Giving OTC medications to your aides/coworkers?

[knotizer12]

I'm an LPN in WA state. I passed my NCLEX this January so I am pretty new. I work at a LTC facility and I had a question about how y'all feel about providing OTC meds like Tylenol and Tums to CNAs and other coworkers while on the clock.

The reason I ask is because I have witnessed many nurses at this LTC facility just hand over a few APAP to their aide if (s)he says they have a headache.

Everything I have been taught in school and read defines this as "prescribing without a license".

So I personally would not do it because I worked hard for my license but I posted this question on Facebook (maybe not the best move) and am getting mixed answers.

One of my professors from school, who is a nurse practitioner, simply replied with "no".

One of my fellow nurses at the LTC facility says "OTC is legal but Rx is not."

And one of my old CNA coworkers just used it as a chance to crap all over me as a nurse and said some very insulting things.

What would you say if your aide came up and asked you for APAP or an aspirin? Would you tell them "no" or would you put the bottle on top of the cart so they could get it themselves?

What would you do if they got offended but you refusing and then tried to make the rest of your shift difficult?

Background: I just finished my orientation at this LTC facility and I only work on the weekends as I have another job that is M-F. Because of this , I do not see the aides regularly and so many of them do not know me.

I don't feel comfortable giving out OTC medications to anyone who doesn't have a doctor's order because I do not know what else they are taking or what medical issues they have BUT a also don't want to "rock the boat" and have my CNAs get mad at me because "all the other nurses do it".

CNAs who might be reading this, what do you do when you have a headache at work? Do you have your own supply of OTC meds to take or do you go ask your nurse? Does your nurse give you medication?

What would your reaction be if your nurses did not give you medication?

In my mind, the worst reaction would be for the CNAs to start referring to me as the mean nurse and not wanting to work with me. Or IF they do have to work with me, they are uncooperative.

So how do you guys feel about giving OTC meds to CNAs or other coworkers? How do you deal with someone getting offended and not helping you just because you said "no".

Thanks for the responses and advice!

[Ddestiny, BSN, RN]

I'm a big proponent of giving OTC meds to co-workers. I usually have Aleve and APAP in my purse and have no problem running to my locker to get some. Why? Because I want everyone to be at their best when they're at work, and if they're distracted by their headache or their back pain then they're not going to be at the top of their game. There are many other things that can distract people but this is one way that I can control to make the day better, for myself and everyone in the unit, and it's worth the pennies per tab that I give away.

OP, remember that nursing schools tend to make everyone paranoid. You're not going to lose your license because you gave OTC medication to a friend, family member or co-worker. If you were selling Percocet out of the break room it'd be a different story, but we're talking APAP and Ibuprofen here. It's going to be okay.

[BlueShoes12, BSN, RN]

We keep a bottle of Tylenol, Tums, ibuprofen and Excedrin in the staff room at the unit where I work. I have no issue telling coworkers where it is if they need one (because everyone else always seems to forget it's there).

[T-Bird78]

We keep a supply of Tylenol and Advil just for staff. I'll give 2 if asked simply because I know how to dispense it into the lid instead of the non-clinical staff pouring a handful, getting their two out, and dumping the rest back in the bottle. If in doubt, get the bottle in their reach and tell them to get their own if you don't want any chance of negativity.

[curious nature, ADN, RN]

Jul 5 by Sour Lemon, RN

I have no problem handing out OTC medication to coworkers. It's from my personal supply, though ...never from the facility's.

This is my method, never from the med cart. I don't push anything, just offer if they ask for naproxen sodium or ibuprofen - that's all I have

.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I've never worked where they didn't have OTCs available to the staff for headaches, back pain, indigestion etc. We kept them in the med cart or the (locked) break room and people just helped themselves. Never thought a thing of it.

[NurseBlaq]

I worked on a unit where we had that stuff in a little "OTC pharmacy" in the break room.

I have no problem giving a coworker a Tylenol, ibuprofen, Tums, etc. if they ask for it. Heck I've asked my coworkers if I bum a Tylenol for a HA--from their personal stash of course. On a side note, I never accept one from a person who takes a pill from an unmarked pill bottle and says "trust me, it's a Tylenol."

This is usually the case where I've worked. There's usually a stash of basic OTC meds at the nurse station, locker room, or break room.

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

Since they are an adult, over 18, they can read a label. As long as it is not the patient's stash, why would you deny someone an OTC if they have a headache, pain. It is an OTC. If you go to a CVS do you need a prescription to buy your tylenol or Advil, aspirin, Aleve, etc? No. You can always hand someone the bottle and they can determine their own dosage 1 tylenol versus 2, 2 advil vs 3, 1 aleve versus 2. Some units will have a staff stash. If someone has an allergic reaction, it would be hard to determine that it came from an OTC.

[Vountree]

I think you have a good question. First you are not diagnosing. I will give a cna OTC. My question to them is "are you allergic to ___? . If you dont then Chances are they will either go home because they dont feel good and leave you short handed or have to go to the store to get some. If I need a tylenol for a headache I always go to the other nurse and have her/him pull the medication out for me. I dont pull anything out of my cart for myself. Just feels weird. But if you dont feel right giving them medication then dont do it. Think of it this way. If an employee had a medical emergency while at work. Would you use whatever supplies/tools/meds to stabilize them until EMS got there. Or tell you dont feel right about using supplies ect.

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

Thanks for the replies, all!

What would you do if the aide or coworker starts having a reaction and all the heat came down on you for giving them the medication?

I'm afraid I agree with you. Still, as colleagues we can be compassionate. Some of us here have our own supply and put the bottle on the counter in a safe area or in a drawer. If a staff member chooses to take some, we are fine with it, but it's on them. Nurses cannot prescribe and even though they aren't, technically, they are still working on company time so physically handing a colleague a pill becomes part of Risk Management. That's a tough one some times.

[AprilBTheRN]

My issue is consuming company property without express permission. If there is a specific lockbox, cabinet, or bin with OTC meds meant for staff use, then that isn't wrong because that is something your facility is providing for staff members. You aren't prescribing these meds because you aren't administering them, your co-workers are choosing to consume them privately (remember, when you are not a patient you don't adhere to the same rules a patient does). However, if they are asking you to pull a med from your cart that is meant for patient use, that would definitely be wrong. Even if the cost is insignificant, it's still stealing. I think you're actually putting your job at larger risk by mentioning these things in a Facebook post, talking about specific situations and practices at your facility (especially when you're questioning the safety of those practices) over social media is a big no no.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

if they are requesting something they could run over to CVS and purchase I just give it to them, within reason. They are asking, you aren't suggesting. Personally, Ive never had a problem with it.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

I have no troubles giving tylenol otc. Would rather do that than have to have them leave midshift due to headache or what not

Agree. I'd rather fix em up then send em home!