would you apply for this job?

kessadawn, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2011

There is no way I would work anywhere that doesn't practice correct narc count doublechecks. I worked way too hard for my license to risk it.

Chin up · Mar 17, 2011

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!

pretty70 · Mar 17, 2011

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.

NPinWCH · Mar 17, 2011

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.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 17, 2011

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.

Mulan · Mar 17, 2011

That used to occur in acute care hospitals all the time, prior to Pyxis.

There was not one cart per nurse.

Many nurses took narcotics out of the same cart.

I don't see the problem.

samirish · Mar 17, 2011

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.

caliotter3 · Mar 17, 2011

You count at the beginning and end of the shift and reconcile before either go home. It should be possible as long as everyone is aware of the situation. Agree to cooperate or someone bites the dust. Sometimes we have to get along in order to keep our jobs.

morte, LPN, LVN · Mar 17, 2011

separate the keys, who ever counted with 2' shift gets to keep the narc key and is responsible for administering all narcs for that cart on that shift. alternate the responsibility.

systoly · Mar 17, 2011

What morte said or split the narcs according to patient assignment. Any suggestion to allow shared access is unacceptable. Many years ago, while working at a med surg floor, all the nurses had access and if something came up missing at the end of the shift. no one was allowed to leave.

prinsessa · Mar 18, 2011

That is how it works at my facility. On nights 2 nurses work the floor (sometimes 3). One of the carts is split and one of the 2 nurses will count narcs.