When nursing staff ask for medications

[dblpn]

This is becoming a routine thing with some of the cna's that i work with. they would come up to me usually during med pass when i really don't like to be bothered and don't have the time, with their c/o pain. can i get a tylenol, ibuprofen, its very annoying because i'm not there to take care of their needs. i don't feel comfortable in giving stock meds like m.o.m, or tylenol to staff when they should bring their own if this is occuring on a regular basis. i also don't like to see anyone go thru an entire shift in pain.

Is it ok to give otc meds to staff or should i just tell them no these are for the residents?

[nkochrn, RN]

We have an employee medication book. Each time an over the counter med is given it has to signed out, not that it always is. The hospital doesn't mind supplying their employees with a little ibuprofen or tylenol.

[grandmawrinkle]

Just to be devil's advocate (as I have no moral high ground here whatsoever...)

Isn't that stealing?

It's stealing in about as much taking home a pack of Post-It's is. What office employee do you know that hasn't done that once or twice?

I already know I'm going to hell. (Well, I'm redeemed, but if I wasn't.)

[mamamerlee, LPN]

Nothing off the med cart because everything has to be charged to someone. I usually have Ibu in my purse and I'd gladly give someone 2 of those. Many places have small kits with some OTCs, bandaids, etc.

[getoverit, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Now Tylenol is a gateway drug?

Yes, I started off innocently with a benadryl one day...hay fever, I was exaggerating my symptoms. Wasn't long before I was taking 2 tylenol before getting out of bed each morning.

I hit rock bottom one day when I woke up in a seedy motel, laying on a pile of aspirin and multi-vitamins. I slammed a handful of Immodium to get me through and never looked back.

but in answer to the OP, if it's an OTC and they are requesting it (within reason) I don't see any problem as long as it doesn't detract too much from your work assignment.

[pedsrnjc]

I work in a hosptial so it's a little different situation but our pharmacy created a whole "employee med" section that is accessible pretty much to everyone-it has OTC meds for just about anything. They just ask that the employee sign out the meds so they can keep track of what gets used. It has been a lifesaver. Prior to that, however, one of our nurses brought in a HUGE bottle of motrin and tylenol(she got a buy one get one free package at a wholesale store and knew she'd never use it all before it expired) and she wrote "employees motrin/tylenol" on the bottle in sharpie and kept it in the breakroom.

In the facility I work in, I would love to have them install an ativan mist into the ventillation system so that everyone would just chill out and love their job.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

In the facility I work in, I would love to have them install an ativan mist into the ventillation system so that everyone would just chill out and love their job.

Have them come to mine next..

[pielęgniarka, RN]

In the facility I work in, I would love to have them install an ativan mist into the ventillation system so that everyone would just chill out and love their job.

Did you know that there is an ativan topical (gel)? A hospice nurse was telling me about it. I would love to keep THAT on my cart... in a pump bottle... offer it to everyone walking by... can you imagine...

As far as giving the facility's stock meds to workers when they ask, I personally don't. I keep my own little supply in my locker: tylenol, ibu, midol, rolaids, cough drops and I will offer that if someone is in need. If they need something else I send the employee on a break to the gas station to buy it themselves. Or make them take a break and drink a glass of water. If they are really sick and have a fever, diarrhea or vomiting I send them home.

[dblpn]

I work in a hosptial so it's a little different situation but our pharmacy created a whole "employee med" section that is accessible pretty much to everyone-it has OTC meds for just about anything. They just ask that the employee sign out the meds so they can keep track of what gets used. It has been a lifesaver. Prior to that, however, one of our nurses brought in a HUGE bottle of motrin and tylenol(she got a buy one get one free package at a wholesale store and knew she'd never use it all before it expired) and she wrote "employees motrin/tylenol" on the bottle in sharpie and kept it in the breakroom.

That's a great idea to have meds just for staff.

[dblpn]

We have some stock meds, and if I have what they want, I'll give it to them. I don't feel like I'm in any position to police what anybody else puts in their body, and we are talking about OTCs here. I am not even close to concerned if it costs the hospital 2 cents. If it is something I would have to sign out of the pyxis, then no, I won't do that (We have to sign it out to a patient and they would get billed for it. I'd just say we don't have it.)

It's not usually a CNA asking where I work though, it's some poor resident that has been up for 36 hours that has had pizza for his/her last 3 meals and needs a zantac....LOL

I would definately not give them something that i must sign out for. so the otc meds are not billed to the patients? for some crazy reason i thought they were. if the facility buys them then i won't feel so bad but just annoyed when they continue to ask me.

[dblpn]

In the facility I work in, I would love to have them install an ativan mist into the ventillation system so that everyone would just chill out and love their job.

LOL! oh yeah that would be soooo wonderful. :)

[canigraduate]

My hospital has an OTC vending machine in the inpatient pharmacy.

Usually, though, the nurses I work with carry a lot of OTCs with them for themselves and are happy to share.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

All joking aside. No you shouldn't.. They can also fire you if it is found out you are giving stock meds off the floor. Just tell people to carry it in their bag..and I am sure there are people who have it.