Writing RX as a nurse

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in pediatrics.

can an RN in the state of Tx write prescriptions? i work at a private pediatirc office. i am an LVN and the RN who works above me is trying to get me to write them. i am not sure if either one of us has the authority! any input welcome, i have tried to research it but have had no luck!

thanks alot

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Your kidding right? This RN sounds like she isn't wrapped to tight....does she mean transcribe a telephone order from an MD or does she mean actually write an Rx? As in patient X has HTN and I think I will prescribe 50mg of Metoprolol BID hold if SBP is less than 90mm/hg cuz if she is doing stuff like that then I can only shake my head.

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this is from the texas board of nursing nurse practice act for rn.

http://bon.state.tx.us/nursinglaw/pdfs/npa2005.pdf

sec. 301.002. definitions.

"professional nursing" means the performance of an act that requires substantial specialized judgment and

skill, the proper performance of which is based on knowledge and application of the principles of

biological, physical, and social science as acquired by a completed course in an approved school of

professional nursing. the term does not include acts of medical diagnosis or the prescription of

therapeutic or corrective measures.

if that is what is says about rns then you don't even have to look at the scope of practice for lpn/lvn to know that what she is suggesting is dead wrong. you even have an obligation to report her behavior so watch out and protect that license that i am sure you worked really hard for.

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Specializes in pediatrics.

we are urology so she writes all the rx for pts that the C&S comes back positive, so according to sensitivities she writes the rx... route, dosage, strength...the whole thing

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I work in a pharmacy and I know we'll take verbal orders from the nurses at the Dr's office but it's always medications that were prescribed by the doctor. From my understanding, the doc is too busy to go through ALL the RX requests so the nurses take care of it. I have no idea how many faxes we receive are actually written by the nurse or the doctor.

I was under the impression that only doctors, NPs and PAs could prescribe medication. Are you prescribing it yourself or writing it per the doctor?

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Some advanced practice nurses (differs by state) have the authority to write prescriptions. Other than that, I'm not aware of any situation where an RN can do her own prescribing.

If you are talking about taking the docs orders and writing them out for him to sign, I can't say for sure, but that seems iffy as well. I have never seen a nurse write a prescription for me or a family member. The docs where I live always write them out themselves and sign them in front of us.

The only role I have seen nurses play in dispensing prescriptions is to call orders in over the phone.

If you are actually talking about ordering meds on your own when you speak of writing prescriptions, you are looking at something far outside your scope of practice. Something, I might add, that could cost you your license.

Medical folks all over the place, especially those working in private offices where there may not be any direct oversight from a governing authority, can find themselves breaking rules and taking shortcuts all the time in the name of expediency. That doesn't make it right, nor does it save them if these practices are exposed and there is an investigation.

If you value your license, please, resist the pressure from this RN (who ought to know better) and, "Just say no!" to writing your own prescriptions.

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RN-my scope of practice does not :no: allow me to delegate an LPN/LVN to write out a Rx per dr orders especially if the order was given to me per phone order. I was given that job and its within my scope but not in the scope of an LVN. That is Kansas scope of practice for the RN. Mind you I am writing it and the Dr has to sign the order when is in the chart be it orders for hospital stay or a Rx to go home with.

Maybe you need to print out the Scope of Practice for the state of Texas and read it over then give it to your RN to read...

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Thanks for clearing that up.

She is practicing medicine w/o a license and she is trying to get you to do the same. Humph, trust me if the crap hits the fan that doc will not cover for either of you. The doc/s will act like they had no idea that the nurse's were practicing beyond their scope.

P.S.

If you are ever called before the BON for any reason ignorance of your scope of practice is not going to fly with them. It's your responsibility as a nurse to KNOW what you are allowed/not allowed to do.

I strongly suggest that you read your scope of practice and stick to it. This may make it difficult to work with the RN at your job and who knows she may even begin to dislike you for it. What you have to ask yourself is this "Is this job worth my license?"

I know of some nurses at my own facility who do things they are not supposed to do and they make fun of me because I will not do certain things. For example, in NYC LPNs may not handle PICC lines but many of the LPNs at my job do it anyway to avoid having to call the one RN we have as a supervisor to the floor. Well I don't care I'm not touching any PICC lines because God forbid the resident gets an infection or something else happens that RN ain't gonna stand up for me and I worked to hard for my dang license to get it taken away from me.

This is my bread and butter and it's simply not fair to the residents.

we are urology so she writes all the rx for pts that the C&S comes back positive, so according to sensitivities she writes the rx... route, dosage, strength...the whole thing
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Is she writing the scripts based on protocol or standing orders?

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can an RN in the state of Tx write prescriptions? i work at a private pediatirc office. i am an LVN and the RN who works above me is trying to get me to write them. i am not sure if either one of us has the authority! any input welcome, i have tried to research it but have had no luck!

thanks alot

Not unless she's also a Nurse Practioner....might she be?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.
can an RN in the state of Tx write prescriptions? i work at a private pediatirc office. i am an LVN and the RN who works above me is trying to get me to write them. i am not sure if either one of us has the authority! any input welcome, i have tried to research it but have had no luck!

thanks alot

Seriously? :banghead:

No RN or LPN/LVN in ANY state can write prescriptions. Sure, a NP with prescriptive privileges can write prescriptions, but a nurse cannot!

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I know when I worked at a Dr.s office she would have me write out for refills of patients meds when they came in for their office visit, but she was the one to check it and sign her name at the bottom NOT ME.

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