Controlled Drugs In A Non-Acute Setting.....

[Goodsoulette]

When signing the controlled drugs register are you signing to say you have removed them from the cupboard and then recording on the MAR to say that it has been administered? Or are you signing the controlled register to say it has been administered as well as removed from the cupboard?

[bednobs]

as far as i know you are signin g to say the drugs have been administered to the correct person, that there was the correct amount in the cupboard and that there is the correct amount going back

[pixie373]

You sign (two people) the controlled drug register to say the drug and dosage you have taken from there and the amount that is left. You sign the person's individual medication sheet to confirm it has been administered.

[Goodsoulette]

So you wouldn't sign until administration then? Policy is a bit vague and refers to it purely as a transaction.

[pixie373]

So, you are right.

[Goodsoulette]

That was the impression I was under Pixie.... but there's a divided interpretation that would follow what Bednobs has written.

[Peter Pedant]

oh, right....
is there trouble about this ?

prescription is when a doctor sign a bit of paper - pink sheet - drug cardex.
BUT you can have group prescriptions which are unsigned and hospital policy. Group prescriptions had a vogue in the 90s

dispensing is when the pharmacist or nurse or doctor or dispenser takes the drug from the shelf give it to the person who is gonna give it

administration is when the doctor injects it or the nurse says 'Bottoms up' ! and so on

and so ...... signing the controlled drugs register tallies with ... dispensing.
You are giving it to the person who will administer it.

signing the drug sheet tallies with ... adminstration.

I hope this helps.

different words to describe different part of the drug giving process.

I was on the children formulary BNF advisory committee
and I knew it would all come in useful one day !

trouble over this can be very troublesome to your career and you may find it useful to ask for written clarification from your line manager.

[pixie373]

Yes, as Peter has said, there are two parts and two separate places to sign. Taking the correct amount from the cupboard does not prove the person has taken it. It may have been given to the wrong person, lost, refused by the correct person. The MARR charts are for that part. Again, 2 signatures needed .

[bednobs]

i suppose my experience is from an acute setting so may be different. I certainly wouldn't sign anything, even as the second person, unless i'd seen the person take the drug

[Goodsoulette]

Thank you all, if anyone stumbles across this and know where I can find something saying that the signing of the controlled drugs register is related to dispensing not administration then that would be awesome.

[pixie373]

I think that just the fact MARR chart stands for Medication Administration Record- should be enough for your boss? But I will have a look x

[Goodsoulette]

You would think so wouldn't you? lol

[pixie373]

Yes- I am looking, but it's more by omission of what a controlled drug register is for, rather than spelling it out. What I would suggest, is that you take the Register to him/her and ask where it shows that the medication has actually been given/ taken and not declined, spat out, given to the wrong person etc. You would think a little logic and common sense would make them want to cover themselves. Maybe put it that way? Less chance of being sued...