Published
HHMM? I'm wondering at both the elementary school and the High school I've been at we do keep some OTC (mainly motrin and triple ABX ointment)... but I don't administer it to anyone - more if a teacher/staff member come in and ask for it they are shown the drawer and medicate themselves. Much like at the last hospital I was at we could stop at the in house pharmacy for OTC for ourselves.
Now I'm wondering if I should continue this practice. Food for thought!
The difference between you as a school nurse and the hospital in house pharmacy is that .... (drum roll) ..... you are not a pharmacist!
In the effort to protect their turf, pharmacists have call this "dispensing" and most state pharmacy acts say that only they, pharmacists, can dispense and nurse practice acts state that a licensed provider must write an order for OTCs. One Occ Health Nurse I know installed a OTC vending machine in the health office for adult employees to buy their own OTCs to get around the law.
Keepstanding, ASN, RN
1,600 Posts
Do any of you keep meds such as Tylenol, Ibuprophen, Pepto Bismol in your clinic for staffers ? I have always wondered if some do, and what are the legalities of this practice ?
Thanks