Allegation of Neglect

Published

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!

Specializes in Home Health (PDN), Camp Nursing.

I agree with the above poster. Also don't forget the concepts of "innocent until proven guilty" and "beyond reasonable doubt" apply to criminal law, not administrative proceeding. I assure you, your guilt has already been decided based on the statement you made to your employer and the disciplinary action paperwork that generates. The board is tasked with protecting to public and their only concern is you are safe to practice.

They WILL sanction and fine you. You may have narcotic and practice restrictions. You need professional advice. Do not ignore summons form the BON and do not think that just giving them your side of the story will make everything better.

I feel like you're still trying to defend your mistake and justify your previous statements. That time has passed. Now you must control the damage and salvage your career. A lawyer will be essential to making sure you don't get hung up in dealing with the board, and can generally negotiate better terms for the disciplinary actions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Allegations of neglect against the elderly is a serious accusation and dialysis is primarily an elderly-serving specialty, you will not be hired if this is found in your record. I've worked in dialysis for many years, we have let people go for less than this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

Why would you admit to something that you didnt do?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Why would you admit to something that you didnt do?

This.

You certainly need a lawyer. But you have issues to explore about yourself, if this is how you respond when up against authority.

Take some time for self-care. Best of luck with this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So... you did measure, there was no medication missing, and you admitted to not measuring and overdosing. If you overdosed your patients, wouldn't there be medication missing? If you did measure properly (as you say), why admit to not measuring? Maybe I'm missing something, but nothing about this post makes sense to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg/Infection Control/Geriatrics.
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?

Yes, I did wonder about that myself...???

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This reminds me. Many years ago, at my last RN job in a SNF, I noticed that a certain liquid narcotic was nearly impossible to measure. After fooling with it for 10 or 15 minutes, I finally did my best and gave it to the pt. Apparently I was not the only one doing this, because a fairly small amount came up missing. I was asked about it, stated I had done my very best to measure, and I never heard another word.

Could it be that you tried to measure, but an accurate measurement was not possible?

At any rate, good luck and get a lawyer

Up Vote Up Vote ×
This reminds me. Many years ago, at my last RN job in a SNF, I noticed that a certain liquid narcotic was nearly impossible to measure. After fooling with it for 10 or 15 minutes, I finally did my best and gave it to the pt. Apparently I was not the only one doing this, because a fairly small amount came up missing. I was asked about it, stated I had done my very best to measure, and I never heard another word.

Could it be that you tried to measure, but an accurate measurement was not possible?

At any rate, good luck and get a lawyer

What do you mean it was impossible to measure?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I fooled around with the dropper for 10 minutes and couldn't get the exact dose, as I recall. This is 15 years ago

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Why would you think not measuring a narcotic would not result in what is happening now? Narcotics can kill you when not dosed properly. As a nurse with previous oncology experience I have witnessed so many things in regards to narcotics. If you needed help you should have asked. I am lost for words. Where is the concern for the people you put in danger of dying? This post can't be for real. Where is Ashton Kutcher? Surely I am being punk'd.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
This reminds me. Many years ago, at my last RN job in a SNF, I noticed that a certain liquid narcotic was nearly impossible to measure. After fooling with it for 10 or 15 minutes, I finally did my best and gave it to the pt. Apparently I was not the only one doing this, because a fairly small amount came up missing. I was asked about it, stated I had done my very best to measure, and I never heard another word.

Could it be that you tried to measure, but an accurate measurement was not possible?

At any rate, good luck and get a lawyer

We had an (I think) 180 ml vial of PO versed where I worked. So we had to mark on the side of the bottle when we'd take out maybe 5 ml's and subtract it in our narcotic log. This was a out patient clinic, we didn't use a Pyxis. Good old fashioned written log of narcotic use. The incremental marks on the vial and our written log never matched up. No one, least of all me, was concerned! Being a little over or under the exact 5 ml mark on a syringe can add up after a while. And marking the liquid level on the side of the vial wasn't an exact measurement either!

Irregardless I agree the original post sounds like a troll.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
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.

Im not buying that. That is the single most boneheaded excuse Ive ever heard.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion