Hospice Nurse Transporting Patient Medications

[Mazzi]

We have a disscusion at work regarding the Hospice nurse picking up the patients medications (some narcotics). Some feel this goes against Federal Regulation, some State regulations, some that its OK. Does any one know were we can find the information on Transporting Medications? Thanks in advance.

[finn11707]

we return some of patient/family thank you contributions to hospice patients in the form of courier delivery service for people who can't pick up. After hours--after 9pm--the only option is for the in hospital discharge pharmacy, which is open all night, to dispense to a family member who has to come in--all coordinated by the oncall hospice nurse. We cannot hand carry meds per our agency's policy.

In the agency I worked at prior, we dealt with one pharmacy who delivered everything to hospice patients---except after 11pm. Then the hospice nurse met the oncall pharmacist at the pharmacy to pick up and deliver to the patient. Yes there is always a greater risk of drug diversion--real or alleged if the nurse hand carries meds--and perhaps a safety risk too.

[coralynwoodson]

I must say honestly, I have transported medications only when absolutely necessary. I remember transporting morphine to a patient who was elderly and his wife could not drive and had no one to assist them because they family members were out partying and going on. The patient needed the pain medication and the family members were not dependable and as a licensed nurse, I felt that I was responsible for making sure the patient was not in pain for a long time and that I had made every effort affordable to me to alleviate this pain. It's a tough decision, but someone has to do it.

Coralyn Woodson, R.N.