susanerl

Well, maybe my fears are unfounded - but when working in a hospital where 2 nurses - and ONLY nurses - have to sign a narcotics count and keep a key to the locked narc cart - it seems very loose and unprofessional to handle narcotics this way. A CAB driver, for heaven's sake! I still advocate for a policy that has nurse or designated family member ONLY handling narcotics. How is the cab driver, the SW or the chaplain going to be able to read a label and know if that drug is the correct dosage, the correct route, the correct patient, the correct drug, and correct times? The fewer fingers in that pot, the safer.

Good suggestion re: pharmacist - and yes, my thoughts are that if a SW was in an accident or if the pt. said the drug was missing - the SW could lose possibly be liable or even risk his/her license. ps - this hospice has also had the CHAPLAIN deliver roxanol to a family!!! Just found that out! Sheesh!!

A great resource is: 20 Common Problems in End of Life Care by Kinzbrunner, Weinreb, and Policzer. Also, the Core Curriculum for the Generalist Hospice and Palliative Nurse by the HPNA (Hospice and Palliative Nurse Association). Good luck! Sue

I have a question and maybe someone can help - a hospice social worker was asked by her agency to transport controlled substances from the pharmacy to a pt. home; and on another occasion, compazine from the pharmacy to a pt. home. These were on-call after hour visits and the on-call nurse was unavailable. The social worker is decidedly uncomfortable with this, and I wonder if, as well as poor practice, that this was outside the law? Can someone help? Thanks.