DON ordering nurses to administer meds contrary to MD's order

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At the LTC facility where I work, The DON has ordered nurses to give Roxanol 5mg Q1hr routinely which is contrary to MD's order: Roxanol 5mg Q1hr PRN pain or air hunger. The patient is without S/SX distress. The DON told all of us that if we nurses had a problem following his instructions, we could resign. The patient is on palliative care; not palliative sedation. What, if any recourse do we as nurses have?

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Well, you could report your DON, resign, or both.

Yikes.

Talk about illegal. I'd do something, and fast!

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I turned in my letter of resignation on Jan. 21st! My next step will be reporting the situation.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I turned in my letter of resignation on Jan. 21st! My next step will be reporting the situation.

Good for you! RUN LIKE THE WIND!

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

Perhaps let your DON know that DON does not stand for MD. Also, ask if he is willing to put that in writing. It would make reporting so much easier for them to have the proof right in their hands ;)

Sounds like a scary guy to work for. I hope you told him why you turned in your resignation.

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Chevy, I am the second nurse to resign d/t this situation. Other nurses read the note and one even called me at home on my day off because she was very upset. The "note" was shredded! There are witnesses, but whether they will speak the truth or not is a 64,0000$ question.

The DON knows I have refused to do as he ordered; he called in another nurse who would do what he said. She took great pleasure in telling me all about it! She is my immediate supervisor, and it was her night off! This patient was my responsibility.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Chevy, I am the second nurse to resign d/t this situation. Other nurses read the note and one even called me at home on my day off because she was very upset. The "note" was shredded! There are witnesses, but whether they will speak the truth or not is a 64,0000$ question.

The DON knows I have refused to do as he ordered; he called in another nurse who would do what he said. She took great pleasure in telling me all about it! She is my immediate supervisor, and it was her night off! This patient was my responsibility.

You did the right thing in leaving. Your DON should be reported to the state, JACHO, and the state ombudsman to look at the usage of sedation/narcotics on the patients in this facility. This is an abuse of power and abuse of the patients.
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