Giving tylenol to a family member.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

So I just got home from work and I had a frustrating incident. A family member asked if I had some tylenol for her. She had a headache and her husband was very sick and it was 2am. I told her I probably had some in my purse. When I mentioned it to one of the older RNs she said it was outside of my scope of practice because I was then "prescribing"??? It was my own personal supply of tylenol, its an over the counter medication, it was an adult who had a headache, I had already clocked out and was getting ready to leave. I gave it to her despite this other RN telling me I could lose my license. Was I wrong? I live in the state of Texas, I've read my NPA and I intepret it much differently than she did. Thoughts? Advice?

kesr

162 Posts

I would have done the same thing.

LOL...well this could apply to even apply a band-aid to a small cut. LOL...:lol2:

Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

Your position sounds right to me. I mean, how is you giving her Tylenol any different than her going up to any other random stranger and getting a Tylenol from them? It would have been one thing if she was a patient under your charge, but she wasn't. For all intents and purposes she was just a random stranger. Tylenol also isn't a controlled substance. It's not like she was asking for Hydrocodone or some other narcotic.

Sun0408, ASN, RN

1,761 Posts

Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

I think the other nurse is correct.. I will keep a watch on this post to see what others' say.. Yes, even if it is OTC we can not offer or suggest a medication.. I would not chance it. It can be considered prescribing and that is outside our scope of practice.

Zookeeper3

1,361 Posts

Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Well, if you want to be technical, our hospital has a policy about what to do to administer meds to family members. Usually involves them in crisis needing ativan, valium that type of thing. I don't know what or how much your own hospital policy will cover and that is what you technically should go by.

I could go crazy here... is there kidney/liver disease..?. how will the tylenol interact with their meds...? you just can't take that chance:eek: And I couldn't argue that train of thought.

Some nurses are comfortable saying... "here are some of my own tylenol, but if anyone asks I never gave it to you, I could loose my job or worse...". Others who are uncomfortable may say "I'm sorry, I'm not allowed, perhaps another family member in the waiting room may have some?"

So because my hospital policy forbids it, I've never even looked at dispensing to family for the BON in my state, but....... leave it at that. :rolleyes:

kayern

240 Posts

Specializes in Medical Surgical & Nursing Manaagement.

i agree with the other posters who stated you were out of your scope.

you just never know what will happen. if the wife had an allergic reations, choked, etc. guess who legally would have been responsible?

years ago i ran a booster club for a high school dance team. a local drug store want to give me a donation of pocket sized tylenol, bandaides, midol to give the girls while traveling with the team. the parents were outraged when i referred them to go pick up the goodies as legally, after checking with my insurance carrier that i would be responsible should something happen.

i realize you wanted to be compassionate and help the wife out........but think twice next time.

SCnurse2010

112 Posts

In the hospital where I work, I would have said "there's a bottle of tylenol a family member left in the drawer" then put my tylenol in there and leave. If someone happened to take a tylenol out of the bottle, so be it. I keep Motrin in my bag and have offerred it to another RN who needed some...somehow that feels different than someone not working there.

morphed

230 Posts

Common sense tells us that what you did was OK and completely normal, however, I think the other nurse is technically right. It sounds so stupid and most people would have done what you did, but I think technically you would be prescribing. Even if you were off the clock.

RN1980

666 Posts

Specializes in icu/er.

with my luck the family member would have had a reaction to the tylenol, stroked out, trached and ended up on a longterm vent. then i would be before the board of nazis and a large civil suit.

Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

the other nurse was right. we are not allowed to give otc meds to family members -- not even tyelenol. it is different from a stranger in the waiting room giving them a tylenol -- even if you're clocked out. you know that woman in your capacity as a nurse and it would be reasonable for her to assume that you giving her a tylenol meant you knew her (and had been listening to her blabbing about her bad liver or whatever) and thought it was ok. if she wanted something for her headache, she could have asked another visitor, gone to the gift shop and purchased her own supply, or just dealt with the headache. you were totally outside your scope of practice and probably outside your hospital's policies as well.

himilayaneyes

493 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

technically, you were out of your scope of practice. however, since it was an oriented adult who asked for the medication, she wasn't your patient, and you were off the clock. i think you'll be okay.

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