Dilemma with Narcotic Med Count

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I work at a LTC facility as a new nurse for 2 months. I work 3-11 shift, well last night when the new DON came on to work 3rd, we did our narcotic med count as usual, the count came up correct, we signed it off and it was time to clock out. Well, I got a phone call this morning saying that the count wasn't right at 7am and that there was a Lortab missing. I told her that the resident's medicine it was missing from only got Ambien last night on my shift and of course I signed it off. I told her she didn't get any pain medicine. My question is has anyone else ever been in this suituation? My DON said well then "we have a problem". She has called twice this morning and asked me the same thing again. I told her over again that no, I didn't give her a pain pill. Could this jepordize my job, not to mention my nursing licenses, even knowing that I did nothing wrong. What if she tries to blame me for taking it???Should I be this stressed about it??

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If the count was correct when you left at 11, its not your problem, its the DON's.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Hmmm, if she co-signed off the count as "correct" before you left, how is this YOUR problem??? Seems to me, like the poster said before me, SHE has the problem, not you.

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Don't fret over it. She signed the count was correct, it's here baby so to speak!

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

Looks like the DON is responsible for this... My DON is not allowed to pass pills in the facility because it is a conflict of interest. Who would my DON report to if the count was off?....So we always have another nurse or CMA pass her pills....Sounds like she goofed up and is trying to blame you...

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Specializes in Inpatient Acute Rehab.

Everyone is right--- the D.O.N. is at fault. She is the one who signed that the count was correct and accepted the count as correct. You have no need to worry.

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I work at a LTC facility as a new nurse for 2 months. I work 3-11 shift, well last night when the new DON came on to work 3rd, we did our narcotic med count as usual, the count came up correct, we signed it off and it was time to clock out. Well, I got a phone call this morning saying that the count wasn't right at 7am and that there was a Lortab missing. I told her that the resident's medicine it was missing from only got Ambien last night on my shift and of course I signed it off. I told her she didn't get any pain medicine. My question is has anyone else ever been in this suituation? My DON said well then "we have a problem". She has called twice this morning and asked me the same thing again. I told her over again that no, I didn't give her a pain pill. Could this jepordize my job, not to mention my nursing licenses, even knowing that I did nothing wrong. What if she tries to blame me for taking it???Should I be this stressed about it??[/Q

NO WAY GIRLFRIEND THERE IS NO WORRY IN YOUR PART.THE DON HAS A PROBLEM AND NOT YOU. :) THE WORSE THING THAT COULD HAPPEN IS YOU WILL HAVE TO DO A DRUG SCREEN. DID SOMEONE ELSE ON ANOTHER SHIFT GIVE THE PILL AND FORGOT TO SIGN IT OFF? GET SOME REST.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Exactly, she has noone to blame but herself. You need to make that point if she calls again. The count was right when you left at 11 so how is it that you would know where that pill is? Unfortunately she is the DON, so there is noone for her to "report" it to, but she also has the authority to make it someone elses fault. But it wont say much for her if she tries.

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I don't even see how that DON would have any wiggle room. If DON and OP both signed off that the count was correct at 11, unless someone else had access to the narc cabinet/drawer/whatever (eek!), she has no-one to blame but herself.

I would also make that point should she call again.

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Yep what everyone else said. DON or not...she signed on after counting with you and took responsibility of the meds even if the count was wrong (she counted wrong...she signed for it ) Bring this up with the ADM.

What....DON cant pass meds because of accountability?? never heard this one!

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Once you hand over those keys your responsibility ends.

I work at a LTC facility as a new nurse for 2 months. I work 3-11 shift, well last night when the new DON came on to work 3rd, we did our narcotic med count as usual, the count came up correct, we signed it off and it was time to clock out. Well, I got a phone call this morning saying that the count wasn't right at 7am and that there was a Lortab missing. I told her that the resident's medicine it was missing from only got Ambien last night on my shift and of course I signed it off. I told her she didn't get any pain medicine. My question is has anyone else ever been in this suituation? My DON said well then "we have a problem". She has called twice this morning and asked me the same thing again. I told her over again that no, I didn't give her a pain pill. Could this jepordize my job, not to mention my nursing licenses, even knowing that I did nothing wrong. What if she tries to blame me for taking it???Should I be this stressed about it??
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Thanks for all the replies!! I even told her that the count was right when I left at 11pm, she said how is that possible. I told her that I dont know what's going on but I know that I didn't give or take the medicine that was missing. If need be I will have to go to the Administrator, but hopefully it won't come to that point.

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