New RN - what would you do?

[knitnurse72]

I recently finished school in December and passed the NCLEX in January, and began my first job as an RN about 3 weeks ago. Even though I am a new nurse, I have worked in healthcare in one way or another for almost 20 years, and I guess I always expect a certain level of professionalism from myself and from those I work with, although it doesn't always happen. Anyway, a few days ago something happened that I was very uncomfortable with as a newly licensed RN, but I don't now if this is something that happens in long term care.

I have been orienting on a sub-acute unit at a LTC facility. There are 2 NPs who come in 3 days a week, and my personal opinion is that neither one is really that great, compared to other NPs I know, but that's okay - there are good and not so good people in every job. The nurse I was training with the other day had to call one of the NPs to get some scripts for a patient who was going home. The NP, instead of calling them in herself, from her office (it was 2 in the afternoon), gave the nurse her DEA # and said she could "just call them in." The nurse training me asked if I wanted to do it, but I said no - I was very uncomfortable calling in prescriptions, as I am not able to prescribe. Then later I thought about what if I did call (or the other nurse), and I/we decided to order all kinds of scripts under this NPs name and go pick them up, since we had her prescriber #??!! My last job was as a unit secretary at a hospital, and I never once saw a nurse calling in a script like that - faxing them to a pharmacy, yes, but not this.

Is this a common practice in long-term care, or is this something people can really get in trouble for? Thinking about it still makes me uncomfortable and I don't think I would do it in the future if this situation arose again.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

I'd ask your DON. Never worked with an NP in that way.

[kiszi, RN]

when I worked LTC we called in scripts regularly, and I know MD offices do this routinely as well. I would check your facility's policy.

[HippyDippyLPN]

I have worked clinic and LTC, while I have called in scripts in LTC, in the clinic the nurses/ma's called in RX's, the md's never did their own.

[HippyDippyLPN]

I meant while I have never called scripts in at LTC

[proud nurse, BSN, RN]

When I call to refill my own prescriptions, the recording says "if you are a doctor or a doctors' representative, press 1" (or something like that.)

I guess in this situation, the nurse could be considered the doctors' representative?? Hmmm...I don't know.

[JillyRN]

I work in the clinic setting and at both my current and previous position, this was acceptable practice. The MD or NP put the rx in the EHR, then it was up to the nurse to call it in. We had access to their DEA#'s and call numbers in order to do this.

[knitnurse72]

Thanks for your input! As a new RN who has never seen this before, it made me nervous! But I'm glad to know I can act as a "doctor's representative."

[jennilynn]

You are not prescribing, you would be more a representative of the prescriber. Kind of like a medical transcription it's, they are not diagnosing, but are transcribing into the medical record. I have never heard of a secretary or ma calling in scripts though. That, I may have an issue with.

[brownbook]

In our out patient surgery clinic we have all the surgeons' DEA and license numbers. We call in prescriptions all the time.

Learn to have all the information ready, patient's name, date of birth, Dr.s name, phone number, DEA, you must leave your own name and phone number. Make sure you can read and or understand the prescription.......many times I am half way through leaving a message on the pharmacy answer machine and realize I can't read the quantity, or the Dr. forgot to put the strength. It isn't such a big deal, you just waste your and the pharmacist's time, and feel a little stupid, have to hang up, get the correct information, and call again.

[SionainnRN]

One of my first jobs at 19 was a receptionist in a walk in clinic and we called in scripts daily. One of the reasons I'm so good at reading docs handwriting now.

[Calinurse4]

For years I called in scripts as an MA in an orthopedic surgeon practice and I've also done it as an RN. I speak directly with the pharmacist and get their name and they get mine. You aren't prescribing, you're essentially "dropping off" the RX for the patient. Of course, each state or facility may be different. We keep the written RX from the MD in the chart.