Med error could cost my job? Need help!

[dmwRNpa]

Hi everyone! I really need to get this off my chest and get some responses back on your opinion of the problem.

I was off work for 3 1/2 months for some personal problems. When I returned to work, I am not allowed to work nights or be mandated. Soo, the hospital I work at said this is a disability. So I had my MD fill out the paper work which included a detailed summary of my problem. I just got back into the swing of things, and now I have a major problem.

I was working evening shift, and it was really busy on my med-surg unit. Patient A asked for a pain pill, and so did patient B. I knew it wasn't time for patient B's pain pill, but I went into the med room to get patient A a pill. I got into Pyxis, our computer system for medication distribution, scrolled down to my patient and selected Vicodin ES. When the drawer opened, I removed one pill, opened it, and placed it in the cup, but the cup tipped and the pill was ont he floor. SInce the drawer was still open, I accidently hit cancel all meds, which cancels my action and makes the machine still think that theres the original number of pills in there. In my case, there were four, I took one but it fell, so now theres three, but since I hit cancel all meds, the machine thought it had four still. My nurses aide came into the room and told me that pt C was climbing out of bed again, and pt D was coughing so hard she was throwing up. I was now in a hurry to go help her out, so i put the dropped pill in my pocket until I could call pharmacy and figure out how to fix the problem in the pyxis machine. I created a discrepancy because I still had to remove a pill and the true number was different from the machines number.

The night just got worse from that point. I spent a good part of my night on the phone, with every ones family members, three different doctors on different patients, attempting to keep my Houdini in bed, etc etc etc you all know how it goes. I totally forgot about that pill!!!

The next day, I go to work, and I get called to HR. I'm instantly placed into a state of panic, what did I do wrong, did I get a serious complaint against me (I had a pt not happy with me the week before), was I being sued, I mean a million things were going thru my mind. I practically ran to the other side of the building to get to HR. When I got there, I was out of breath and scared to death to hear what was going on. When they told me it was over this discrepancy, my mind went totally blank. I didn't remember what I did with the pill, and I didn't have it on my person. Since I didn't know exactly what happened to the pill, and I didn't have it to prove that I didn't take it, They placed me on administrative leave of absence, unpaid. They told me that I could get either probation or I could be let go. I got hysterical. I had to call my mom to come get me, I was so upset that I couldn't function. My manager had to stay with me as long as I was in the building, which was embarrasing. I took an extra nerve pill while waiting for my mom to come get me. I just sat there and cried, telling her over and over that I didn't take it, I would rather die than risk my job. I love my job, and I've been with the company for six years now.

When my mom got me home, I took my managers advice and checked my uniform from the day before. My mom was a witness. We checked all the pockets. I had a shirt that has double slit patch pockets on the front. I always use the pockets closest to my body, never the ones further out. We found the pill in the front pocket. I was so happy that I cried. My anxiety medicine had kicked in,and I remembered the entire incident from the night before. I immediately called the hospital, requesting to talk to the head lady in HR. I explained to her what had happened, and she told me that its fishy since just an hour and half ago, I didn't know what happened to it. But its the truth. I'll swear on a Bible, I'll give hair sample for drug testing, whatever they want. I'm not a drug abuser, never have been. And the thought that they are suspicous of that makes me upset, but I can see where they are coming from. Its been over a week since this happened. Its been more than five days. I still haven't heard anything yet. The waiting is killing me. Just the thought that I could lose my job is driving me insane. Has anyone else dealt with anything like this before, what came of it, or does anyone have any suggestions for me? I could really use all the support I can get at this point. Thanks

[RN4emrgnc]

I am sure that most any nurse can relate to something similar happening to them because this exact scenario is all too common, or at least some variation of the same basic thing. I personally have never carted anything home, but I could have on many occassions if it weren't for mere coincidence that I raked my fingers across "it" at some point in my shift (as I raced up and down the patient hallways like a short-order waitress working at SONIC drive-in). I think that it is important for you to see this for what it really is, and that is that this is not atypical disciplinary action and it appears quite obvious, in the little bit that you outlined, that this place was just looking for you to slip up so they could give you your walking papers. My suspicion is that they were probably disgrunted over your leave that you took and although they may not have said anything to indicate they were upset with you, I believe they were just waiting for you to screw up so they could hang their hat on something to get rid of you. This is an all too common strategy that employers use to dismiss employees. They could not dismiss you while you were on leave and they were bound by Fair Labor Laws to honor your Dr.'s excuse without making you feel retaliated against in any way. Also, I don't know what state you are from, but many states, including Missouri where I live is an "at-will" state, which means that an employer or employee can sever ties with the other, without any prior notice, and without reason. It is a common misbelief that employers are required to follow a termination protocol of some sort, with the employee being given x amount of verbal and written warnings before they can be terminated, but that is completely false.........at least my Missouri law. It could be the case in other places, as I am not familiar with other state's laws. I would start searching for another job and chalk it up as a lesson learned.

~Lindsey:welcome:

"Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret"/QUOTE]

[Sheri257]

Let's face it, we've all made mistakes. A lot of them. Some more serious than others. Anyone of us at any time could be the target of an inquiry for whatever reason. And, if an inquiry is done, it's likely they'll find some mistakes because we are all human. Just don't make any of your mistakes serious enough or close enough together time-wise that gives them a reason to look. Something tells me that they are trying to get rid of this employee and are using this as their excuse. It's unfair.

