CoWorker using a patient's medication

[BlondieRN19]

My RN coworker took prescription ointment from a patient diagnosed with scabies and used it on herself, fearing she would be exposed and did not want to take scabies home to her family. She had no signs/symptoms of scabies, just very nervous. Am I mandated to report this to the BON? Management and pharmacy staff are aware, but because she is well-liked (and they often socialize/party together outside of work), there has been no discipline. Seems like this is a case of diversion and working outside the scope of practice, as this was a prescription medication. Management recently reported a different coworker to BON accusing her of "neglect" because she accessed internet on work computer . Doesnt seem fair to me. Your thoughts, please?

[Just me.]

I thought that this was a mentoring part of the website.

There are some responses that are straight forward, but done in a kind way.

I am sorry that you dislike my comments, but that is how I honestly feel reading some of the responses.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

34 minutes ago, Just me. said:

I thought that this was a mentoring part of the website

It's a discussion board, not a mentoring program. Additionally, by the use of screen names, it is impossible to verify that anyone responding is truly who they claim to be. That is why everything posted should be carefully considered for veracity and usefulness.

Mentors should be sought out in person or in a site intended for that purpose, with someone who is verifiable, not a nameless, faceless entity online.

[Wuzzie]

21 minutes ago, Just me. said:

I thought that this was a mentoring part of the website.

There are some responses that are straight forward, but done in a kind way.

I am sorry that you dislike my comments, but that is how I honestly feel reading some of the responses.

Mentor, of course. Support bad behavior and follow up excuses...no. That's the worst thing we can do for a colleague in trouble.

It's not a matter of me not liking your responses. You really need to be here for more than a minute before you start making blanket statements about the membership. I have thousands of posts. You publicly passed judgement on me based on one.

[skydancer7, BSN, RN]

BON complaints are for serious things like nurses diverting opiates. Actual safety concerns. I understand some people are black and white rule followers, but use common sense: Do you think the BON needs to be burdened with such an inconsequential thing as freakin scabies ointment? I think they have better things to do, like focus on helping nurses with TRUE substance problems who are an ACTUAL risk to patient safety.

Ask yourself why you feel so driven to report this person for something so minute. Yes technically what she did was wrong, but on a scale from 0-10, 10 being taking another patient's morphine while on shift, this is a 1. How much energy do you REALLY want to spend on this, and better question is WHY? You don't have to answer here. Dig deep. The fact that you mentioned some co-worker dynamics like partying together smacks of jealousy. Are you really just hurt that you aren't in the "inner circle"? Or do you sincerely believe taking some scabies ointment is worth someone losing their license? Food for thought.

[amoLucia]

18 hours ago, MunoRN said:

Not that it makes a huge difference, but the commonly used topical cream for scabies is permethrin which is not actually a prescription medication, it's widely available over-the-counter in the form of bug sprays, lice treatments, etc.

Oral IVERMECTIN used to be given (don't know if it's still is). Cracks me up to know that ivermectin is also a veterinarian drug for dogs.

Whatever, it worked for me! (Job acquired scabies from a resident.)

[zoidberg, BSN, RN]

Anyone else grossed out by someone sharing ANY multi dose topical????

[amoLucia]

14 hours ago, zoidberg said:

Anyone else grossed out by someone sharing ANY multi dose topical????

Yep!

[xanderx]

Simple-mind your own business. Seriously the BON for topical ointment.....

[pseudonym87]

Personally, I would only report colleagues to the BON in instances of neglect, prescribing without a license, going outside of your scope and actual or potential harm to a patient due to someone’s actions. I would always first report to hospital management in person and recap via email (to protect myself). Then, if the incident was in my opinion so grave, then I would report to the BON.

For all other practice issues or minor infractions as the one the OP describes, a verbal conversation with a nurse manager with a follow up via email should suffice.

Keep in mind that if she is well liked, her buddies may retaliate against you so sometimes it’s best to report it anonymously through the ethics line or safety hotline.

[VNurse30]

Oh boy. Sounds like she wasn't punished enough for your liking. Go ahead and take it further. Just know that you'd better be perfect yourself from this moment on.

[SnowflakeRN]

On 1/15/2020 at 8:57 AM, Just me. said:

I am fairly new to this site, and there is a disturbing trend. This need for some responders to accuse the OPs of this and that.

I have noticed this also. Thank you for pointing this out.

[DTWriter]

On 1/15/2020 at 10:19 AM, Wuzzie said:

What is true is that we don't sugar coat things. People ask for honest responses/opinions and they get them.

Off topic but this is what I love about allnurses.

Freedom to speech without fear of being banned by a mod for a difference of opinion (within the realm of professionalism).

Brings tears to the eyes.

On topic:

OP, is this really worth reporting this colleague? Yeah, diversion is diversion, but it was an ointment. An ointment for scabies; not something more serious like a narcotic.

Another member mentioned talking to the nurse and advising her that what she did is considered diversion, and another member mentioned along the lines of paying no mind.

To avoid putting a target on your back, paying no mind seems like the better option.