Allegation of Neglect

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I hope someone could give me advice. I'm an LPN in the state of Pennsylvania for the past 12yrs without a single blemish or investigation on my license.

I recently received a letter that states an allegation of neglect against me was found to be true. What happened was my prior place of employment is accusing me of giving too much liquid narcotic to a resident. BTW, nothing happened to the resident, no side effects or injury. I was not fired over this, I resigned. Prior to my resignation I did meet with the facility administration and told them there would be times that I would not measure the medicine before giving it to the resident. I admitted to this thinking that I would just be placed on probation or suspension. Well I was wrong.

So my question is what will happen to me? Will I lose my nursing license? Will I be placed on probation or be suspended?

I do plan on appealing this, but I'm not sure if I should get a lawyer.

Can anyone tell me of a decent lawyer for nurses in the state of Pennsylvania? I live in the Scranton area BTW.

I have no clue what to do and ANY advice would be helpful and appreciated.

Thank you!

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Get a lawyer now. The BoN doesn't mess around. You need a nursing license defense attorney. The American Association of Nurse Attorney's has a lawyer referral service. You will likely pay for a consult because of the nature of the information.

The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA) – The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA) is a non-profit organization made up of attorneys, students, and others interested in legal issues as they relate to the health care industry.

Not measuring controlled substances can be considered fraud and affect you with OIG exclusions and bar you from working for any place that accepts Medicaid or Medicare. You can end up with DEA issues.

Do not wait

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Specializes in Home Health (PDN), Camp Nursing.

The time for a lawyer was a bit ago, but better now then never. What your hoping here is a minor disciplinary action and a fine. What it could end up is being a career ender.

My first bit of advice is to shut your mouth. You are actively sabotaging yourself by speaking anymore to anybody.

Second bit of advice. Start moving twards a job without narcotic restrictions such as a MD office or dialysis. I bet no matter what happens you will have narc restrictions. Start now the BON will take forever to apply any discipline, better to already be a a job then have to find a new one.

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Specializes in hospice, LTC, public health, occupational health.

What on God's green earth made you think it was okay to give any liquid medication without measuring it? Do you think the prescribed dosage just doesn't matter? Are you unaware or just uncaring that you could cause respiratory depression and death with a narc overdose?

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[...]

My first bit of advice is to shut your mouth. You are actively sabotaging yourself by speaking anymore to anybody.

[...]

This. To include this post. You should contact a moderator a d ask that this post be removed.

Best wishes as you work through this.

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The thing is I admitted to overdosing thinking I would only get a slap on the wrist, when in all honesty I did measure properly.

I've been a nurse for 12+ years and I know all medication needs to be measured. Especially narcotics.

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The thing is I admitted to overdosing thinking I would only get a slap on the wrist, when in all honesty I did measure properly.

What?

So without a resident experiencing any side effects you faced an accusation that a patient was given too much medication?

And you figured it would be best to falsely state that yes, you sometimes gave patients more medication than ordered because you didn't measure it - and that statement would apparently, in your mind, have led to consequences not as bad as other consequences you thought you might face?

It sounds like the deal here is that there was medication missing. You figured you could arrange a slap on the wrist rather than a diversion charge?

You do need legal counsel and please take care of yourself (seek care if you need it).

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There was no medication missing.

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These appear to be the facts you've given:

You are accused of neglect related to giving too much liquid narcotic

You admitted to not measuring the liquid in order to get just a slap on the wrist

In actual practice you did measure

There is no narcotic missing

On what basis did they accuse you of mishandling the narcotic? Patient complaint? Cameras? Observation by other staff?

If there was no medication missing, and the correct dose was documented correctly, where is the error?

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Specializes in school nurse.

When a person on AN is new (as in joined yesterday) and starts the ball rolling with such a provocative post, well, it makes me wonder...

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.

Nothing about your posts on this thread make sense. Contact a lawyer immediately, regardless of what the truth is.

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Specializes in Pedi.
The thing is I admitted to overdosing thinking I would only get a slap on the wrist, when in all honesty I did measure properly.

I've been a nurse for 12+ years and I know all medication needs to be measured. Especially narcotics.

Ok, how do you reconcile the above statement with this prior statement?:

Prior to my resignation I did meet with the facility administration and told them there would be times that I would not measure the medicine before giving it to the resident.

If you go to the BoN contradicting yourself like this, I'd definitely expect there to be discipline against your license as it's clear that you're not being truthful in some way.

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