Drug tested due to drug addict!

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

I have a patient I take care of at work who has an addiction to Norco. The other morning I gave her 3 of them. Her order reads 3 q 4 hrs. When i went into work that night, my boss informed me that this resident stated she did not get her pills and was crying in pain. Now this lady does that on purpose trying to get more pills and I know this since she does it all the time. My bossbsent me for a drug test (that I will pass) which has resulted in lost wages for me. Is my employer responsible for paying me my lost wages once the test comes back clean? I don't likebthe fact this woman can get away with doing this. If they dont pay me, should I sue the patient for false accusation with intent to get more pills without regard to my job and humiliation? Or is this just another reearding aspect of nursing?

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Specializes in MedSurg/Ped Vent/Geriatrics/Rehab.

In my opinion, just apart of nursing.

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

When you give this woman her pills again, be sure you have a witness- get another nurse to watch you give them and then have her co-sign the MAR. Mention this accusation every time you give report. All nurses who work with her need to know about this potential danger to themselves. At my former facility, if you were suspended due to accusations and you are found innocent, you are paid for those days off.

I wonder if there's a document that the pt can sign, agreeing that she has taken her meds?

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Just posted this somewhere else; for LPN's is less than $100 per year :)

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Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

This is exactly why I carry , I can't believe they did that on just the patient's accusation alone. Do you remember if you charted follow-up, (you don't have to answer on post)? Even though it may be a scheduled narcotic, and not a PRN, I always write a follow-up 30min to 1 hour later, (eg. Patient given Norco at blah time, and now is resting quietly with 0/10 pain scale. I chart that Safety measures are in place).

That is also why I love the new scan systems where you scan the barcode on the drug, and then the patient's bracelet.

I am amazed that this patient has 3 Norcos scheduled every 4 hours and didn't have anything PRN for breakthrough pain. Obviously not if the patient's only way to score more was to implicate you to get more Norco.

Also, if they gave her more Norco just for saying that, and take her side over your's, they made a drug error.

As far as suing, I am just a nurse, lol, and don't have any Law Advice. Plus, the Terms of Service kinda frown on dispensing Law advice anyway.

I hope this gets resolved justly and quick for you.

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