With the amount of drug diversion, fake prescriptions and abuse going on, I have to say that controls and safeguards are needed.
That's not to say the process could not be streamlined. This this falls into the category of patients and doctors are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Do wish they would either expand available "back-up" stock or let us borrow narcotics from other patients. Burns me up when I've got a patient that needs their Oxycontin or Percocet and I've got a drawer full of it for other patients.
Can see the need for the rules they have in place, but it doesn't help the patient that needs it.
Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursefriendly.com