legality of giving herbal medications

[jules22]

I work in a subacute extended care facility and have been told by my company that I should administer herbal treatment to a patient. These drugs were not prescribed by the physician...the family brought them in and the doctor "ok'd" their usage. He did NOT prescribe them, nor did he write an order for their usage. These drugs do not have a list of interactions, contraindications or side effects. As a nurse are we allowed to administer these meds???

[cassioo]

If they doctor ok'd their usage let the pt take them themself. If the pt is unable to take them himself and the family can't give them if the Dr ok'd them is that a verbal order? Call him and ask him for an order ie: ok to take own herbal supplement x, y & z. If you have a pharmacy that checks out meds then send them to be checked out if not and it's not policy if you have the order then you can. Do you know what the herbal meds are and their effects? There are references out there about herbal medications and some people swear by them.

[hppygr8ful]

As nurses our first duty to to advocate for the safety of our patients. Many herbal meds have severe interactions with the prescription meds we are giving to our patients. Check with your pharmacist. Then get an order from the doc and put it in the chart. This protects you in the event of an adverse event. Without a written order you will never be able to prove that the doc "said it was ok" and it will be your donkey's behind on the line. Also even if you have an order and you knowing give a med that could harm a patient you can be held responsible as it is your duty to protect the patient. Ie in progress notes write " Informed Doctor of known risk for intercranial bleedin with use of Ginko Biloba" Advised patient and held medication for further order" Dr.'s don't always like nurses who question them but so what and if your facility demands you give the meds then get a copy of your states Nurse Practice Act and show them the sections regarding your responsibility for patient safety.