OTC Medications

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I'm dumping a lot of expired meds now as I'm trying to do some "spring" cleaning before winter break. In doing that I'm realizing there are a lot of OTC meds that I don't have permission to use (eye drops, antibiotic ointments, burn spray, etc.). What I do have parental permission for is Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, and antacids.

If I don't have permission or standing orders, there's no reason to replace these items, right? I've only been doing this since the beginning of the school year so I don't know what I don't know. And even if the risk is small, I can't see that there's an emergency I would need to risk my license over by applying antibiotic ointment.

I love that I have this resource to ask my dumb questions to! Thank you!

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Your question is not dumb! I was in the same boat when I started.

Get rid of anything you don't have a standing order for, and do not order new. The only ones who will try to grab some is the teachers, and your Health Office is not their personal Walgreens.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i chuck the stuff i do not have orders for. I do keep as a courtesy for staff only tums and ibuprofen per superintendent's request, but staff knows that drawer it's kept it and must medicate themselves, student's are not permitted in that drawer and may not have any of it.

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Thanks! This is completely a common sense issue, I know. It seems so benign to use neosporin, but I know logically I have a whole extra layer because of the RN after my name!

Thanks for the reassurance.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

No, it is a valid concern. The kids will occasionally see the tube of neosporin sitting out from the last staff user (another pet peeve - not cleaning up after yourself) and will ask to use it. They get a resounding "NO!"

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Specializes in School Nurse.

Neosporin has sulfa in it and some people may be allergic, so good call.

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Neosporin has sulfa in it and some people may be allergic, so good call.

Well, that, and unless we have an order for it we can't give it!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

exactly.... if i want a little ointment to glob on a wound to seal it up, a&d works nicely so does vaseline

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When I started at my current job I was astounded at how much "crap" they had sitting around that we had no orders for. One of the first things I did was get rid of all of it. (It hurt a little, but I didn't want to be in the kind of position you are talking about).

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..
Your question is not dumb! I was in the same boat when I started.

Get rid of anything you don't have a standing order for, and do not order new. The only ones who will try to grab some is the teachers, and your Health Office is not their personal Walgreens.

LOVE! When I started my office had a bottle of Ibuprofen for staff, so I brought in a bottle of Tylenol for myself (seeing as how I cannot take Ibuprofen) to keep on hand. I have found several staff members sneaking in and taking my Tylenol. I kindly asked them to use the Ibuprofen instead, it's my fault I guess, should've kept it in the locked cabinet.

I completely agree with what OP did, if there is not standing order I would toss it. Maybe keep the saline eye drops for staff (or yourself). We have no OTC standing orders in our district. EVERYTHING needs an order. :)

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