License under investigation!!!!!

[livinlife4]

I need help! I was terminated this past Spring from a facility that I worked in for all of a month and have been accused of stealing a box of Fentanyl patches. The pharmacy delivers meds between 11 and 11:30 pm (shift change). From the day I started there has never been any consistency with who is responsible for the meds when they arrive at that odd time. All nurses feel the on-coming or off-going nurse should be responsible to sign and put meds away. The hall that I worked on, the second shift nurse would sign and the third shift nurse would initial the pharmacy manifest sheet and put meds away. This is the same thing that happened the night the patches went "missing". I was initially suspended while the facility did an investigation, then terminated days later due to the patches still not being found. I asked the DON at the time of the termination why they couldn't pull this up on the cameras (2 point into the nurses station), and I was told they looked at the cameras and only saw me sign in meds, count with on-coming nurse and leave the building. They never saw me open any totes or take anything yet I am still under investigation! I met with an investigator today and he made me so uneasy as to the outcome of my license, I've never been in a situation like this and now my license is in jeopardy. My defense since day 1 has been for everyone to look at the cameras! The board said they don't have the ability to do so, and I don't know what to do to clear my name. I'm not a thief and certainly not a drug addict. Looking back now I definitely should not have signed the totes in, but the facility sees I didn't take anything! Has anyone been in a situation with the board and can shed some light here? I don't know what to do if I lose my license smh.

[cubrnjvm, MSN, RN]

get a defense attorney and let them deal with that, they will be able to subpoena the cameras record and papers and everyone to testify, it will probably cost you but I believe its worth before losing your license.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

First, contact your malpractice insurance if you carry your own personal policy (I am of the opinion that each and every nurse should). If not, contact TAANA Executive Office - Home for a lawyer familiar with nursing. Second, remove your post here. Why? Because you've provided a fair amount of detail and the first thing a lawyer will tell you is not to discuss this with anyone but him/her. If you are beyond the point where you are able to edit the post, contact a moderator through the help desk for assistance.