please help Drug Diversion

Nurses Recovery

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Hello I have been a nurse for 15 years.

The other day I received a call rom HR saying. I was red flagged by the pharmaciest. Therefore I am susspended until further investigation.

On Monday I have a meeting about what is going on. I am scared to death as my income is

all we have for my family of 5. I am being accused of drug diversion.

Part of me is not worried bc I am inncocent. Willing to take drug test or whatever they want.

What should I expect and why the acquisations ? Has anyone been through this?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

If you are being accused of diversion, you need to hire an attorney who is familiar with BON issues. If you carry insurance (as you should), your policy will provide an attorney.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Thread moved to forum for replies from those with similar issues.

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Hello I have been a nurse for 15 years. The other day I received a call rom HR saying I was red flagged by the pharmaciest. Therefore I am susspended until further investigation.

On Monday I have a meeting about what is going on.

I am scared to death as my income is all we have for my family of 5.

I am being accused of drug diversion. Part of me is not worried bc I am inncocent. Willing to take drug test or whatever they want.

What should I expect and why the acquisations ?

Has anyone been through this?

Did the facility say "we think you are diverting" or did they say "a narcotics report showed some unusual activity. You are suspended until we can investigate."

If a report shows activity that is outside of the norm, it is not unusual for a facility to suspend someone until they can investigate. They see it as a patient safety issue. Until they can clear up what is going on, they err on the side of safety.

I'm sure that what a facility looks at and how they investigate varies from facility to facility. Here is a link to a good presentation on what data one facility monitors and how they investigate diversion.

Healthcare Facility Diversion Investigations | NCSBN

I'm sorry you are going through this. I hope that whatever has raised their concerns is easily explainable.

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I've was once flagged by pharmacy for entering administered medication manually (too often) instead of scanning it. I was not suspended, but they did question me about it and tell me to quit doing it.

I also worked with an absent-minded nurse who forgot to waste narcotics (twice in one busy night) and got flagged. Since I worked with her that night, I was able to witness the waste late and she was just warned to be more careful.

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Yes HR said Drug Diversion. I was flagged by the pharmacist . I have a upcoming meeting with HR , pharmaciest and my manager I believe . I do know for sure that I did not take or sell anything. Just crazy because I am not sure what I am walking into.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

I'd probably be prepared to give a urine sample that day. And if they didn't ask for one, I might request to be tested anyway if I felt like I was in danger of being accused of anything.

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During our brief phone conversation I mentioned that I will take a drug test. HR replied by saying there are other ways of diversion. I do not get it. My drug test would be clean and there is no way possible they have anything on me taking/selling because I never did that. I can not sleep at night or stop crying this is my life.

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Get a lawyer. Do you have ? If so, call them immediately.

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This is happening to me currently. The Pyxis showed I pulled non narcs that were not ordered and then didn't give them. Also a few times where I had no one to witness waste due to short staffing. Originally the HR meeting was great. I am a new nurse and explained what I had done and they decided on education. Then they kept canceling my follow ups for 3 weeks. When I finally went back in they were not so nice anymore and basically said I was diverting and they believed I was lying. Never a drug test. Suspended without pay pending their "investigation". I also have another job so I resigned. They are now saying they are continuing there investigation regardless. It's horrible. I was in a new grad program and they never said anything about the way I was pulling drugs or not wasting until this. I admitted my wrongdoing but they didn't care. It's terrifying. Thinking I may need a lawyer. I am assuming they will go to the board about it. Just be careful HR can be very two faced. Do not assume they are in any way on your side. Hope it works out for you. 😥

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Post titles like this are why punctuation matters. ;)

In all seriousness, OP, I hope this all works out the way it should for you. Good luck.

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So sorry. Agree with all above...get a lawyer. I am finishing probation for a DUI charge. Never narc or diversion. I am keenly aware, however, that as a probationer for whatever reason I WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE SUSPECTED OF DIVERSION. Un fair I know.I therefore scan all controlled substances and waste at the time of use (a hassle if short staffed). I also quietly refuse to waste with another nurse I highly suspect of diverting to protect myself. Hope things work out well for you...

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