked me for a Tylenol from my med cart. What to do?

Nurses Relations

Updated:   Published

New grad here. I started working two weeks ago at a SNF, as a med nurse. Today the treatment nurse asked me for a Tylenol. I said, "Sure, for which patient?" She said, "For me, my back is killing me."

I told her I didn't feel comfortable giving her some from the cart. She was shocked and gave me attitude! Later on I told her I felt uncomfortable about the whole exchange over the Tylenol and that as a new nurse, I am terrified of putting my license in jeopardy. She replied, very snottily, "Whatever. Next time I need some I'll know not to come to you."

Should I report her to the DON?

8 hours ago, StillRN said:

But it’s not a narcotic and worrying about whether she should report this other nurse For asking her for a Tylenol, and then linking that to diversion, seems overkill.

When I said above that employers exaggerate and conflate issues, this is the exact thing I was referring to, though. In some places they will plainly tell staff that "diversion" is anything that happens to any medication other than the employer's intended purpose (which is for patient use, administered according to order and policy) and that even if it is an OTC med that is not properly used according to their policy, that would be stealing and still meets their definition of diversion and they will terminate and report to BON.

Employers are free to have these policies. Just the same, word gets around and slowly things just morph. The next thing you know someone who hasn't watched all of this unfold only knows that "anything happening to a medication other than it's original intended purpose is diversion." And we all know we should report diversion.

That's how this gets from point A to point B.

??‍♂️

Plus? Just follow the rules even on simple stuff as much as possible. Less opportunity for the employer to pit people against each other that way. Besides, if someone needs their employer's Tylenol, they should negotiate that with their employer - not put their coworkers who are responsible for the meds in awkward positions. Like it or not, no employee is on solid footing giving away their employer's property, even if it's just OTC meds. If the employer wants to make an issue of that, they will.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 7/27/2019 at 7:17 AM, kbrn2002 said:

Maybe it is a regional thing? It's perfectly accepted around here. Heck, our DON raided tums off the med carts all the time when she was pregnant. We keep ibuprofen on the carts pretty much for staff, it's there and we go through it but there's not a single resident that has an order for it now. Any staff member regardless of department feels free to ask to any of the nurses for an OTC if they want and not a one of us thinks twice about it.

That doesn't necessarily translate to you not having any liability in case of a bad reaction, I am thinking. Just thinking out loud.

A clear-headed adult colleague requests/demands and takes an OTC med from a nurse. It seems to me the nurse incurs some liability by giving that med, even if its is OTC. As we know, those meds are not free of possible side effects.

I have never felt comfortable giving meds to staff, even OTC, even at their request. A lawyer can probably find at least a couple of reasons to blame the nurse for any possible side effects.

Just saying.

Yes, you could set the bottle out for him to take the Tylenol on his own. What if he leaves the bottle out and a patient or visitor takes it? Then who is to blame? Mountain out of a molehill? Not necessarily. Our decisions are not always going to be easy, won't necessarily endear us to everyone. Your colleague is kind of a jerk for putting you in the awkward position of having to deal with his problem, which he could have avoided by carrying his own Tylenol with him.

As a general guideline, therefore, your coworkers should feel free to spend their money to buy their own OTC's rather than expect you to give them the facility's meds or your own personal meds. Don't tell them that, of course, and do not report your colleague.

Just explain that you were very nervous because you are a new nurse and you hope your relationship can be a good one.

Why didn't he take a Tylenol from his own cart? What did he do when you didn't give him any Tylenol? Did he make it through the shift?

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

You are in a damned if you do, damned if you don't position. Look up the policy for using OTC meds for employees.

Reporting them is a sure way to cause trouble for both of you.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental health.

We got into a habit of supplying are own Tylenol for such reasons.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Just now, Stillcrazyafteralltheseyears said:

We got into a habit of supplying are own Tylenol for such reasons.

Yes I actually carry a small medicine chest with me due to having asthma, diabetes and chronic pain. 

