Forgetting to waste meds

Nurses Medications

Published

I've been working for nearly 8 months now as a new nurse on a neuro floor. I mostly care for stroke, spine surgery, and altered mental status patients, so I do give out quite a few narcs and benzos. But I've been doing a bad job of remembering to waste my meds. I haven't heard anything from my manager about this, but I'm worried sick that I'm going to lose my license over this. Will I reported to my BON? I've tried to be more conscientious of wasting but most times my shifts are busy and I completely forget (I know it's no excuse). I guess I just want to hear from anyone who's been in the same situation, and I'd like to be prepared for what could happen. Thanks

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Specializes in ICU.

I would make SURE you take care of them properly, or you WILL be called on it. People have lost their jobs over lesser things than that. If the rest of us can remember, you can too. ;)

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I don't think you're going to lose your license, or even be reported. However, get , and get a coworker to waste with you immediately when you draw it up so you'll be more conscientious.

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If you carry a clipboard around have a a sticky note on it that says "waste!" Or something on your report sheet

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Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.

Our omnicell will harass the crap out of you if you do not waste meds in the computer. When I take out a narc, and the order is a partial dose, the omnicell MAKES us have a second nurse verify in the system that I wasted the med - otherwise it will continue to harass me until I do. Everytime I log in... "you have partial dose medications that must be wasted. Do it now?" If I didn't have that thing yelling at me every time I took out a motrin, then I'd forget too.

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Our omnicell will harass the crap out of you if you do not waste meds in the computer. When I take out a narc, and the order is a partial dose, the omnicell MAKES us have a second nurse verify in the system that I wasted the med - otherwise it will continue to harass me until I do. Everytime I log in... "you have partial dose medications that must be wasted. Do it now?" If I didn't have that thing yelling at me every time I took out a motrin, then I'd forget too.

Same here - on nights we're pretty good about wasting immediately - I don't leave the med room until I do, even if it means hunting someone down.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

You need to change your habits to waste immediately.

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Waste immediately with a second nurse and do not mess around without taking care to do this immediately. You will get in trouble. It's your license!

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

You need to fix this habit forthwith. (my word of choice when "immediately" just isn't strong enough.) So have you been going home w/ unwasted drugs in your pocket? If pharmacy audits you, or like my hospital if the med room has security cameras and you have a high ratio of removals to wastes...it doesn't look good.

I usually get someone to waste with me right away--either when pulling the med or immediately after giving the partial syringe. If everyone is tied up, I'll tape the syringe to my badge. That way it's in the forefront of my mind, and I remember as soon as I see someone; also the drug is not hidden. It spends no time in my pocket.

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Specializes in long-term-care, LTAC, PCU.

I cannot tell you how important it is to waste. Immediately. If you don't waste it will look like you're taking the drug yourself. Every facility is different but I can tell you that is grounds for an employer to press charges against you. It is a federal offense. In my opinion, you can never be too busy to waste because the consequences of not doing so could be suspension or loss of your license and possibly jail time. I'm sure you're familiar with the phrase "if it isn't documented, it wasn't done" Don't risk your license and possibly your freedom over something that takes 30 seconds to do.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I don't think you're going to lose your license, or even be reported. However, get malpractice insurance, and get a coworker to waste with you immediately when you draw it up so you'll be more conscientious.

This is SO not true! There are many nurses who are reported and have tier license disciplined for improper documentation/wasting of narcotics.

OP you need to change this habit NOW!

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Specializes in ER.

Pretend like narcotics are radioactive plutonium, and without special handling and protocols, you will die of radioactive poisoning.

That's my approach. Try to always waste immediately!

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