Hi, i am an independant nurse prescriber, have been since december, a very enjoyable role too, i work mainly in a walk in centre and a small GP practice and prescribe in both.

 I do have a query though, raised by a paramedic colleague. I cannulated a patient outside work. I couldnt flush the cannulla as i had no soduim chloride, but if i had some would i have been able to use it legally as it is a POM and i am outside "work" as such. Even in work i cannot see how i can give this without raising an FP10 for a personally administered drug.

As a nurse prescriber, am i allowed to possess any POM outside of work for emergency use.

 Mike

The RCN guidlines on intravenous drug administration and cannulation highlight saline as being part of the routine care of cannulae and as such, if my memory serves me well does not need prescribing any more than the dressing.  Paramedics use cannulae all the time and flush them with saline. They are not at present in a position to prescribe other than under PGDs which covers the use for patients not currntly known to you (the legal standpoint on PGDs).  If you need further advice I would suggest sending a request for clarification to the RCN IV forum

Dave Advanced

nurse practitioner/associate lecturer non medical prescribing

http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/78593/002179.pdf

Sorry,

regarding the other issues about carrying drugs outside work, and using them in an emergency I think you need to take professional advice on this as there are issues of security and the risk of getting attacked for the contents of you drug store.

This goes much deeper than just the precribing issue particularly if you are undertaking these things outside of your work.  It gets to the legal aspects of first aid and the good samaritan versus the potential litigation of not acting where you know what to do and by your inaction being negligent rather then by your action

Dave

 Hi there

In my area (acute ward, secondary care )healthcare supportworkers cannulate and flush with saline, is this ok -I concerned that this might be an issue (or not?)

thanks Lianne

Lianne, hi, saline is a POM and so therefore could be given under a PGD. However, healthcare support workers are not legally able to use PGDs. They could, in theory, administer the saline under a PSD if, they had sufficient training and they were covered by their employers policies to do this. I believe there is a new product on the market, a pre-drawn solution with saline, that is classed as a device as opposed to a POM. This would get around the above but, I think there is a certain amount of constroversy surrounding this. Molly