Entire card of narcotics missing!

Red Kryptonite · Nov 26, 2014

I have learned both of us are suspended during investigation. I notified him that night the card of narcs were in box for his pt before leaving. I wondered that myself after hearing how defensive he became when asked about the narcs.

Eep. Wonder how his drug test turned out?

amoLucia · Nov 27, 2014

I had thought of another response and then I read your second post. That does change my point of view.

To me, the fact that multiple nurses must "share" a med cart during a shift means that multiple nurses had access to the keys (I'm assuming, yes?) and thus multiple nurses had opportunity to divert the narc card. That is a SYSTEMS flaw and that action needs to be administratively changed immediately. Too many hands in the drawer can yield too much opportunity for a diversion to occur.

Just know that staff who divert narcs may not be taking meds themselves (will have negative urine screens). Rather stolen narcs will be used for street sales when the nurse needs the money so badly.

You did fail to follow your facility's proper policy & procedure for the 'count' and for that you're taking your lumps.

As others have posted, it is STRONGLY STRONGLY recommended that you contact your malpractice carrier (if you have one) as you may need a lawyer if your BON and the law become involved.

Just FYI - I am guessing that you work skilled/LTC. Your work environment doesn't sound so terribly different than most facilities in the industry. It is a tough field, esp for a newbie. It's tough for us elders there too. I don't know that you'd find another workplace very much different.

Good luck.

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2014

Diverters will scheme to have trusting and less experienced nurses take the blame for their actions.

It is not just an illness of addiction, it is a crime of theft and it should be reported as such.

Rachel512 · Nov 27, 2014

I totally agree with the stealing to sell for profit. It is the holidays. I had considered that. If I had counted I wouldn't be involved in this mess. mgrs have been supportive of me in sharing stories. My wondering is since it was put in narc container without being entered into book it made it easier to take. Some ppl look at narcs like easy money. I do not like sharing carts. I agree that LTC is busy like this in all areas. I am considering switching to home care. I'll get through this and move forward with the valuable lessons I've learned. Thanks for all the feedback!

caliotter3 · Nov 27, 2014

Be mindful of moving into home care. Controlled substances disappear there too and you will have to watch out for not only your coworkers, but the family and visitors, and you will need to put up with your employer that refuses to maintain accountability policies unless they want to spear you with that harpoon.

Karou · Nov 28, 2014

Sharing a narcotics cart with multiple nurses seems like a huge potential for trouble. What a bad idea. I agree with another poster that there is a system flaw here that contributed to this mess. You have already owned up to your mistake in not counting the cart, which is good. From reading your patient load I can easily see why an error like this could happen.

I am sorry this has happened. I hope everything clears on your end and you are cleared after your facility investigates, maybe this can lead to a change in policy about how they store and manage narcotics. Good luck!

ixchel · Nov 28, 2014

Oh, love, what a mess. I just offer you hugs. I think putting your resume out there sounds like a good idea. I hope the nurses you share the cart with also have received disciplinary action. If not, that's a whole other can of worms.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 28, 2014

Everyone's pretty much whatever I would have said, so I'll just say that I wish you the best of luck and hope you get through this OK.

Nibbles1 · Dec 2, 2014

I would consider looking for another job as well. I worked in a LTC as a newbie and had 33 blood sugar checks, 22 PEG tubes, and 48 residents to watch over. If someone fell or god forbid I got a new admit, my night turned to a nightmare. Day shift nurse was too busy writing up CNA's for not doing their jobs and would leave me stacks of labs. She would get an admit and leave me to do the assessment. My breaking point was when she verbally told me that the doctor changed a narc and increased it but she didn't write the order. I refused to write it. She tried to write me up for being insubordinate. Really? The final straw was on August 2, 2012 when a resident fell out of a window. Yes, she went thru her room window. Her head was bleeding badly and had pine needles stuck in her hair. The DON screamed at me for not being in there when it happened. I quit August 10, 2012 and started private duty pediatric August 13, 2012. Have not looked back. I also work for an agency so I can keep up with my skills.

HUGE hugs to you! You are going to be a great nurse.

Red Kryptonite · Dec 2, 2014

That is a harrowing tale. I am never working LTC unless my family is facing starvation.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2014

I'm sorry you're going through this.

Rachel512 · Dec 15, 2014

That is terrible! Thank you for sharing! Hugs to you also!! I have been able to keep my job and have returned to work. Another nurse was also suspended along with me and he lost his job due to drug screen. Another nurse knew of the outcome and wouldn't share with me so I told her I think since I'm the one who got a 2 week unpaid vacation I think I should know. So she told me minimal details. I now know more of who talks to who and not to share with others. I also learned my own valuable lessons as a new nurse. Sometimes it feels lonely cause not sure who to trust as coworkers. I enjoy reading posts on here.

I am looking into other areas for jobs. I love wound care and hope to land a job in that area in the future. :) Thanks everyone for your feedback!! Onward!!!!