§ 72361. Pharmaceutical Service - Orders for Drugs.

(a) No drugs shall be administered except upon the order of a person lawfully authorized to prescribe for and treat human illness.

(b) All drug orders shall be written, dated, and signed by the person lawfully authorized to give such an order. The name, quantity or specific duration of therapy, dosage and time or frequency of administration of the drug, and the route of administration if other than oral shall be specified. “P.R.N.” orders shall also include the indication for use of a drug.

(c) Verbal orders for drugs and treatments shall be received only by licensed nurses, psychiatric technicians, pharmacists, physicians, physician's assistants from their supervising physicians only, and respiratory care practitioners when the orders relate specifically to respiratory care. Such orders shall be recorded immediately in the patient's health record by the person receiving the order and shall include the date and time of the order. The order shall be signed by the prescriber within five days.

(d) The signing of orders shall be by signature or a personal computer key. Signature stamps shall not be used.

HISTORY

1. Change without regulatory effect amending section heading and subsections (b) and (c) and amending Note filed 3-12-2013 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2013, No. 11).

Note

Note: Authority cited: Sections 1275 and 131200, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 1276, 131050, 131051 and 131052, Health and Safety Code.