Fired for Pyxis discrepancy

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I was terminated from a position because 5mg of Valium was ordered and I removed 10mg of Valium from the pyxis. I gave the 5mg of Valium and went to waste the other 5. The nurse that went with me signed into the pyxis, selected the patient, selected waste and then had me log in under my info. I selected the waste amount and then hit accept and went on about my day. A few days later I was terminated because they said I didn't waste the med. I know it was wasted but was told that the pyxis doesn't show a waste. How does this happen? I know it was done. I requested a drug test but was not given one, just terminated. Any advice?

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Did the other nurse actually sign the waste in the Pyxis?

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That seems extreme but according to your post you did it backwards. You need to sign in to the pixis and then hit waste and your coworker cosigns the waste. I'm taking it this wasn't your first issue.

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Can't they verify this with the coworker?

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This was the first issue. Never had any patient complaints or other problems. I had been working at the hospital for 2 months as a seasonal employee. I had said that we are doing it wrong but was told that is how we do wastes at this hospital. I asked for a drug test immediately but was refused. I was also refused proof to see the Pyxis records. Heck, there is a seasonal nurse working there that got busted for DUI and he got to keep his job. I know the first thought everyone has is, guilty. But I know how scared I am of not wasting and know I am fanatical about having a witness and wasting. In 4 years as a nurse I have never had this happen.

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I have been trying to reach the nurse that I was working with but she isn't returning calls or texts. I asked for management to speak with the nurses on duty that night and they said no. I do know that night the charge nurse had to unplug the Pyxis the reset it. I have spoken to attorneys and they said it makes no sense and since they want to report to the BON I called my malpractice and was referred to a few attorneys to speak with. I am sick over this whole situation.

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Are you Union? I don't really have any advice. I have never heard of someone getting fired for forgetting one waste. That just seems weird to me. Especially if like you said others have not been fired for the same thing.

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I am not union. I have no protection there. I am just at a loss and sick over this.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

If YOU are wasting YOU sign in first and have the other nurse witness. Sounds like you did it backwards like someone else said. I read your original post a couple of times and I can see the discrepancy. But for them to fire you outright without questioning first sounds crude. For future reference, never walk away from a Pyxis without wasting a med at the same time as removing it.

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Since the Pyxis was reset and they refused to allow you to inspect the records, I suspect that you may have been scapegoated for the error of another and/or someone had an agenda involving you. Hope that you can obtain an effective attorney. Check the referral service here: TAANA Executive Office - Home

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Is it possible that your coworker was to sign off the waste also, intentionally didn't do so, and retrieve the waste for herself. I am a fairly new PCT and so I'm not sure how your Pyxis works. Since the wasted med was put in Pyxis, how would unplugging it make a difference other then med not recorded, but med would still be in there, right? This may be a silly question to you nurses lol.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

The positive thing is that you have .

Best Wishes.

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