Can the registered nurse administer or recommend over-the-counter (OTC) drugs without an order from a physician?

The law and rules do not prohibit the registered nurse from administering or recommending OTC drugs as an intervention based on the nursing process, including nursing assessment, nursing diagnosis, and nursing evaluation. The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission recommends the registered nurse use the Scope of Practice Decision Tree to determine if this activity is within the individual scope of practice. The registered nurse is always individually accountable and responsible for the nursing care the registered nurse provides. Facilities or employers may be more restrictive.