Published
It has happened to me a couple of times and usually happens to someone at least once or twice a month. Fortunately I live less than a mile from work. Two weeks ago I got home with the keys after getting a ride from a CNA I work with and had no way to get back to work until my son came home from work in his "crummy" which is a filthy dilapidated pickup used out in the woods.
steph
I did that one time when I lived 44 miles from the hospital. What is scariest is going home and finding a 1/2 used vial or Morphine in your pocket! Occasionally, there is only one nurse left to "close" the non acute side of the ER while everyone else goes to the main side. So there is no one to witness you wasting a med. I will label with the patient name sticker and then discard when I get a chance. I didn't realise I still had morphine till I got home. I couldn't wait to get back to have someone watch me waste it! Now I have a plastic "makeup" case from Wal mart that I empty everything into before I leave the building. All those alcohol swabs, pens, scissors, tape, #18 needles and angiocaths go either back to the med room or into my bag. That has saved me a lot of hassle, and keeps me from accumulating 500 alcohol swabs at home!
With the Pyxis you don't have so many problems but occasionally someone does take off with the PCA keys. Personally I've never gotten further than the elevator without discovering them. Good reason to empty your pockets before you leave the building! Also I have found a syringe of Ativan or something in my pockets, usually just hold it and waste it the next morning. I work 12s and no way am I going back in at 1945 when I have to be back at work for 0700!
I did the same thing about 2 months ago. It was the first time I have ever done that. But I work 3-11 and I drive about 40 minutes one way to work. Well I got all the way home and emptied my pockets like I always do and guess what there they was. It wasn't fun. I called work and the nurse didn't need them until 6 in the morning but I am sleeping at that time so I figured do it now while I am wake. :chuckle
PHTLS
141 Posts
...taking the narc keys home and having to drive back to your hospital an hour later because you left it in your scrub's pocket!
I hate that!
:angryfire