Can the Registered Nurse dispense or distribute naloxone?

The Registered Nurse may dispense or distribute an opioid antagonist (such as naloxone) for a high-risk person, their family members, or friends following standing orders from an authorized health care practitioner. Any person or entity may lawfully possess, store, deliver, distribute, or administer an opioid overdose reversal medication with a prescription or standing order (RCW 69.41.095). The Registered Nurse should use the Scope of Practice Decision Tree to determine if specific activities are within the registered nurse’s legal and individual scope of practice. For more information, go to the Washington State Department of Health Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Website.