Here's One For Ya.......

tmiller027 · Dec 13, 2003

Originally posted by Julielpn
At work last night, I was with the day nurse in the med room, and we were beginning to count what is in the locked narc box....Well, there were some (recently deceased) pts meds on the counter, and I told her I would be d/c-ing them that night to get them out of the way.
She told me to go ahead and take them if I wanted to, and give them to some other folks I know, and that she would sign them off with me.
I said, "No thanks, I'll destroy them tonight."
What the heck was that? Talk about an uncomfortable situation...this person has been a nurse for over 20 years and seems to be quite intelligent (maybe not!), but still....
And I have been noticing for the past few times I have followed her that she has been signing off on the MAR in "my" place, on my shift, like she already gave the med....and an antibiotic that was sceduled bid was given tid, I do believe, cause not only did she sign in my place, but there was one more tablet missing than should have been. (Pet peeve of mine are my residents not getting their antibiotics on time or not at all, so I count them every time I give one and see if it adds up.)
This nurse has only worked at our facility for about a month.
Hubby wants me to keep a log of all times she has signed in my place, and on what med...he thinks something fishy is going on.
What do you all think?

I'm not a nurse yet, but I do know when something stinks. I'd take your husbands advice and keep documenting her behavior until you figure out what she's up to. She'll give herself away eventually. People like that always do.

DMoon · Dec 13, 2003

Originally posted by Julielpn
...Hubby wants me to keep a log of all times she has signed in my place, and on what med...he thinks something fishy is going on.
What do you all think?

Julie,

Give your husband a cookie and a big hug, because he hit the target dead center: there's something fishy going on here. Maybe it's stupidity and maybe it's drug diversion, but somethin' ain't right! Do as your beloved tells you--document everything. And tell your supervisor!!! It's not only your license swinging in the wind here, it's your facility's risk as well! Many places have programs to deal with employees like this, whether they just can't figure out the proper way to give, document, and dispose of medications, or they've got a drug problem themselves. But don't put yourself and your livelihood at risk by not reporting this.

I'm sure there are others here with plenty more good advice, but that's what comes to me first. Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Dec 13, 2003

Document, document, document.... something WAY wrong here !

Trauma Columnist · Dec 13, 2003

I don't think I would let it continue...I would report it now.

unknown99, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2003

:eek: Yes,

I agree with trauma. It definitely needs reported right away. If she is doing this with antibiotics, then it makes you wonder if the patients are really getting the narcotics that she signs out. COVER YOURSELF!!! It is your license that you will be protecting!!!

sashibeak · Dec 13, 2003

As we say in the UK, cover your orifice, Julie. You do NOT need to get in trouble for this.

Your husband is absolutely right, and you should keep a note of everything that goes on.

Is there someone you can talk to at work? I know you don't want to be a tell-tale-tit, but if you don't have a word with your supervisor then you could get in trouble.

Good luck and be assertive!

mjamesRN · Dec 14, 2003

NoBODY should be signing off your meds except YOU! If you let her, it's your fault. Nurses must above all defend their license despite the comradery we have when we're working together.

And this other nurse is an idiot to let anyone else in on stealing meds regardless if they're not accounted for.

BRANDY LPN · Dec 14, 2003

When you say she is signing out your meds do you mean she is giving them and signign them out like she gave them at a different time or do you mean she is signing your name?

Either way report her now, but if shes signing your name I would absolutely report it to the BON also.

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 14, 2003

so fishy i need a gasmask...

report this one. i guarantee this is one dangerous person.

Agnus · Dec 14, 2003

fishy or not. This calls for an incident or occurance report EVERY time you find she does this. And Do not Delay filing the report. Don't look for reasons before you file the report.

If she is signing out for you write it up. If meds are missing write it up. If both write it up.

A PIA for sure but you must do this for anyone to get to the bottom of it what ever the cause.

If you don't write it us you could be implicated. The conversation that you had with her about disposing drugs should also be written up.

Keep copies of all the documentation that you do on this.

Here is a hint that legally covers you even better than that. Take a copy of the documentation and mail it to yourself registered mail. When it comes back to you DO NOT OPEN IT. Put it away incase you are ever called into court.

The court should be the only one to open it. When someting is mailed registed there is a date and a signature. So you have absolute proof when the documentation was done and that you did not just make it all up at a later time..

This may not be necessary in this situation, but is a good thing to do in some situations where your motive or honesty could come into question in a court room.

jschut, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2003

I think BrandyLPN has what I am talking about with the meds.

Say, a med is to be given at 9p....I am supposed to give it, cause I am the nurse at that time. She will sign her intials as if she gave it, but she leaves at 7p.....so I guess what I am trying to say is that she gives (or don't give, but signs that she did) the med at a different time than it's supposed to be given. Then signs where I am supposed to sign.

When I go to work Monday, I am going to write down all the different times that this has happened.

I am almost reluctant to report it because the DON has put her resignation in (last day is Jan 16th) and the ADON is also leaving. So who do I tell?