Traveling with medications

EllaBella1, BSN · Apr 8, 2019

If you carry them legally for work and are not using them then I don't see how you could possibly be charged with drug trafficking. Now I wouldn't go carrying 3 days worth of patient's meds at a time, but the ones you're seeing that day I don't see how that could be a problem.

Davey Do · Apr 8, 2019

5 hours ago, Emily Hangey said:
I work out in the community and regularly deliver medications to those suffering from mental health symptoms. If I were to get pulled over (never have, knock on wood) and I have someone’s bottles of prescription medications in my car, can this result in a drug trafficking charge and loss of a license?

Having worked both in medical and psychiatric home health and as a community nurse for an ACT program, I have never had any problems with the police. Quite the opposite, in fact. My experiences with the police in any and every professional situation has been exemplary. In my experiences, our brothers and sisters in blue have always given us in the medical profession their support and hearty seal of approval in all circumstances.

I like to think that nurse Huebel's incident was a rare one.

Your question does remind me of a story, Emily, and we old nurses love to tell our stories.

Back in the late 90's, when I worked as a community nurse with the ACT team, I had long hair that hung past my shoulders and a big ol' bushy beard. My typical uniform in those days was a scrub shirt and blue jeans. I was to give a female client diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia her bimonthly dose of Haldol Deaconate IM.

The temperature was around 100 degrees this particular day and the client lived in a trailer that had no air conditioning. As I sat in her living room drawing up the Haldol from the vial with a syringe profusely perspiring, a knock came at her trailer door. The client, who was a rather large lady, answered the door and stood between me and the caller who happened to be a police officer.

The police officer introduced himself and said he was there to follow up on a complaint the client had made. The client launched into a delusional story where she had been shot in the head by a neighbor and buried in the cemetery. The police officer was very appropriate and polite and said he would follow protocol in researching the client's complaint, thanked her and left, never seeing me.

I often wonder what would have happened if this police officer had seen some sweaty long haired hippie-looking guy, sitting on the couch with drug paraphernalia on the coffee table, drawing something up in a syringe.

"Freeze, dirt bag!"?

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2019

I deliver meds all the time as an ACT nurse. Mostly it's one week's worth of meds, but sometimes it's one month's worth of meds. And I could have meds for a few people in my car at any given time.

I also give people injections in the car sometimes.

It's fine. You are allowed to do your job.

Ema · Apr 8, 2019

Thank you guys so much! Davey, that’s exactly where I work, on an ACT team.

It seemed like something I needed to investigate. Because that is 90% of my job. And especially considering if I hadn’t delivered the medications to that client wherever they were, we would have so many clients not taking their meds.

Again, thank you!

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2019

I drove a bunch of TB meds around two counties and nobody said anything - even that one time I got pulled over wearing my state health department shirt.

But there's no street value to TB medication. I am assuming that the meds are in a labeled container? Can you get some kind of locked storage to put them in?

SeasonedOne, RN · Apr 9, 2019

If current clients of a local methadone dispensing clinic were in the local jail, the clinic would transport their meds in a locked case weekly to keep them stable. All meds had labels with Name, Med, Dose, Frequency on the labels. There was never any issues with law enforcement.

It is standard practice that any medication is given when leaving the clinic are to be in a locked case, usually metal, to limit others from using. Especially when there are children in the home. Might be an option for other meds like narcotics.

Just a thought!

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Apr 9, 2019

On 4/8/2019 at 6:51 AM, Emily Hangey said:
Thank you guys so much! Davey, that’s exactly where I work, on an ACT team.
It seemed like something I needed to investigate. Because that is 90% of my job. And especially considering if I hadn’t delivered the medications to that client wherever they were, we would have so many clients not taking their meds.
Again, thank you!

No different from a pharmaceutical rep that carries meds. I wouldn't worry about this at all.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Apr 9, 2019

Hospice nurses also carry meds with them on visits to patients, including narcotics. I don't see any problem with law enforcement if you happen to be pulled over, as long as all the meds are in proper containers marked with the patient's name and information about the drug.

OyWithThePoodles, RN · Apr 9, 2019

Might I suggest picking a more anonymous name? It just makes me worry for you, not everyone on this site is a nurse or in the medical profession, and having your name and knowing you drive with medications... Be safe, friend.

Ema · Apr 9, 2019

39 minutes ago, OyWithThePoodles said:
Emily, might I suggest picking a more anonymous name? It just makes me worry for you, not everyone on this site is a nurse or in the medical profession, and having your name and knowing you drive with medications... Be safe, friend.

Done! Thanks!

AnnieNP, MSN, NP · Apr 9, 2019

On 4/8/2019 at 1:41 AM, Davey Do said:
Having worked both in medical and psychiatric home health and as a community nurse for an ACT program, I have never had any problems with the police. Quite the opposite, in fact. My experiences with the police in any and every professional situation has been exemplary. In my experiences, our brothers and sisters in blue have always given us in the medical profession their support and hearty seal of approval in all circumstances.
I like to think that nurse Huebel's incident was a rare one.
Your question does remind me of a story, Emily, and we old nurses love to tell our stories.
Back in the late 90's, when I worked as a community nurse with the ACT team, I had long hair that hung past my shoulders and a big ol' bushy beard. My typical uniform in those days was a scrub shirt and blue jeans. I was to give a female client diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia her bimonthly dose of Haldol Deaconate IM.
The temperature was around 100 degrees this particular day and the client lived in a trailer that had no air conditioning. As I sat in her living room drawing up the Haldol from the vial with a syringe profusely perspiring, a knock came at her trailer door. The client, who was a rather large lady, answered the door and stood between me and the caller who happened to be a police officer.
The police officer introduced himself and said he was there to follow up on a complaint the client had made. The client launched into a delusional story where she had been shot in the head by a neighbor and buried in the cemetery. The police officer was very appropriate and polite and said he would follow protocol in researching the client's complaint, thanked her and left, never seeing me.
I often wonder what would have happened if this police officer had seen some sweaty long haired hippie-looking guy, sitting on the couch with drug paraphernalia on the coffee table, drawing something up in a syringe.
"Freeze, dirt bag!"?

You always make me laugh out loud!!!!