Disposal of Controlled Substances

Goals:  Nurses will learn the importance of proper medication disposal.  When patients show their nurses the excess amounts of medications that are outdated or no longer able to be used (including controlled substances), then nurses will be able to educate and direct patients through the proper disposal methods.  Nurses will be able to provide options and resources to benefit the community.  Furthermore, the hope is that other nurses and medical staff will continue to be cautious of the disposal of potentially toxic and harmful substances. Nurses will take a pre-test and post-test and will be graded on the number of correct answers.  Nurses will be expected to explain why they thought their answers were correct and evaluate them on the expansion of their explanation.

1.  Nurses will be able to verbalize and demonstrate how to properly dispose of prescribed and over-the-counter medications by mail.

2.  Nurses will be able to verbalize and demonstrate how to dispose of unused medications and prescribed controlled substances through take-back events.

3.  Nurses will gain knowledge of pharmacy programs available for medication disposal in collection receptacles.