Sharing meds between patients?

Bipley · Jan 12, 2006

Hi,
I need some advice. I am on a couple of people's hit list because they share meds between patients, and I objected to that. Say two people take Digoxin, or Seroquel, and one runs out. The nurse just borrows a med from the other person. Then she takes "the same" med and puts it back in their med container, with her hands, when she "gets a chance." It's all so gross and probably dangerous that it's really, really bothering me.
Help!!

Right, wrong, or indifferent.... happens all the time. Especially in LTC.

Not saying I approve, I don't. But it still happens. It certainly isn't anything new.

WSU_Ally_RN, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2006

Are they single dose packages?? If so, how is it gross?? Pharmacy hasn't sent your digoxin that your patient takes at 0800 and they absolutly need because they are leaving the floor at 0815, and Mary's pt. doesn't take their dose (which just happens to be the same dose as your pt's) doesn't take theirs till 2000.... what are you going to do? Send your pt off without their med? No, borrow Mary's pt's and replace the single unit dose whenever pharmacy eventually sends it.... It happens all the time, and as long as it is single dose packs and the correct dose, I see no harm.

Bird2 · Jan 12, 2006

Your right it should not happen. Does your facility have a convience box for the nurses to obtain the most common drugs that they may need? If not you may want to suggest that the Pharmacy supply one for your facility. I do want to add that I normally would not borrow a drug but if the pt was going to be without the med then I would make an exception.