To dispense or not to dispense?

Published

you are a nurse in a facility with clients that live on site (nursing home, correctional etc.) and they receive prescription medications that nurses administer. the client will be going on a home leave or off grounds and require that their meds go with them.

if you remove meds from the original labeled container, place them into another container (let's say a med envelope), re-label it with their name, med name, directions etc. and and give it to the client or family member; is this not considered dispensing?

as nurses are we not out of the scope of our license to dispense?

please help me clarify this....

thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

Yes-that is considered dispensing. I work in LTC in. Pa. and it's against the regulations. We have clear policy-our residents must give 72 hours notice for an LOA to enable us to obtain their meds from our pharmacy. Nicely labeled.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

Welcome to my world! In school nursing we are faced with stuff like this all the time. Field trips, times we are out sick and there is no nurse available, parents sending meds to school in baggies. It is tough to find a line between being reasonable and being legal. And believe me, no one understands how important your license is except you and your fellow nurses. Stick to your guns!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

Op you are correct which is why I never do such. I give the meds to the family in their proper form sent by pharmacy and have them sign a form.

I also used to work in school nursing and have had to sent meds in an envelope so its different scenarios.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It really doesn't matter what "we" consider it, what matters is what the state you practice considers it.

In the 2 states I work in it's considered no different than punching them into a cup and handing to them to take now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, that is considered dispensing. We are not allowed to do this at my facility.

What we can do is have the person or whomever will be responsible for them sign out the entire card of meds. We can provide instructions regarding how many and what time they are to be taken. We just can't pop them and give them out in an envelope for LOA. Nurses in my facility have gotten in big trouble for doing this, even for something seemingly as silly as providing an alert and oriented patient their lunchtime zantac.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion