I was picking up and found a pill on the floor in the package. Because the pill had been washed, I could not read the package. I opened it and found it was an oxycodone. I give meds pretty much all the time, and the uniform that was washed was from at least Thursday. Obviously I feel horrible that I apparently didn't give someone a med (AND they didn't tell me ) but that I can't know who it should have gone to to write an incident report. And, I have been under a lot of stress (dad passed away, last week my first week back, school started and I got sick) and I don't even know that it was meant to be given. For all I know, I was gonna return it!
So, I am a good nurse-I would NEVER take this medication. Should I just give it to the pharmacy at work, or just flush it? (or whatever would be appropriate disposal). I can't credit it. This may be a question that I should just ask pharmacy-but I feel very guilty that it made it home with me. Had I not found it, I doubt anyone would have even known.....
mel...first thing is, we all make mistakes. Second thing is that you empty your pockets before you go home so you don,t take stuff home with you. I would like to say that the proper thing to do was to look into this and resolve it with some incident report......but I am not going to say that. I will ask? was the pt. harmed? Did they suffer because of this mistake? I am willing to guess No! Do I tell you that this is O.K? Nope. But again, never put anything in your pocket and always double check your meds.
Just the other day, I mistakenly came home with two heparin vials, an insulin and pneumococcal vaccine. I said to myself "Gosh darn it...that's what I get for not checking my pockets!". Threw them in the garbage and called it a night. As time goes on, you'll learn not to sweat the small stuff. I am not dismissing your fear, because all new nurses experience this. But, you learn, you laugh at yourself and move on. At least, now, you know you have plenty of company...(and we'll keep your secret...)
Sounds like me.. I used to be assigned to one Doc in a cardiology practice, and he always had me carry nitro, I liked to carry flush and occasionally, on those really busy days...I'd have a pacemaker magnet in my pocket.
never tried flushing a magnet.. :chuckle
The NS (flush) I would dump, unless it was unopened..the nitro I would
take back, and use it, unless it was old.
Sounds like a honest mistake..just dump it, and keep a better eye out.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I,m a retired nurse of 30 years. My advice? Flush the darn thing and keep it to yourself!!!
Flush it and then come back here and delete your post
Sounds like me.. I used to be assigned to one Doc in a cardiology practice, and he always had me carry nitro, I liked to carry flush and occasionally, on those really busy days...I'd have a pacemaker magnet in my pocket.
never tried flushing a magnet.. :chuckle
The NS (flush) I would dump, unless it was unopened..the nitro I would
take back, and use it, unless it was old.
Sounds like a honest mistake..just dump it, and keep a better eye out.
So, OP, you see, the majority are saying to dump and jump. Some things are not worth saying anything about. What I do hate is the nurses that want to tattle on every little nuance, where I know for a fact that everyone has something that they have done that was inconsequential, caused no harm, and most importantly, did not mean it. Now, I empty out most of the time. I did forget the heparin that day, but I was not going to put my head on the chopping block behind it. I took out two too many, that's all.
) but that I can't know who it should have gone to to write an incident report. And, I have been under a lot of stress (dad passed away, last week my first week back, school started and I got sick) and I don't even know that it was meant to be given. For all I know, I was gonna return it! 
mystic66
16 Posts
I,m a retired nurse of 30 years. My advice? Flush the darn thing and keep it to yourself!!!