Question about wasting narcotics

Nurses General Nursing

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This may seem like a simple set of questions, but I have to ask them anyway:

When wasting narcotics, there has to be a witness that is a licensed medical professional correct? Does the witness have to have the same license as the person wasting the medication? For example, can a RN waste narcotics in front of a respiratory therapist? The lowest licensed medical professional I can think of is an LPN? Do the narcotic wasting rules differ between states? Thanks for your time.

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Specializes in ER.

As far as I know, you can waste narcotics with an LPN or RN. I have never wasted narcs with RT. I've done it in CA and TX.

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In my hospital, it just has to be another person who has the same access to the Pyxis as me, so if I was going to waste a tab of Percocet for example, an LPN could witness the waste. But if it was in IV Dilaudid, which at my hospital an LPN cannot push, then it would have to be another RN.

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In my hospital, it just has to be another person who has the same access to the Pyxis as me, so if I was going to waste a tab of Percocet for example, an LPN could witness the waste. But if it was in IV Dilaudid, which at my hospital an LPN cannot push, then it would have to be another RN.

So this was hospital policy? Or is there some kind of state/federal guidelines for this?

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Hospital policy.

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Specializes in Home Health.

I've just wasted with another RN usually, RT's are fewer and far between, just never thought of it.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

I've wasted with RNs, LPNs, and an MD or two.

(the MD case was for wasting topical cocaine solution, being used during bedside ENT procedure for stopping massive nose bleeds in a hem/onc patient . The MD applied the solution, thus signed the waste)

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I always waste with another RN. We don't have LPNs in my ED, and MDs don't have access to the Pyxis. I never thought to waste with an RT...

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

i'm no expert but the rts don't give narcotics so i don't think they are allowed to waste.

in my job, it is preferably an rn/lpn but lpn/lpn is okay if there is no rn around.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

Good question. They have to have access to pyxis, and our RT's have access to pyxis. they are licensed medical professional....so who knows?

i always just waste with another RN. I would say that only an RN can do it because we are TRAINED to waste. I.e. in nursing orientation, we went over how to waste. I know its pretty simple but someone may not watch you waste, or make sure you put it in the correct place. I don't think RT is trained for that. So my guess would be only an RN.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
So this was hospital policy? Or is there some kind of state/federal guidelines for this?

It must be another person who is authorized to administer the said narcotic. BUt you still must check with your own State regulations and follow all federal guidelines as well as your states BON.

http://www.drs.illinois.edu/css/guidesplans/dea/index.aspx#Section_IX

It depends on your facilities policy and procedures. It is the upmost importance that you follow your facilities policies to the letter. Most facilities where I have worked they were wasted (ALWAYS with a witness) in the sink, in the trash, on the ceiling, into thin air, on the walls (hence all the drip marks everywhere)......:cool:

But I have worked facilities where there was a narcotic "return bin" in the Pyxis machine itself where the unused narcotics were returned to and pharmacy wasted them. One place obviously had had an issue. The LABLED unused narcotic was placed in the bin under the patients name and how much given and pharmacy did the waste. The other the unused narcotic was returned to Pyxis and witnessed as returned and pharmacy wasted.

Check with your facility.:)

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

today, 07:25 am

updated today at 07:49 am by esme12

reason: to note all i could find for waste "regulations" was there are 2 "approved" signatures required. and the facility decides who is "approved". regulations for licensure are restricted to prescribing and and administering the narcotic.

it depends on your facilities policy and procedures. it is the utmost importance that you follow your facilities policies to the letter. most facilities where i have worked they were wasted (always with a witness) in the sink, in the trash, on the ceiling, into thin air, on the walls (hence all the drip marks everywhere)......:cool:

but i have worked facilities where there was a narcotic "return bin" in the pyxis machine itself where the unused narcotics were returned to and pharmacy wasted them. one place obviously had had an issue. the labled unused narcotic was placed in the bin under the patients name and how much given and pharmacy did the waste. the other the unused narcotic was returned to pyxis and witnessed as returned and pharmacy wasted.

check with your facility.:)

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