Handing out free samples

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I am new in an office, and have been told that we can take free samples as "perks" of the job. This is not only for the staff's use, but also for friends and family. Any advice?

Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

whenever i worked in an office (pedi0 otc things like tylenol and cold medicine samples were ok... but we did not touch the abx or rx meds without doc dosing them; even for ourselves or our children.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

NrsKaren is correct - in most states it is illegal to "dispense" meds without a pharmacy license. You can (and sometimes will) lose your license. This is not a good practice.

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NrsKaren is correct - in most states it is illegal to "dispense" meds without a pharmacy license. You can (and sometimes will) lose your license. This is not a good practice.

Only "some states?!" I believe the despensing of medications is controlled by Federal Regualtion and Law.

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Specializes in NICU.
My mother worked for a GP office and was offered free access to the goody cabinet, a long time ago. She now has a heart murmur for her troubles, thanks to the phen-phen samples. Oh, and no legal recourse like other people who took it, because it wasn't prescribed to her.

I agree that sometimes people go a little crazy when free or "easy" meds are available to them...

My mom worked for a surgeon for 30 years and, while she didn't bring home free samples, she did bring home prescriptions from him for everything under the sun. As a result, my mom has been taking Valium for her "nerves" for 30 years and likely can never stop, and I am allergic to penicillin because she pumped me full of huge adult doses of antibiotics when I was a child, every time I got a (likely viral) cold! :angryfire

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