Quote:does anyone know if it is legal for me to give out OtC meds?
I'd check with your state board of nursing. I can think of three situations in which you may be allowed to do this legally: 1) You're a nurse practitioner with prescriptive authority or 2) You are CRNA, or 3) You are following a specific P&P. If not, chances are you aren't licensed to dispense meds (even OTC meds) without an order from one of the above or an MD.
For example, the Arkansas Nurse Practice states that an RN can:
Quote:Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by practitioners authorized to prescribe and treat in accordance with the law where such acts require substantial specialized judgement and skill based on knowledge and application of the principals of biological, physical and social sciences
In Colorado, however, the law is less specific and depends on what set of skills you were taught in nursing school:
Quote:Scope of Practice for the Registered Nurse (RN)Determining Your RN Scope Of Practice
The Board of Nursing has been working to empower Colorado nurses to determine their own scope of practice. The Board's mission is the regulation of nursing practice in Colorado; this regulation does not mean dictating how individual nurses should carry out that practice, but whether or not the practice meets the standards established by the Nurse Practice Act. Using the following guidelines and the attached flow chart, a nurse may decide what is within scope, and to make certain the task or practice is documented in facility or institution policies and procedures.
Begin by asking the following question: Is this task/practice within my scope of practice?
A. Basic Nursing Education Preparation
Was the skill/task taught in your basic nursing program?
OR
If it was not included in your basic nursing education, have you since completed a comprehensive training program, which included clinical experience?
Has this task has become so routine in the nursing literature and in nursing practice (e.g. sharp wound debridement), it can be reasonably and prudently assumed within scope?
Is the skill/task in your hiring agency policy and procedure manual?
Does carrying out the duty pass the "Reasonable and Prudent" standard for nursing?
If you can answer "yes" to all the above questions, the task is within your scope of practice and you do not need to seek a practice question decision from the Board. If you cannot answer "yes" to all of the above, proceed to option B.
B. If you answer "no" to any of the questions above, consider two possible outcomes:
The task is not within your scope of practice - Omit task
The task may not be within your scope of practice - Request Board of Nursing advisory opinion if needed.
I was never taught that it's okay to give something as simple as Tylenol without an order, but I also know that nurses in this state do it all the time. However, I also know that current members on our BON are pretty conservative, and would probably frown on this practice. So if my goal is stay out of trouble with this particular BON (board of nursing), I wouldn't do it, even though it's common practice by most RNs I know.
If you're concerned about facing your board of nursing in a potential disciplinary act, I would seek the advice of your board of nursing. If the answer is no, then you can politely decline to give these meds until your employer provides you with the necessary support (P&P) that protects you from disciplinary actions from the BON.
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