Forgetting to waste meds in pyxis

Nurses Recovery

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I have no history of drug use or dependency at all but am freaking out because I realized that I've been forgetting to waste meds in the Pyxis. I am a newer nurse (18 months) and have ALWAYS shown my coworkers that I'm wasting excess morphine, fentanyl, etc. into the trash or sink, but I forget to have them sign it out on the Pyxis at the end of the shift. Will I get reported to the BON for this? My employer hasn't said anything, I just am thinking about it now and am terrified!

I have NEVER taken anything that was not prescribed, and won't even take prescribed meds so many days before a shift. I have had one random drug screen at work ( after an injury) that was clean. Freaking out here!

I would just start wasting in pyxis from this point forward.

Forgot to add...I also just had a completely clean hair follicle test (they take a ridiculous amount of hair for that!) last week. It was required for a pen job I was hired into. Will that help my case if I am referred to the BON for this oversight?

We had this as an issue in our unit and I'll tell you what fixed it.

The shift is crazy...and whoever was in charge about 30 minutes before the shift ended would go around to everyone and say, "Everyone waste their meds?" We would all remind each other on top of this. This caused it to go from a daily occurrence to zero.

This is a COMMON issue with newer nurses because you are still trying to get your own routine down. The'll just send you a reminder...seriously, do not sweat this.

Forgot to add...I also just had a completely clean hair follicle test (they take a ridiculous amount of hair for that!) last week. It was required for a pen job I was hired into. Will that help my case if I am referred to the BON for this oversight?

They are NOT going to refer you to the BON.

Go to your BON website and look for the reasons that nurses lose their license, suspended, etc. Let me tell you what you won't find:

1. People that forgot to waste meds.

2. People that made medication errors.

3. Refusing to take an unsafe assignment.

Let me tell you what you will find:

1. Medication diversion.

2. Coming to work under the influence.

3. False charting.

4. Criminal convictions for something else.

What is medicine diversion? And thank you so much for the replies....stress levels are decreasing now!

What is medicine diversion? And thank you so much for the replies....stress levels are decreasing now!

It is where you chart that you gave a patient an opiate...but actually took it yourself.

That is one of the most common type of theft, because it can go on for a long time before someone notices.

Thank you Jory....end of shift just has so much going on and it is way too easy to forget to grab someone to waste meds!

Forgot to add...I also just had a completely clean hair follicle test (they take a ridiculous amount of hair for that!) last week. It was required for a pen job I was hired into. Will that help my case if I am referred to the BON for this oversight?

I don't think there will be a case, hon :)

What is medicine diversion? And thank you so much for the replies....stress levels are decreasing now!

I was in a LE capacity at one point. It's basically when a nurse takes the pills that are meant for her patient and uses them for her/himself or gives them to a friend/spouse ect ect. It's a felony, and you can do time in jail over it, I've seen it before. That's not a path you want to EVER go down.

Specializes in Many areas, currently adult psych.

I think you will be fine. Just come up with a plan in how to remember to Pyxis waste. Have a game plan!

Best of luck!

Comments are true to a certain extent... Cont. you to do your job; however, if risk management catches wind of it, you can still be fired, and reported d/t suspicion of diversion. The BON doesn't consider what is, it's what it looks like. This means, people can divert(take meds) and sale it. You don't have to test positive for drugs to be reprimanded.

I would tell you to talk to your manager. The best form of action. It happened to me a few yrs back, but I smoked marijuana; thus, I loss my license for a period of time. Sweetheart, just tighten up on documentation and you'll be fine.

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