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?

Maybe you'd be willing to provide your practice act or statute that supports the position that nurse practice acts apply to more than just professional nurse/patient relationships?

I knew I could count on you to deliver.

In my home state of Florida, practicing outside of the scope of your license is a Third Degree Felony, (a state -vs- you action) in conjunction with the inevitable civil action (plaintiff -vs- you).

I believe you said you were from Texas?

Here you go,....

Regulation of Nursing Chapter 301

Texas Nurse Practice Act

Each state in turn has both a statutory chapter and a Nurse Practice Act, within which are the answers to the questions posed in this thread.

A warning to students, new nurses, as well as the experienced but uninitiated.

Ignorantia juris non excusat

(Ignorance of the law is no excuse)

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Ow my cyber-ears hurt FlyingICURN!! I'm curious. Do you have a background in the law? I mean no harm with the question. But your authoritative style and reference to educating the other nurses here regardless of their specialty or years of experience is unusual. Just as an aside, I don't think HamsterRN is from Texas, but that's only because of another thread responding "based on your username I think I know what state you're from". We can take that as a reminder that anonymnity can never be taken for granted and proceed accordingly.

"based on your username I think I know what state you're from"

I tell you in post #96 what state I am from.

However, it would seem that if you failed to read and comprehend post #96, then you failed to read and comprehend the content provided therein as well.

Specializes in Psych/CD/Medical/Emp Hlth/Staff ED.
I knew I could count on you to deliver.

In my home state of Florida, practicing outside of the scope of your license is a Third Degree Felony, (a state -vs- you action) in conjunction with the inevitable civil action (plaintiff -vs- you).

I believe you said you were from Texas?

Here you go,....

Regulation of Nursing Chapter 301

Texas Nurse Practice Act

Each state in turn has both a statutory chapter and a Nurse Practice Act, within which are the answers to the questions posed in this thread.

A warning to students, new nurses, as well as the experienced but uninitiated.

Ignorantia juris non excusat

(Ignorance of the law is no excuse)

I certainly don't argue that no state allows an RN to practice outside of their scope and I haven't made that argument, nice straw man though.

What I and others have questioned is what is practicing/treating and what is not since that is what defines which laws apply. If the laws that apply to a nurse/patient relationship also apply to our interactions with the general public while off the clock, then why would it be acceptable to not assess or treat a visitor's complaints?

It gets trickier if a visitor says "I have a headache" and you get them a tylenol since an argument could be made for treatment occuring.

No, I'm not from Texas.

Would you give a visitor coffee? soda? food?

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I tell you in post #96 what state I am from.

However, it would seem that if you failed to read and comprehend post #96, then you failed to read and comprehend the content provided therein as well.

Heh. That's even funnier than the posts lecturing people about spelling and grammar that are full of spelling and grammar errors.

It's a post lecturing me about reading comprehension from someone who apparently lacks that ability in a big way. It embarrasses me for your sake to even point this out, but I have not a scintilla of interest in what state you are from. I was referring to what state HamsterRN is from. Because of that incorrect guess on your part that she was from Texas. See how content and response fit together so well?

I tried to avoid a response like that from you with my caveat. Didn't help. So how about this "what makes you think you're the boss of us?" Answer the questions I posed or not. Just don't accuse others of dodging or lacking reading comprehension when your reply to me did both.

Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

This thread has become almost as ridiculous as the fluoridating the water thread . . . almost.

Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

Thread closed for now.

Please people, debate and discuss the issue only, without the mud-slinging and derogatory personal comments.

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