Perscription shampoo......

[waltydog]

Does an LPN or an RN have to witness the CNA shampooing a patient with perscription shampoo?

[LaterAlligator]

I would imagine they're technically supposed to be the one doing it if it's prescribed & therefore considered a treatment but realistically, I would be willing to do it anyway as a CNA.

[nguyency77, CNA]

I just tell the nurse to do it. I'm not gonna step outside my scope of practice, and have it come back to bite me later. I don't care if it's just shampoo!

[kids]

It kind of depends.

In nursing facilities very often OTCs require a physician's order and it item has to have a patient specific "prescription" label, sometimes it's a state requirement, sometime an insurance/reimbursement issue. Even more confusing; if the patient provides their own OTC 'medicated' shampoo it doesn't require an order/label and isn't subject to delegation (if required). Think about it, deodorant/antiperspirant is 'medicated' and doesn't require a nurse to apply it or witness it.

The states I've worked in, nurses were permitted to delegate the application of (prescribed & labeled) OTC 'medicated' shampoos (Selsun Blue/TGel/Head & Shoulders and their generics).

Whether or not use of a "prescription" shampoo needs to be witnessed or delegated in your facility is a question for your Director of Nurses or Staff Development Coordinator.