Verbal orders vs written orders

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Apr 17, 2012

You better nit have an order for Darvidet in the US since it was pulled off the market 2 years ago. Check the narcotic class for the other drugs and you will have your answer

kateb8 · Apr 17, 2012

Sorry... Im a nursing student and this is a question on an exam that I was unable to find the answer to. 2 are opioid analgesics and phenobarbital is a barbiturate... Not exactly sure what that means though...

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Apr 17, 2012

Sorry... Im a nursing student and this is a question on an exam that I was unable to find the answer to. 2 are opioid analgesics and phenobarbital is a barbiturate... Not exactly sure what that means though...

All are considered narcotics. Lower classes of narcotics like 4s & 5s can be a verbal order. 2s and some 3s need a written order and cannot include refills (generally speaking). So since Darvocet is off the market that is out. Look up the other three drugs. Your drug guide book (or even your pharm text) should have their narcotic class. Then you will have your answer.

kateb8 · Apr 17, 2012

Thank you so much for explaining that! Found my answer. I really appreciate your help.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Apr 17, 2012

Glad I could help. Now you have a direction to look in should you run into the same scenario in the future.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2012

Strange that they would still be using tests with old, outdated meds on it, which are no longer available. I would wonder what else is outdated in your classes.

amoLucia · Apr 17, 2012

I miss DARVOCET. It worked so well for so many people (sniffle, sniffle). Are you listening Eli Lilly Co.??

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2012

I miss DARVOCET. It worked so well for so many people (sniffle, sniffle). Are you listening Eli Lilly Co.??

It wasn't Eli Lilly....it was the FDA.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2012

Are you talking about meds which need a written prescription vs. which meds can be 'called in' to the pharmacy?

or

Do you mean meds for a patient in the hospital where you take a verbal/phone order for the doctor?

When I read the OP, I thought you meant the latter. In the case of the latter, I can take a verbal order for just about any medicine, including narcotics (but I'm sure it varies by facility policy and may vary state to state).

As for up to date information in nursing school...I can remember a lot of stuff that was taught in school and that was in NCLEX review books that was directly contradicted by latest research (for example, the Homan test or floating an inhaler to see if there was any medication left in in).

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2012

Are you talking about meds which need a written prescription vs. which meds can be 'called in' to the pharmacy?
or
Do you mean meds for a patient in the hospital where you take a verbal/phone order for the doctor?
When I read the OP, I thought you meant the latter. In the case of the latter, I can take a verbal order for just about any medicine, including narcotics (but I'm sure it varies by facility policy and may vary state to state).
As for up to date information in nursing school...I can remember a lot of stuff that was taught in school and that was in NCLEX review books that was directly contradicted by latest research (for example, the Homan test or floating an inhaler to see if there was any medication left in in).

I read this the same as you. Whether or not you can take a verbal order for something depends on the facility's policies. Before we went to computer charting/computer orders, verbal orders were common and nurses could accept verbal orders for narcotics, as long as a 2nd nurse co-signed the order. After computer order entry started, verbal orders were only allowed in emergencies.

I would guess that pharmacy's policies vary by state as well. I always send patients home with a hard copy of the script for any narcotics, but I do know that there have been times when pharmacies have accepted verbal orders for narcs from the doctors/NPs.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2012

Before we went to computer charting/computer orders, verbal orders were common and nurses could accept verbal orders for narcotics, as long as a 2nd nurse co-signed the order. After computer order entry started, verbal orders were only allowed in emergencies.

Interestingly enough, the places I have worked did not require a cosignature on a VO for narcs. Also, working now in an ER with CPOE, I still enter some VOs--such as, the MD is in the middle of something so he/she gives me a VO for zofran, pain meds, etc.