Giving out prescription drug samples is considered dispensing. It may be within the scope of practice of the competent and appropriately trained registered nurse to dispense pre-packaged a prescription sample that is properly labeled by an authorized health care practitioner or pharmacist. The registered nurse needs to be competent regarding the specific medication including the indications, contraindications, and side effects that is being delivered to the patient. The registered nurse should use the Scope of Practice Decision Tree to determine if handing out a pre-labeled, pre-packed sample is within the registered nurse’s regulatory and individual scope of practice. See the NCQAC's Public Health Nurses: Dispensing Medications/Devices for Prophylactic and Therapeutic Treatment of Communicable Diseases and Reproductive Health Advisory Opinion for more information