While I agree with a lot that's been said here, I think taking a "nerve pill" during the inquiry probably made the situation a lot worse. It sounds like she took this pill right in front of the manager.

Maybe it's just me but, if you're under investigation for missing narcotics, the last thing I'd want to do is take medication while I was under observation by management. It could easily feed the misperception that you're some kind of pill popper.

If they didn't have an excuse to get rid of you beforehand, seems like you might be giving them an excuse right there.

:typing

[mandykal, ADN, RN]

Most of us can empathize how the O.P. is feeling. The worst part is having to justify yourself knowning that you're innocent. I have 2 nursing jobs. 1 is part time, and the other is per diem. So, if anything should ever happen to 1, I don't have to worry about resume and all that paperwork. All I have to do is turn my per diem job into full time. Nursing practice on a daily base consist of covering your anatomy.....sad thought but true. What a job!

[ladyinred667]

This is why I've gotten into the habit of emptying my pockets before I leave. It's just too easy to make a mistake like that.

That is an excellent habit. I will definitely start doing that when I am practicing.

[ginarn5]

Those Pixis machines can be a nightmare if you goof up the narc count. It's too bad you work in such a nasty place. I always thought that there had to be a pattern of suspicious narc counts or something. I have done the same thing as you but worked with more trusting people. One thing I have made a habit of is going through my pockets before I leave the floor because I know I can't trust my memory after a long shift. If they persist in making a big deal of this tell them you are going to talk to a lawyer . If you are able to find another job you should. No one should have to work in such an atmosphere. Nursing is too stressful.

[htrn]

First of all {{{{{OP}}}}} I am sorry you are having to deal with this.

If not done already, please write an incident report about the day you turned your paperwork into HR. What time to took the paperwork in, who you gave it to and why, what time you came back in and found the paperwork face up on her desk for God and everyone to read. Make several copies of that and distribute according to your Union rep or attorney's advice (i.e. EEOP, hospital administrator, director of nursing, nurse manager, HR, etc...) BTW, make sure you have a list of recipients on the incident report to include the EEOP so that the powers that be at the hospital see that the incident has been reported to the big guys.

I'm sure you already have, but be sure you write down EVERYTHING that happened with the vicodin, an incident report, and ensure you keep a copy of it.

Then, if they decide to terminate you, write a letter detailing your experience and how you were treated and that you feel this is a wrongful termination. Send that and all the other incident reports to a civil rights attorney - sounds like the hospital may need an education in the ADA, or if they have one, this is a thinly veiled way of getting around it.

Good luck.

[CVICURN2003]

Our pyxsis at work can go back and see who took what drug out. If there is a discrepancy it is bright red letters if it is a narc. If it is not a narc it shows up in grey letters. In my unit, if we notice a discrpancy, it is our policy not to take any more narcs out until that discrepancy is fixed. Our charge nurse and pharmacy go back and look at the people that took that narc out and ask them about it. Usually, it is something very simple. In their pocket becasue they decided not to give it or they simply counted wrong. But our discrepanies usually get fixed fast. If drop a narc and have to waste the entire dose we have to take it to the pharmacy and two nurses have to sign and the pharmacy. I busted a fentanyl vial like an idiot the other day and we had to go to the pharmacy with the busted vial and I had a witness to what happened. It sounds like they were out to get you to me...I'd get that lawyer.

[3gnursemommy]

I'm so sorry to hear that happened to you. A very very similar thing happened to my mom last year. It has been a very long process since then but there was a little bit more going on. Not that I would ever recommend anyone to leave their job but what we learned with her is that if she would have left before things escalated to the point that they did she would have been better off. It seems the way some hospitals are anymore once a judgment is made it is very hard to convince them otherwise. After watching what she went through I know that if I am ever in that situation I will leave and begin again rather than having the long drawn out process break me. I will be thinking of you. Just know who you are and keep your confidence. Good Luck.

[Agnus]

Something a little different happened to me. A drug discrepancy showed up in the pixis. I simply could not explain it. I asked may manager to please drug test me now.

She saw no problem with it and asked about it, after assuring me that I was not undersuspicion and they did not require a test. She understood my feelings though and thought the hospital probably would do a test if I insisted.

The reply was that no testing was required. Sometimes discrepencies happen that can not be explained. If I wanted to be tested on my own that would be ok.

She said that at no time I was under suspicion. The only time I would be under suspicion and then they would require a drug test, was if this or something simular was happening with me on a repeated basis.

It was actually 3 days later when my manager called me about this. SO even if it is a week later insist on being tested. Be willing to submit to both a blood and hair test. Let them know of your concern and that you do understand that this looks suspicious and you feel you must clear yourself. Since your seem to be under suspicion you might even pay for a test yourself if they refuse.

Keep in mind if they refuse then they really do not suspect you. And they have no grounds to acuse you if they refuse test. If they persist in accusations even after refusing to test. Get tested yourself and get an attorney. In my case there were 3 norco missing and not accounted for.