OTC meds for Staff

[cid1]

Do you have OTC medication for staff? Do you give it out or let them take it? Do you have a policy on it?

[halohg, RN]

Nope, I don’t stock it or offer it. They are grown adults and if they need a tums or a Tylenol they should bring their own. I don’t have a budget for it or have interest in being asked for any more advice then is already being asked. Especially when my advice is always the same... “what did your doctor say about your concerns?”

[Eleven011]

I don't budget for it, so no, I don't. Most of the staff I'm friendly enough with that if they are having a horrible headache and forgot to bring any pain relievers with them, I'll just give them a couple from my purse like any friend at work would. It doesn't happen very often. I do have staff ask off and on if I have cough drops/tums for them to use and I just tell them I don't stock anything.

[SchoolNurseK, BSN, RN]

We do not stock for staff, nor does our school district allow it. I have had a few staff members very put out about this policy, but I just shrug my shoulders and smile. ?

[ihavealltheice]

Hmmm...this makes me think. I do stock for staff and hadn't even thought twice about it. We don't have any rules against it persae, but now that I think about it, admin probably wouldn't be thrilled with the idea.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

I don't buy stock for staff, but I do keep a supply on hand for them. That supply comes from my OTC meds that have not been picked up, but are still in date. They are welcome t go into the drawer to dose themselves.

[guest464345]

We don't stock for staff. Since we're such a small school and a lot of our OTCs will expire before I use them up, however, I say "These are medications for students but I often have some left over at the end of the year. If you really need it to get through the day, you can help yourself." I don't give advice or hand it to them.

[And although you would think that my phrasing would discourage them, it doesn't - some of them will grab some for now, some for later, and then ask for cough drops or a bottle of water or whatever else they think they can get. It's incredibly annoying, but I've decided to choose my battles].

[SaltineQueen]

I have a big bottle of ibuprofen & acetaminophen pills and liquid diphenhydramine. I got the pills with the staff in mind, but I do use them if kids can swallow pills. The diphenhydramine is primarily intended for the kids but staff has used it on occasion. I don't keep cold meds or anything else on hand specifically for staff, but if they need something else I do have I'm OK with it for the most part.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

A long time ago when I got a dollar per student for 1900 students each year...there was enough left over to buy comfort medications and even aspirin in case someone might be having a cardiac event.

It was in a self-help cabinet in my office.

My policy was that you're a grownup and can manage yourself. However, if I saw someone in the office reaching for the stuff day after day after day I would do a brief assessment and referral.

Now I have nothing. And I say "Can you run out on your conference time to Walgreens or the Dollar Store?"

[CanIcallmymom, BSN, RN]

only med I keep on hand for staff is 325mg aspirin in case of chest pain.

[BrisketRN, BSN, RN]

Yep, when I got here admin insisted we keep Tylenol & Ibuprofen on hand for staff use and puts the funds into my budget. I tell staff where I keep it and the only question I'll answer is "is acetaminophen the same as Tylenol/is ibuprofen the same as Motrin or Advil?" I don't give them advice, tell them how much to take, or even hand it to them.

[Purple036, LVN]

I do the same thing

On 2/19/2020 at 2:47 PM, BiscuitRN said:

Yep, when I got here admin insisted we keep Tylenol & Ibuprofen on hand for staff use and puts the funds into my budget. I tell staff where I keep it and the only question I'll answer is "is acetaminophen the same as Tylenol/is ibuprofen the same as Motrin or Advil?" I don't give them advice, tell them how much to take, or even hand it to them.