At a loss...

JWG223 · Feb 14, 2015

I work at a LTC/rehab facility. There's a nurse that works there different shift than me) & there are several of us that have written statements & presented "evidence" (more like speculation) of this nurse stealing meds.
Thing is, nothing is being done. She passed a drug test, & now is having to have her narcs co/signed.....she still has a job. Extensive record, etc. My last day at this place is coming up, but I feel if I leave & don't follow Up, nothing will be done. Why don't people care enough to take care of this situation?? What more can I do?
"The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is to give your gift away."

Stop speculating and mind your own business is my advice. You are screwing around with someone else's career based on "speculation". I'd advise you to stop.

Just my .02

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 14, 2015

Just because it seems to you that nothing is being done doesn't mean that there hasn't been an investigation. While you may have presented your speculation, HR or anyone else in charge has no obligation to inform you of the outcome of any investigation. Employee investigations and disciplinary actions are confidential.

Ruas61, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

You know the results of her drug test?

Really, did they post that on the lunch room bulletin board?

I'll give it a pass on knowing the co-signing of narcs as you can hardly keep that on the QT.

Submit your concerns to the board, if you think you need to.

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

The only way this concerns you is when you are asked by this person to cosign narcotic administration or narcotic waste.

I would deal with it straight on and tell her privately that " I will not sign anything unless I personally see it given or wasted. That protects you and it protects me."

Notify the administrator if the nurse is impaired at work and request to have her removed from the floor.

If you are certain that your management is so corrupt that they are allowing a nurse to divert narcotics from patients, then it is time to transfer to another unit or seek employment elsewhere, which you have already done.

Be thankful that you will be parting ways with this whole situation and focus on your own career, not hers.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

there are several of us that have written statements & presented "evidence" (more like speculation)
Thing is, nothing is being done. She passed a drug test, & now is having to have her narcs co/signed.....

First, speculation is not evidence. I would think that none of us want to be judged based on speculation. Also, as someone else pointed out, an investigation may have happened, and you have no right to know the results of an investigationâ€¦even if it was your speculation that led to said investigation.

As for you second statement, it sounds like something was done. She passed a drug test. That does not mean she is not diverting narcs, but it certainly helps her case. Also, she has to cosign narcs. Perhaps this is being done as a cautious move by your employer. Perhaps they are making her do this even though there is no hard evidence of diversion.

Finally, look at it from her perspective if she is not diverting meds. A bunch of her coworkers went to her boss and accused her of stealing. She was treated as guilty and put through the anxiety of an investigation (there are plenty of threads on AN from nurses who were wrongly accused or various transgressions). Now, even after not having any evidence against her, she is still being treated as guilty and forced to cosign all her narcs. Maybe she did steal medsâ€¦I don't know. However, if she did not steal any meds, you and your coworkers put her through an ordeal and you are still treating her like she is guilty. All based on your speculation.

proud nurse, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

I agree something is being done. She was drug tested and has to have her narcs cosigned. I worked in LTC for years. That would be a huge inconvenience to have someone witness/cosign a narc every time you administer one in an 8 hr shift, especially if you have to go to another wing to find a nurse. Plus, the cosigning nurse is being pulled away from her/his own work duties. Also, speculation should not be enough to get a person fired. Any decent employer will look into the matter.

Good thing is that she works a different shift than you, and you probably won't be asked to cosign. You stated you are leaving soon. I don't know if it is the nurse herself that you seem to have a problem with, or the way you feel your employer is handling it. If it is the nurse, just hope that you don't end up working with her or someone like her down the road.

Mr. Murse · Feb 14, 2015

I'm a little bothered by the fact that you are looking for validation for reporting someone based on speculation and not satisfied with their "punishment" after at least SOME investigation had indicated his/her innocence. I kind of get the feeling you may have some ulterior motives in wanting to see this nurse "pay".

Either way, think about it from management's perspective. Some nurses get together and basically say "we suspect so and so of stealing meds, but have no solid evidence". First of all, I'm surprised they did any investigation at all based purely on coworker's speculations, but they did at least drug test him/her. What more do you expect them to be able to legally do? Even if he/she is stealing meds, they have absolutely no evidence. Do you really want your coworker to lose their livelihood based on your speculation? Does that not sound a little ridiculous?

I'm kind of curious though, what did they do that led to your speculations that they were diverting?

Ruas61, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

I'm a little bothered by the fact that you are looking for validation for reporting someone based on speculation and not satisfied with their "punishment" after at least SOME investigation had indicated his/her innocence. I kind of get the feeling you may have some ulterior motives in wanting to see this nurse "pay".
Either way, think about it from management's perspective. Some nurses get together and basically say "we suspect so and so of stealing meds, but have no solid evidence". First of all, I'm surprised they did any investigation at all based purely on coworker's speculations, but they did at least drug test him/her. What more do you expect them to be able to legally do? Even if he/she is stealing meds, they have absolutely no evidence. Do you really want your coworker to lose their livelihood based on your speculation? Does that not sound a little ridiculous?
I'm kind of curious though, what did they do that led to your speculations that they were diverting?

I wish I could press the like button more than once.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

I'm kind of curious though, what did they do that led to your speculations that they were diverting?

I'm very curious about that too. I suspect the answers people are giving are not the validation the OP was looking for, and I think it's a real possibility that he/she will not be back to answer the above question. :unsure:

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 14, 2015

I'm very curious about that too. I suspect the answers people are giving are not the validation the OP was looking for, and I think it's a real possibility that he/she will not be back to answer the above question.

I'm thinking not as this isn't the first time OP has posted about suspicions of others diverting: https://allnurses.com/nursing-patient-medications/-quot-diverting-quot-960025.html

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

I'm very curious about that too. I suspect the answers people are giving are not the validation the OP was looking for, and I think it's a real possibility that he/she will not be back to answer the above question.

Ah, totally dislike the post and runs, or the lurking in the background to such posts... :rolleyes: