Ethical advice needed for a new grad...

[AnnaleaRN]

What would YOU do?

Say, hypothetically, that you are a new graduate RN at your first job. During morning med pass at a SNF, you witness another RN entering incorrect times for med administration on multiple patients in order to seem like everyone received their medication within the designated time frame. When you asked this nurse about the times, she states that she "guesses every nurse has to make a judgement call on how to chart."

Would you take it further? Would you ignore it?

[MissyMichele]

I would certainly not bring this to anyone's attention unless you are absolutely certain that you are able to complete the med pass within the allotted time frame 100% of the time.

[CountyRat]

I have never worked at a nursing home that used scanners.

Nothing happens if medications are administered late, unless management or the state surveyor dislikes the nurse for some reason. In that case, they'd make a huge example out of the nurse and possibly refer his/her license number to the state BON for medication errors. Then, the state BON would formally reprimand and/or issue fines and sanctions if the nurse cannot disprove the allegations made against him/her.

And, the reason nothing happens is that there is usually no clinical significance to being early or late (within reason, of course). Most meds (please note: I wrote MOST meds, not all) work as well given BID as they do given q 12 hours, as well given TID as q 8 hours, etc. Get your post-prandial insullin and pain meds on board on time, then pass your others. Again, there are exceptions, but you are smart and well educated. You know which meds are time critical and which are not, and if you do not, a pharmacist will know.