Patient held medicines while inpatients

[fraggle*hugger]

Hi there, I'm a staff nurse working on a children's ward in the UK where we are looking at allowing families to hold their own medication and self administer while they are inpatients. I'd be very grateful for any information from people who have experience of this. Please contact me by e-mail if you can help; so I can pick your brains! Thanks.

[humglum, BSN, RN]

Usually we only do this if a medication is non-formulary (not supplied by our pharmacy). If it is formulary, I'd encourage the patient to utilize the pharmacy supply and save their own pills (thus saving them a bit of money in the long run).

Generally if it's non-formulary the doc will write 'patient may use own supply'. We then have to send the medication (acceptable only in it's original container, with their private pharmacy label on it) to pharmacy, have them check and verify it. They affix a label that they have done so and then we keep the medication with the patient's other meds (in cart, in fridge, whichever is appropriate) and we dispense it according to the time schedule given by pharmacy.

Medications are never kept at the bedside, even if it's their own.

Hope that helps!

[perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN]

The only meds we usually keep by the bedside are the enzymes for some of the kids with CF, that is the ones who are older and known to be compliant. Also some ointments end up at the bedside occasionally. Other than that, we use the same procedure as mentioned by CharmCity.

[student4ever]

The only meds we usually keep by the bedside are the enzymes for some of the kids with CF, that is the ones who are older and known to be compliant. Also some ointments end up at the bedside occasionally. Other than that, we use the same procedure as mentioned by CharmCity.

Sounds like the safest way of doing things! Seriously, can you imagine how easy it would be for someone to give wrong dosage and then when kid gets sick or dies from it, guess who is liable??? The fact is, there are many people who are non compliant. Yes, they may be able to give a child some tylenol for his fever, or properly give him his claritin. But there are plenty of people who will still give the patient his normal 2-3 doses of a medication when the doctor only wants 1 dose while in the hospital.

And what about possible reactions with new medications during the hospital stay? These parents don't know what is going to react with the iv abx being given, or whatever. Not to mention that if his regular medications are put into the parents hands, that will cause them to think they can give the child whatever medications they want to. Imagine a kid on tylenol with codeine, tells mommy "I hurt" or mommy notices fever. Guess what? Mommy gives kid some more tylenol... ouch... not a good scenario.