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You should never share a narcotic draw. They can put two narcotic drawers, with two different keys in the third cart. Then you each will have a cart and an additional draw, you are responsible for. Otherwise, I would never share a narcotic draw, with anyone. Peace!
Thanks, that's what I think too. I' ll keep looking in another facilities.
Well, I worked in a hospital and there was only 1 narc cart on each unit, so you shared it with however many nurses were working that floor. At change of shift 1 nurse from each shift counted the narcs. Each time you opened a drawer, you counted the narcs and signed them out. Some nights you might be the only nurse in the cart, other times all the nurses had been in the cart. We didn't have a choice and I know plenty of hospitals that do the same, at least those that don't have Pyxis type systems, which we eventually did get.
Well, I worked in a hospital and there was only 1 narc cart on each unit, so you shared it with however many nurses were working that floor. At change of shift 1 nurse from each shift counted the narcs. Each time you opened a drawer, you counted the narcs and signed them out. Some nights you might be the only nurse in the cart, other times all the nurses had been in the cart. We didn't have a choice and I know plenty of hospitals that do the same, at least those that don't have Pyxis type systems, which we eventually did get.
Actually, within hospitals that have Pyxis systems, what you have described is what goes on. Every nurse that pulls a narc must perform a count unless the system spits out the narc. In the case where the narc is not spit out, nurses with Pyxis are sharing narc drawers but cover him/her self by performing a count prior to removal from the drawer. In one hospital where I wroked the nurses had to confirm with another nurse that the count was correct in the Pyxis and that he/she was administering x to y patient prior to both nurses signing off on the MAR (Over kill, I know).
OP: If jobs are limited, then I think you and other nurses need to get together and express your concerns. It is an easy fix. All nurses can share the same drawer if the policy is set up where every nurse who has access to the drawer must count and have another nurse confirm the count prior to the removal of the narcs.
Im not a nurse, just a student (doing pre-reqs) however from the way you described it I would NEVER consider such a job. It sounds like you would be leaving yourself open to a huge liability. Please be careful. You dont want to be thinking after the fact: woulda, coulda, shoulda. Dont put your license at unnecessary risk.
Again, Im not a nurse so maybe its not a big deal based on facts I dont know. Im just saying my opinion based on your description.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
pretty70
83 Posts
7-3 and 3-11 shifts 3 assignments, 3 MAR's, 3 nurses and 3 med carts. Cart #1, cart #2 and cart #3. Good so far.
Here is my issue on 11-7 shift 2 Nurses. Nurse #1 count narcotics in med cart #1. Nurse #2 count narcotics in med carts #2
and #3. They both share med cart #2 without counting narcotics between them. There is no time to count too many times
during the night according of one of the 11-7 Shift Nurse. There is an open position on 11-7 shift that I am interested but I am
afraid to apply because of the fact that I have to share med cart #2 with another Nurse. I asked to one of 11-7 shift Nurse
and she said that she has to take the risk, there are no jobs available in this town.I know that very well. I would like to get
some opinions. Thanks in advance.