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?

[caliotter3]

When I started out as a licensed nurse, I was told that giving meds from my cart was in effect, practicing medicine without a license. I was told to handle the problem by opening the container and allowing the employee to dispense their own med. How this absolved me, I don't know, looking back at the procedure, years later.

[Finallydidit]

I too have been told by the powers that be, that I can open the bottle, and allow them to get their own otc. No one abuses this policy, but sometimes people do ask, and I give it. I hardly think doing this will escalate into me handing out keflex, and ativan for the staff....

[errn911susan]

The answer to your question is remarkably simple.

If the medication is supplied by pharmacy for the patient/patients and you provide it to a staff member, you are guilty of diversion no matter what the medication.

If the medication is supplied by pharmacy for staff use and you are being asked for it when you are busy, then talk to your DNS and ask that a place be designated for staff medication. The CNAs can then be responsible for retrieving and taking the meds on their own.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

This happened a lot at my old job. We had big bottles of stock APAP and ibuprofen. I never gave any employees meds, to protect my license, but I had no problem opening drawers or cabinets so employees could get the meds themselves.

[BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

We have a "floor stock" in our omni cell,...we have access to most OTC drugs, free of charge, with permission from management.

[Leelee2]

Doesn't your facility have staff lockers?? I would suggest that they buy a bottle of tylenol and keep in their work locker!

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I've had nurses offer other workers medicine from the cart if they say they ran out of a prescription! yikes!! Tell them to go to the pharmacy on their lunch break. As for OTCs, a nurse in Massachusetts (where else?) was brought before the BON and sanctioned. They considered it 'dispensing without an order or a license to dispense." I keep my own APAP, and Ibuprofen in my desk and let the nurses know if they need it, I've got it.

[dblpn]

I've had nurses offer other workers medicine from the cart if they say they ran out of a prescription! yikes!! Tell them to go to the pharmacy on their lunch break. As for OTCs, a nurse in Massachusetts (where else?) was brought before the BON and sanctioned. They considered it 'dispensing without an order or a license to dispense." I keep my own APAP, and Ibuprofen in my desk and let the nurses know if they need it, I've got it.

I'm not going to risk my license and job for otc meds. i didn't know it was considered ' dispensing without a license or order' that is too serious for me. i'll just have to tell them no and to bring in their own meds to take.

[rukiddingme]

My facility has stock bottles of meds that are also available for staff use. I see no reason not to assist staff with a headache, indigestion, etc.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I see no reason to risk my license by giving a staff member medications. Our stock/house meds are for the residents.

[dblpn]

Tommorrow i'll ask if the otc meds can be given to staff. if not then too bad for them. it's risky for me to do this when they should bring it in themselves. and would you know it i was aksed AGAIN last night for an ibuprofen by one of the cna's. i told her i'm sorry but i cant continue to give out pain meds to them.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

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

Isn't that stealing?

Am I stealing when I grab a cup of water from the nourishment room? Or when I go to the bathroom and use the facility's toilet paper? Or when I use alcohol pads to clean up after a resident scratches me? Not wanting to risk your license is one thing but telling staff they can't have a Tylenol because it's "stealing" is a good way to make them feel like they're not worth the dirt under your shoe.