Would you do this?

[sinawahi]

What happened is, a friend needs antibiotics though a picc line. Since he does not has a insurance, he asked me if I could do this to save him money. I am a new grad RN and really unsure if I am allowed to do this. Would you do this or better not?

[GilaRRT]

Rule of thumb: if you are not sure an activity performed outside of work would violate your scope of practice, treat the activity as if it does violate your SOP until proven otherwise.

[LVERNSE]

If your friend has a PICC line and is prescribed antibiotics then he has to have been referred to some type of home health service to have the antibiotics administered and at least do the PICC care teaching. Although I know that some of the agencies here in Las Vegas will teach the patient and/or family member(s) how to administer the antibiotics and care for the PICC lines at home, this is not the usual case. If he told them that he has someone to administer the antibiotics and care for the PICC then usually this person is included on the first visit with the home health nurse ( the patient and caregiver are present with the nurse). If you are willing to take this responsibility, then that will have to be established during this meeting and the home health nurse will have to verify that you are competent to give the med. and care for the PICC by having you actually demonstrate this in front of them.

I would speak to his case manager (they're the ones who make the arrangements for home health care) to find out if this could be arranged.

[mamamerlee, LPN]

Patients who are competent can be taught to manage their IV meds on their own. I personally taught MANY people to manage their own PICC lines except for the dressing changes, which can be done at a clinic, or by a competent caregiver. Some home health agencies have a '3 visit' compassionate service situation, and they will draw blood or do the dressings. The discharge nurse/case manager will know which agency to call.

[Larry77, RN]

Pharmacies where I live will not give out IV meds unless it has been "set-up" by an MD-office or home health...what does the pharmacy think he's doing?

[sinawahi]

They are teaching him at the hospital tomorrow how to administer the antibiotics by himself at home. The dressing change will be done in the hospital. So there will be no visit from a home care nurse at all.

He also told me that he signed a form that the hospital will be not in charge if something goes wrong.

He wants me to go with him to the hospital tomorrow to get the teaching and help him the first couple of days.

I am not sure if I should do it or not.

[highlandlass1592, BSN, RN]

Lay people are taught these skills all the time. The problem for you is you will be held to a higher standard of liability. I commend you for your desire to help out a friend but you will not be covered by malpractice insurance or your hospital's Liability Insurance by doing this on your own. If something negative were to happen, can u be sure this friend wouldn't sue your pants off? That is the real issue here. You're not practicing outside of your scope of practice, you're just not able to have coverage for your actions. As a nurse, it's hard to turn down a friend in need. Ultimately, only you can decide if this is the right thing for you to do.

[sinawahi]

Thanks so much for the answers.

I think what I will do now is, I will go to the hospital tomorrow to get the teaching and to give support to my friend. I will let him know that I will not administer the medication and that he will have to do it by himself, but if he does not remember how to do it, I will help him remember. I think this the best way to help my friend and to not risk my any legal consequences.

Do you agree with me?