Medication policy

[Hazystone]

Hi. I was wondering if there is part of the nurse practice act that states when you are out of a med for a patient, you have to let the pharmacy know, your DON and administrator know? I have read the nurse practice act and the scope of practice....I can't find anything. I was fired because the pharmacy didn't send the med I needed after i contacted them about 6 times. and I was told we weren't allowed to pull meds from the ekit if it was an established prescription. I am so confused...I believe I did everything I could...but still got fired over it. Please help.

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

Was it a narcotic? You have to basically sell your soul to get permission to take a narc from the 'ebox' anymore, you need a written script from the dr., who also has to fax a copy to the pharmacy, then written permission from the pharmacy. This is a reg coming from the federal gov't b/c so many narcs have been stolen from the 'eboxs.' I have seen this really put patients at risk for uncontrolled pain because you are delayed in being able to get them the med. Yes it all falls on the nurse and not the pharmacist and they are punishing the nurse and the patient, not stopping anyone from stealing narcs, IMHO. Your DON is going to have to explain your actions and fill out a mountain of paperwork, so that is probably why you were fired. But CO is a 'right to work' state so you can be fired for anything. I'm really sorry that happened to you, that sucks.

[Hazystone]

It wasn't narcotic, it was Lisinopril. and I was always told we had to order it from the pharmacy. I have worked other facilities where we can order it from Walgreen's or something, with permission from the pharmacy.