Med passing

BinkieRN, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2008

An RN handed a fellow student (who wasn't allowed to pass meds yet) a little cup of meds for a pt with aspiration precautions. She said "he can swallow these in applesauce" and walked out of the room. Didn't tell us what the meds were or anything.
I was in the same room but with another patient so I expected my classmate to explain we weren't allowed to do that but she forgot I guess and didn't say anything. So the nurse had left and I reminded my classmate not to touch the meds and told her we needed to get the RN back. Before I could get my pt settled and go after the nurse for my classmate, her pts son had given his father his meds. Family members can't do that, right?
I should tell my instructor right? I mean, I had told our RN not two hours earlier the literal 5 things we were qualified to do for patients. And on top of that, doesn't someone with an actual license have to watch the patient swallow his pills?! I don't think the other student will tell her bc she doesn't want to get in trouble but she didn't touch the meds after I told her not to, so she should be fine, right?

I think if anyone tells the instructor it should be the other student, not you. You really don't have a dog in this fight. Stay out of it.

The other student, IMHO, didn't do anything wrong, but should probably report the incident to the nursing instructor so the hospital can be aware of what happened. The primary nurse was the only one who did something wrong.

I have had family members give their loved ones their meds because the patient is used to taking meds from them but I am certainly in the room observing that everything was taken.

mcs1505 · Jun 29, 2008

I think if anyone tells the instructor it should be the other student, not you. You really don't have a dog in this fight. Stay out of it.
The other student, IMHO, didn't do anything wrong, but should probably report the incident to the nursing instructor so the hospital can be aware of what happened. The primary nurse was the only one who did something wrong.
I have had family members give their loved ones their meds because the patient is used to taking meds from them but I am certainly in the room observing that everything was taken.

Thanks, the only reason I was thinking about telling my instructor was because this RN is also the nurse over me and I didn't want a similar incident happening to me. Though I suppose the liklihood of that is small since we'll be passing meds week after next.

Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP · Jun 29, 2008

Hey, just thought I'd write in for you since no one else has yet. Since I don't know anything about your school or what level you're in, I'll just tell you what MY school allowed us to do. When I was in school, after about the first half of the 1st level, we had been checked off to pass PO meds by ourselves. After being checked off in 2nd level, we were allowed to give PO and IM/SQ injections alone, but NEVER IV meds. That was how it stayed after 2nd level. From then on we could give PO and IM/SQ meds alone (after either our instructor or a nurse had looked at them to verify what we were giving and question us if necessary.) We did not need anyone with us after the meds had been verified. Only IV meds required us to have a licensed person physically in the room with us when giving them. That said, I still believe the nurse who gave you the meds should have either given you the MAR or went over them with you first. Giving unfamiliar meds is NOT to be done. However, I wouldn't go to the instructor in an accusatory manner. I would just ask my instructor politely about the situation and what would be the proper course of action next time. As for the family members giving the PO meds, that should be okay as long as it is supervised by you. Some patients will only take their meds if given by family members. As long as the family member doesn't start pouring meds/water down grandma's throat, it should be fine, unless this specific hospital has some sort of policy against it. Mine doesn't. Hope this helps you feel a little more prepared now. Have fun!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2008

Stay out of this and don't be a tattletale and get your fellow student in trouble. The way it should have been handled is when the RN handed the pills to one of you, simply refuse to take them reminding her what you can and cannot do. If that had been done, then you could report this RN without getting your fellow student in any kind of trouble.

Is this a long-term care facility? Some nurses in these facilities are notorious for not following rules and protocols. You don't know that the son doesn't regularly give the medications to his father and that this RN knew that.

mcs1505 · Jun 29, 2008

It's a surgical floor, not LTC.

I didn't mean it as I'd be tattling, I was more or less worried that if this sort of thing continues (it's not the first time this nurse has told us to do things we weren't allowed to do [that was actually the third thing that day between the two of us]) I would eventually get in trouble with someone (her or my instructor). But I see that it is my classmate's responsibility to report it to our instructor or not.

Thanks everyone!

stilltrying · Jul 4, 2008

I think you should mind your own business and just learn from other's mistakes. Because as you can see their are nurses who use poor judgment in all areas not just LTC nurses!:argue:

Melinurse · Jul 4, 2008

I 100% agree with what Daytonite wrote. You don't want to get involved after the fact, unless there was an event directly related to those meds. The most I'd get involved would be to tell the other student to next time refuse to give the meds and state the reason why. :banghead: Saw this a few times when I worked LTC as a CNA and had nurses try to get me to give the med. :eek: They eventually gave up and moved on to asking someone else. Thing is once someone does it, just once, you have a hard time saying no after that. :twocents: Just putting in my 2 cents.

vballmanrn · Jul 5, 2008

It's a surgical floor, not LTC.
I didn't mean it as I'd be tattling, I was more or less worried that if this sort of thing continues (it's not the first time this nurse has told us to do things we weren't allowed to do [that was actually the third thing that day between the two of us]) I would eventually get in trouble with someone (her or my instructor). But I see that it is my classmate's responsibility to report it to our instructor or not.
Thanks everyone!

If something happened again, I would remind the RN what I was or was not allowed to do. If it persisted, then you would have no option but to go to you instructor or adjunct. This is what they are there for. Remember, this appplies to you and what happens directly to you and not a classmate. If the classmate won't stand up for themselves, then the instructor will eventually find out and the classmate will have to deal with the consequences.

faithful11 · Jul 5, 2008

If it comes up again, and it relates to YOU---let the RN know what you are ALLOWED to do. I think your friend messed up by not standing up for herself, as well as for placing unknown medications within reach of a child. Nothing bad happened as a result, but suppose the child had taken the meds rather than giving them to the patient? Be careful in these situations...believe me, the RN is NOT going to say that the student TOLD her what they couldn't do...she will cover her own rear and say that your friend offered/led her to believe/acted like she could pass those meds. Be careful.