Hppygr8ful

 

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Educator, COVID Paperwork Expert (self-taught).

Don’t feel bad about being cautious about giving your co-worker Tylenol! Always better safe than sorry!  As per most of the comments above, it would have probably been OK to give it to him. Next time you see your colleague, explain that you were being cautious - he should understand - and as one previous commenter said, someday you’ll be laughing about it! 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
On 3/25/2019 at 8:50 PM, FromMNtoCA said:

He is my direct supervisor, its a small facility. And I don't know if I should. That's why I'm seeking the advice of more experienced nurses. If shes taking Tylenol, is she taking anything else?

like what?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
5 hours ago, SmilingBluEyes said:

like what?

I'd nab a paracetamol from work. Doesnt mean I'd help myself to the drugs in the locked safe. 

Dear new nursing colleages, just because someone asks you for a paracetamol, or ibuprofen doesnt mean its opening the door to them getting into the really good drugs

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

They're always warning us about how acetaminophen is a gateway drug...

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
11 hours ago, Tenebrae said:

Dear new nursing colleages, just because someone asks you for a paracetamol, or ibuprofen doesnt mean its opening the door to them getting into the really good drugs

Understand that the wonderful culture of nursing in the U.S.  has now allowed employers to characterize your nabbing of paracetamol as not just petty theft but also DIVERSION.

This thread has been unkind to someone who likely has a skewed view of things due to the ridiculous conflating of issues and the brainwashing in which this profession itself is 100% complicit. 

Criticizing a newer RN for not understanding that most nursing behaviors aren't federal crimes worthy of some form of execution is sad--since that's pretty much what everyone has been taught through interactions within this profession itself, in one way or another.

 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dialysis.
2 hours ago, klone said:

They're always warning us about how acetaminophen is a gateway drug...

I just about fell out of my recliner ???

When I still worked LTC,  most meds, acetaminophen included, were in med cards that were assigned to a specific patient for use. No cart stock bottles that were for general use. We were lectured chapter and verse about not using meds that were assigned to a patient, as that it is considered theft if not used for that specific patient. I once gave a CNA 2 acetaminophen for her headache, so that she'd stay and work. Oh, did I mention that there were video cameras everywhere? 2 days later the DON called me in to write me up for giving that young lady the acetaminophen. I told her to take the job and shove it. The write up went away, but I was told that this was resident theft, as well as financial abuse by staff (due to the theft) .

While I believe that giving a coworker Tylenol,  ibuprofen, tums, etc is okay, I know some facilities don't feel that way. I do carry my own of all of the above. Check your facility policy, or ask DoN or other appropriate manager. DON'T start tattling on coworkers for this type of thing. You will find yourself sunk, in the very worst way, especially when you need them most

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
6 hours ago, JKL33 said:

Understand that the wonderful culture of nursing in the U.S.  has now allowed employers to characterize your nabbing of paracetamol as not just petty theft but also DIVERSION.

That is horrifying. we carry cards of it so colleages can access it if need be. Obviously if the colleage was taking home several cards then yes questions would be asked. As problematic as our employers are in terms of employee welfare they realise people get caught short and its far more economically sound to front for 2 paracetamol than to have an employee leave early, paying for a replacement and having to pay sick leave

Quote

This thread has been unkind to someone who likely has a skewed view of things due to the ridiculous conflating of issues and the brainwashing in which this profession itself is 100% complicit. 

Criticizing a newer RN for not understanding that most nursing behaviors aren't federal crimes worthy of some form of execution is sad--since that's pretty much what everyone has been taught through interactions within this profession itself, in one way or another.

I think its important to note as well this website attracts nurses from all over the world who deal with a situation based on the rules and regulations of their culture.  I don't see critique as much as I need people having a frank discussion about something that happens within their work space. In western cultures we have a tendency to label these conversations as critique/bullying when its simply a frank discussion. 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment