Couldn't Find Ativan Pt Threw in Trash

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Specializes in Psych, Geriatrics.
Couldn't Find Ativan Pt Threw in Trash

I work in psych and the other night a pt threw all their meds into the trash through the med window - including an ativan. The trash can is very large and was very full at that time. I documented the waste but couldn't find the ativan in the trash and left it there. The trash is behind my med window so no pts are able to get to it. I'm just afraid that I'll get in trouble! any advice or insight? I've been an lpn for 3 months now. 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

As long as the Ativan's whereabouts and an attempt to locate it were documented, there should be no problem unless someone wants to be a stickler. Then they could be requested to go look for it.

A similar situation occurred with me, newgradlpn. I attempted to administer a dose of clonazepam to a geriatric psych patient who dropped it. I've always prided myself on being able to find lost pills on the floor by putting my head perpendicular with the floor. Try as I might, I could not locate that pill, so I just documented the loss.

Nothing became of the situation.

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You should be okay, if you document  what you just told us. Was there another nurse available to document the situation?

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If my employer comes after me in this situation, it's not a place I'm interested in working... 

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Specializes in Psych, Geriatrics.
Been there,done that said:

You should be okay, if you document  what you just told us. Was there another nurse available to document the situation?

yes, we wasted via Omnicell and documented that the pt threw all the pills in the trash on Epic

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newgradlpn said:

yes, we wasted via Omnicell and documented that the pt threw all the pills in the trash on Epic

Documentation was spot on. Please try to let this go.

 

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