I did a no-no

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Nov 2, 2009

thanks for sharing op. Just last week I was tested when a cna asked me for some kind of medication to help her feel better... After reading this I'm glad I said no.

leslie :-D · Nov 2, 2009

Yes I had a malpractice insurance. No I did not do any false documentation r/t the med. I've compared notes with some nurses in this area. Some say it's nothing they haven't done. Others, including the DON who fired me, say "I've never given out anything more than Tylenol or Ibuprophen." However per my attorney they could receive the same discipline for that.

well, there is a (notable) difference betw giving out tylenol vs phenergan.

i too, have given out acet/ibu to various staff who have asked...

and i'm feeling extremely grateful that no one ratted me out, after reading your experience.

but your atty is 100% correct, in that all other nurses who've dispensed meds, could have been disciplined.

they (myself included) were just never caught.

be very grateful that the bon only slapped your hand.

i really do wish you the very best.

leslie

Schmoo1022 · Nov 2, 2009

Wow..I have also given out Tylenol..I will NEVER again do this. In LTC, the nurses will give OTC cough syrup or tylenol to staff if they request. At my facility any way. I will never ever again. Actually, I had a State surveyer ask me for TUMS.

RNKel, ASN, RN · Nov 2, 2009

I'm still not clear: did you give this person your own phenergan?? As in, "hey I'm not feeling well, do you have any XYZ?" (such as Tylenol, Phenergan, etc) and you spoke up and said, "yeah, I've got some XYZ in my purse, do you want one?" and gave it to them? Or, you took Phenergan from the hospital and gave it to a coworker?

Scrubby · Nov 2, 2009

The whole situation sounds pretty suspicious to me.

This co worker was obviously out to get you and has succeeded in getting you fired. I would never have admitted it to anyone about it either.

Indy, LPN, LVN · Nov 2, 2009

I have to admit this whole question has me a bit muddled. I understand the bit about not taking your own prescription meds, and/or the hospital's meds that belong to patients, and diverting them for other uses, including for a sick coworker. That part's clear.

What I don't understand is how me handing a tylenol, which I purchased, OTC, and have in my purse, constitutes practicing medicine. It's over the counter, i.e., does not require any doctor or pharmacist for a person to take it, unless they happen to be an inpatient somewhere. I do carry what I call my OTC bottle, which has my idea of what I'd need in most any OTC situation in it... a few aspirin, couple of benadryl, ibuprofen, one lone prilosec, a mucinex, and some tylenol. I've had people remark that I could be arrested for shoving all that in a tylenol bottle, something which continues to amaze me since there are no narcotics on my person, ever. Now I hear that not only is my anti-nearly-everything bottle a bad idea in and of itself, I can't share with rational, awake people who probably just ran out of their own OTC's. For the most part my intent is that I like healthy, alert coworkers who aren't all headachy and grumpy. The one coworker I had who requested a mammoth amount of ibuprofen for a bad tooth, wasn't given any because she clearly needed to go home, to the ER, and/or back to the dentist. If it takes a gram of ibuprofen you have a bigger problem than what I can help with.

Please explain. Is it the fact that I have a license at all, that means I don't stop nursing when I'm not at work? Would this extend to members of my family, i.e., I shouldn't give my kids OTC's, etc.? I certainly use my nursing education when making decisions about what to recommend that my husband take or not take, and ditto for my daughter. Actually they aren't recommendations, they are more like commands. :-) And seriously, why is it the board's, or anybody's, business what I do with OTC meds if I'm not selling or prescribing them? It's not like I shove 'em up anyone's bottom... people ask for them.

allnurses Guide · Nov 2, 2009

Wow. Can't give someone a Tylenol? Then you probably can't give them saline nasal spray, cough drops or Blistex. Reductio Ad Absurdum. No, seriously.

Of course it's wrong to dispense a presription drug--- but things sometimes exceed the bounds of common sense. Like suspending a kid for a cake spatula in his classroom. Sigh.

RNperdiem, RN · Nov 2, 2009

Take a Tylenol out of the PYXIS for your headache, and all of a sudden you are "diverting drugs". I always keep my own little supply of asprin in my bag.

Sorry about the situation you are in; I hope things work out for you.

Trauma Columnist · Nov 2, 2009

Lets try to get back to helping the OP: what should she be telling her prospective employers?

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 2, 2009

Lets try to get back to helping the OP: what should she be telling her prospective employers?

I'll give it a try--my response does assume that phenergan is sold OTC where the OP lives (so if the poster is in the US, you need to adjust that). Tweak as needed.

"One of my coworkers said she was feeling sick, and asked if I had anything to help her, so I gave her one of the extra phenergan we have. I had seen other nurses give out other OTC medications to sick coworkers, and I was under the impression that this practice was allowed, provided the medication was not a controlled substance. However, I was fired and my actions were reported to the BON. I did not believe I was doing anything wrong at the time, but I now understand the ramifications of what I did, and I have learned from this experience. I can assure you that in the future, I will never give any medication, even a Tylenol, to a coworker."

tewdles, RN · Nov 2, 2009

The OP should be telling her employers the truth. Unless she had her own stash of phenergan, she diverted facility meds for a co-worker. Even if she did have her own meds...providing your own prescription med for a co-worker - while at work - without a physician order is a serious lapse of judgement. As has been already pointed out, there is a huge difference between providing access to your personal stash of OTC med when asked vs. providing access to prescribed meds, in the absence of a doctor's order, whether they are your meds or not. I certainly hope that no one is ever fooled into handing a state surveyor meds when she c/o a headache. "CVS down the street" is the response they are looking for and the one the should receive. I may offer my friend "Nancy" a tylenol out of my briefcase for her HA, I will decline to do the same for a visitor or family member of a patient. This is a very fine line with OTC meds and we must be diligent in walking it not to step over into prescribing pharmacologic remedies...that is outside of our scope (as has been stated before). There really is no debate about the phenergan, the OP, as she stated did a "no no". I stand corrected if phenergan is an OTC med and she had her own, but it sounds like she used the facility stock.

mom4josh · Nov 2, 2009

I've had people remark that I could be arrested for shoving all that in a tylenol bottle, something which continues to amaze me since there are no narcotics on my person, ever. Now I hear that not only is my anti-nearly-everything bottle a bad idea in and of itself, I can't share with rational, awake people who probably just ran out of their own OTC's.

I, too, carry my own meds with me at all times, even to work. I use a pill container, and have OTC as well as prescription meds, including Darvocet, as it does not impair me in any way. (There are days I am in such severe pain that I need something stronger than ibuprofen.) I have never heard anything about having meds with me, since I have nothing illegally. But this has certainly raised my awareness of keeping my mouth shut, no matter how well you think you know your co-worker.

:no: