Board of Nursing Investigations

Published

Question: I am a long time ICU RN. My old friend who works registry in SNFs is under investigation. She is accused of not locking the med cart at all times while going down the hall passing meds, as well as handling pills with her bare hands. Are there policies and procedures on these issues? Should she be worried? Anyone been through this before? She has had a clean record for over 30 years, and never been through this before. Thanks in advance! Leo, RN

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Your friend is lying to you. The BON has bigger fish to fry than bare hands and unlock chart. Wait for the true story

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
Your friend is lying to you. The BON has bigger fish to fry than bare hands and unlock chart. Wait for the true story

This X 1,000,000,000,000,000

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

My guess is that some controlled substances went missing from that cart during the times she was accused of having it unlocked. Encourage your friend to get a lawyer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for the responses. The SNF did accuse her of taking drugs and she underwent two urine drug tests which were negative. Am I being bamboozled by her?--she is in her 60's and has never had a drug problem that I am aware of, however, one never knows, right? I will advise her to get a lawyer. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

Hi,

I worked with a nurse in a very small ER (8 beds) at a critical access hospital, and had not a clue, none of us did, that she was abusing narcotics. We did always wondered why she was wearing long sleeves even in warmer months, but to us there were no other warning signs. Then the day came when we responded in the ambulance to her in cardiac arrest from an overdose (I worked for the hospital based ambulance), that was a truly awful day. She was young, married, and had children that needed her!

Some of the nurses even hung out with her outside of work and still no one thought anything was wrong, until it was to late. I am not sure how close you are to this nurse, but if you are a close friend please have a heart to heart with her and make sure she is ok and not truly addicted, if she is encourage her to get some help before it's to late.

Annie

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

The truth is, practically every breathing person can complain to every regulatory board or similar organization for whatever reason, however stupid it might be. I was once reported to BON by a patient who thought that I was an illegal immigrant. The Board propmptly sent the complain to ICE and a letter for me that practically said: no worries, huney, let this guy go and get up with the trouble he's asking for. Boards (which are, just as all us nurses, chronically understaffed, underfinanced and always out of time) typically do not bother with issues like handling pills without gloves.

On the one hand, if narcs got missed, then everybody gaving access to that medcart are under suspucion till proved clean, just because diversion is so common and so easy to conceal. There will be UDSs, internal investigation and such, but, again, Boards won't do that, as well as they probably won't discipline a nurse who was not diverting but only easied access to drugs. It is the DON and facility administration's job to do.

If you want, google "disciplinary hearing/BON/ your state". You'll see what it takes to be disciplined by Boards. Although lawyer is always a handy person to have nearby, 90+% of those scary stories of being reported for not labeling a bedpan, calling security, refusing to give more drugs with no order, etc. are just BS.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
Hi,

I worked with a nurse in a very small ER (8 beds) at a critical access hospital, and had not a clue, none of us did, that she was abusing narcotics. We did always wondered why she was wearing long sleeves even in warmer months, but to us there were no other warning signs. Then the day came when we responded in the ambulance to her in cardiac arrest from an overdose (I worked for the hospital based ambulance), that was a truly awful day. She was young, married, and had children that needed her!

Some of the nurses even hung out with her outside of work and still no one thought anything was wrong, until it was to late. I am not sure how close you are to this nurse, but if you are a close friend please have a heart to heart with her and make sure she is ok and not truly addicted, if she is encourage her to get some help before it's to late.

Annie

I've worked with addicts and uncovered diversion at two separate facilities in my previous bedside positions. But not all diverters divert for their own use. One person involved was lifting 60 Vicodin/ week and making a very tidy profit by selling to her friends. She had a well-documented, real hydrocodone allergy- so flew under the radar of suspicion for a long time.

Also: (OT- sorry) How do Vicodin addicts EVER poop? Seriously...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you! I will speak with her.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.
Your friend is lying to you. The BON has bigger fish to fry than bare hands and unlock chart. Wait for the true story

I agree....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you so much KatieMI. I think it started out as more than just handling pills with bare hands, but got whittled down because of lack of video evidence. She's just worried that this will affect her license and ability to get jobs as a registry nurse around town.

THANKS ALL FOR YOUR HELP--YOU ARE A TERRIFIC RESOURCE!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also: (OT- sorry) How do Vicodin addicts EVER poop? Seriously...

I know, right?!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion