question on administering OTC meds

[timpanzee]

Can someone please answer this question? Can you be charged with administering medications without a license if you are a licensed personnel and give someone say tylenol? I believe that I was taught that whether on duty or not, I cannot give anyone anything at anytime if it is not prescribed. ie at work, visitor asks for tylenolZ? Of course we have stock - am I allowed to give it? What if your collegeau? gives another employee something like fibrim? Is this considered administering or dispensing? Thanks.

[wayunderpaid]

I don't know the legalities. However, I would not give anything to a visitor or anyone for that matter while at work. OTC medications are supposed to be self administered. Questions that come to my mind: you know the visitors health hx? What other medications are they taking? Frequency? Contraindications? Interactions? Allergies?

I have a coworker (RN) who is in liver failure from too much drinking in her younger days. Tylenol would not be a good idea. In my place of work, we are allowed to call the inpt. pharmacy for some OTC medications, but for staff only and self-administer only (you are responsible to what you are taking.) This cuts down on nurses asking co-workers if they have tylenol or motrin. Than way, the person being asked can say: No, I don't have any, but you can call the pharmacy yourself and they'll tube it up for you (for free)

Hope this is helpful

Wayunderpaid

[Noryn]

Unless you are an MD or advanced practitioner such as a NP then you cannot administer OTC meds legally at work without an order. You should never give a visitor any medication even something like Tylenol. It also is not good practice to give a coworker medication. You can get in trouble for this but if your company wanted to get technical they could also fire you for "stealing".

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

But how is it stealing if I give a coworker my a couple Motrin out of my own personal supply that I carry with me? I'm not advocating giving to any and all who ask, but it's not stealing if I give someone something that's mine....

[EmmaG, RN]

Visitors? No way.

Co-workers? If they ask, I'll give them some of my own advil or tylenol.

[caliotter3]

At a LTC facility where I once worked, for workers only, there was a stock bottle where one could get their own med, kept in the med room. I also saw nurses allow a CNA to take a dose from the stock bottle which she would make available on the top of her cart. I didn't think this seemed right. I was taught never to touch a nurse's med cart unless it was my own.

[gladheart]

What if you are not at work? Example: you are at a social function and someone asks for some tylenol or motrin - is it considered dispensing? Thanks!

[FLArn]

At a social event, I have not established a nurse client relationship with anyone so I don't think that it is a problem legally. That being said I don't give anyone any meds of any kind if I don't have a longstanding close (but not necessarily intimate) relationship with them.

[systoly]

Maybe I don't attend enough social events, but I don't get it. I would not ask a stranger for any Rx. Who knows what you're getting or how it was handled. I'd just go to the next gas station. Even if I knew the person I'd prefer to get my own, because most people pour a bunch of tablets in their hand and then put the rest back in the bottle. As far as giving Rx is concerned, I'm fortunate in that I don't have to carry any.

[FLArn]

I should have been more clear; I NEVER give any prescription meds to ANYONE. However, I would give Tylenol, Maalox tabs, etc. to a close friend.

[tewdles, RN]

It is not legal for you to give anyone outside of yourself or your family OTC meds. If a coworker asks for a tylenol...tell them where the bottle is, don't get the pills out for them. If a visitor asks you for tylenol give them directions to the pharmacy. If someone at a party asks you for a tylenol, you are at the wrong party.

[FLArn]

It is not legal for you to give anyone outside of yourself or your family OTC meds. If a coworker asks for a tylenol...tell them where the bottle is, don't get the pills out for them. If a visitor asks you for tylenol give them directions to the pharmacy. If someone at a party asks you for a tylenol, you are at the wrong party.

I don't recall learning that holding a license requires me to quit being a friend-- if a childhood friend or close adult friend asks me for a tylenol then I should leave the area immediately or chastise them for asking me for a tylenol!