Ethical issues regarding medications!!!! Need help

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Hello!

I am an Lpn student who was given an ethical assignment and the following scenarios goes like this as follows:

You have taken medication out of the cabinet, opened it and prepared to give it to your pt what would you do if:

1) The pt refused and the meds were either opened and unopened

2) The medication was dropped on the floor?

3) You took the medication home by mistake

4) The Dr. told you to leave the medication @ bedside until later

5) The family member says "I will give later".

Please Help asap!!!!!!!:)

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What are your thoughts on these scenarios?

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What do you think you should say?

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Seems like a pretty straightforward assignment. Just answer what you would do in each case.

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What do you know about the legalities of medication administration in general? That will help you answer these questions. For example, do you need to actually observe the patient swallow the tablet or is it okay to just give it to them and take it for granted that they took the drug. What is the significance of the hours charted for administration (are they charted for a certain time for a reason?) Infection control issues surrounding the administration of medication..

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Also take into account the kind of medication being discussed. A hint: controlled substances (narcotics) can have much more serious consequences if they are not dispensed correctly and you don't observe the patient taking them. If you drop one of these on the floor, you must make certain you have a witness who will document (by computer or by signing a log or some other means) that they saw you waste it properly. Narcs can also become very hazardous to you as a nurse if you should happen to take one home. I'd high-tail it back to the facility and waste it with a witness if this ever happened, but you're better off not letting it happen in the first place.

Keep in mind what the orders say. And document everything correctly.

Let us know how you do.

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