Being Belittled at Work

DusktilDawn · Oct 23, 2007

Hello,
I have been a member of allnurses.com for almost 2 years now, and I have been working as a Medication Technician in the state of MD for about a year now. Hoping that this would help me decide whether nursing is for me. The problem is, I have always wanted to be a Nurse, it's always been my dream but because of situtations at work I am afraid I may end up losing my MED License. A Co-Worker of mine has been lying to cover up her own butt basically by saying I am not giving a certain patient a heavy dose of Valium and that this happening quite frequently. If I lose my MED license and get re-certified will this affect me in the long run when I go to take the NCLEX exam? I am just worried that I may of blown my chance. What's worse is my Co-Worker is constantly belittling my work habbits and always trying to get me into trouble. I am trying to find a new job but I am not sure anyone will hire me considering I may be losing my license eventually. I was just wondering if anyone knew whether this would affect me in the long run as far as my nursing careers goes? The Nurse of staffs seems to think so. Thanks.
~Poetryeclipse~

First off, check with the MD SBON, your facility's policies, and state legislature to see if you are even supposed to be giving out controlled substances and what medications you ARE allowed to give within your capacity as a Medication Technician. If you are not allowed to give controlled substances STOP NOW. The staff nurse you mentioned in another post may not be correct in ASSUMING it is acceptable to delegate the administration of controlled substances. DO NOT RELY on another person's word that it is all right for you to pass out these substances without verifying the truth for yourself.

Okay, let me explain my situation a little better. I am not sure why I am allowed to give narcotics to my patients seeing as I am not a LPN or RN. The staff nurse seems to think it is okay for us to do so, I'm assuming she is wrong? Other Co-Workers also do not believe we have the right to administer Narcotics and we are unsure of what to do. Should we go to the Nursing Board since we are apparently certified by them? The narcotics come in blisster packs that we have to intial beside but for some reason 4 blisster packs of Valium have gone missing on my shift in the last month, and since my Co-Worker is not yet licensed the blame is on me. This is the same Co-Worker who is saying I am stealing from the medicine cabinet. I have been tested and so has my Co-worker, but both of us have passed. Since the only other person who should have access to the Medication in my house is the Staff Nurse, I am being blamed for stealing the blister packs and administering outside of the facility. I am not sure what is going on but I am really scared of both losing my job and my license. I know this is a weird situation but my head RN says I shouldn't even begin to take nursing classes because of this problem occuring. I guess I'm just hoping that since I am moving to VA in another month or so, that all this drama wont follow me from MD to VA. I am starting to take classes in January at a local community college in northern va and I don't want any situations arising from this. Thank you for responding so quickly. I believe my best course of action is to talk to someone at the MD board of nursing ASAP and try to get this cleared up.
~poetryeclipse~

What bothers me is that there shouldn't be a question amongst you and your co-workers as to whether or not your allowed to administer controlled substances, YOU SHOULD KNOW. If you are not sure whether or not you are supposed to be doing this, chances are YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO DO IT. Another thing that bothers me is why is someone who has not met all the requirements for a Medication technician EVEN ALLOWED to administer medications. I also fail to understand the rationale that because this person lacks certification/licensure that this means they are automatically innocent. Smells pretty rank, like they are setting you up to take the fall for this uncertified/unlicensed individual (whom they probably realize should not be allowed to do this job) and themselves or for the staff nurse may be delegating inappropriately. BTW, yes, the staff nurse would be accountable for inappropriate delegation, and yes the facility would also be responsible for allowing an uncertified/unlicensed individual to perform a job that they lack the credentials to do. That does not relieve you for being responsible for knowing the scope of your duties and adhering to them.

You've been placed in a very bad situation, which could follow you to another state. PLEASE do not put your head in the sand and hope for the best. As others have suggested please contact a lawyer, SBON, DEA, start a paper trail, in essence anything proactive to protect your name and future career.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2007

Again, this is just one more reason why I'm against med techs.

It's the supervising nurse who's at fault.

DusktilDawn · Oct 24, 2007

It's the supervising nurse who's at fault.

Certainly the nurse is responsible for inappropriate delegation and she should know whether or not it's appropriate in this situation to delegate administration of controlled substances.

That doesn't mean that Medication technicians should not be aware of what their job is and what falls outside the parameters of that. Irregardless of what one does in a health care institution or facility, one should always know what their job is and the limitations of their scope of practice. They have a responsibility not to exceed those limitations of practice.

Sorry, IMO both are at fault.

calliesue · Oct 25, 2007

IN tEXAS CMA'S CAN GIVE SCHD NARCOTICS , BUT PRN NARCOTICS NEED A NURSE TO ASSESS THE PATIENT FIRST.[ atleast in ltc]