Falsely Accused!

Nurses General Nursing

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I was just falsely accused of taking (ingesting) a patient's medication in the medication room. I was told that this action was caught on the video camera. By no means would I ever do this. I have been placed on administrative leave and have contacted the Union but should I also get a lawyer?

Thanks!

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Make a request to see the video,something is fishy here or you not telling the whole story--usually they would show you the evidence before firing you or at least you have the right to request to see it.

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you've got a union and you're on admin leave (probably getting paid), you're better off than most nurses just b/c of that, most of us work in "employment at will" states, so we can be fired at anytime b/c they don't like the color of our shoes or whatever.

if you didn't do it, i wouldn't worry about it.

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If they have you on video, then I don't see what you can do about it. If you want to fight it, go ahead, but you are probably wasting your time and money, especially if they have the evidence. Even if you win, why would you want to stay in a place that has turned hostile toward you? Time to look for a new job.

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Make a request to see the video,something is fishy here or you not telling the whole story--usually they would show you the evidence before firing you or at least you have the right to request to see it.

I agree - ask to see the video. Is it possible you took some of your own meds in the med room? Try to think of anything that might look like you took the meds.

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Shut up and lawyer up. If you are serious, we will no longer see you post on this topic.

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Specializes in Army Medic.

Ask to see the video.

Either you're lying, or they are.

Get a lawyer ASAP - as this is something that can cost you your license should you not challenge it.

If you're not lying - I'd get a co worker to try and get a signed statement from the PT in question stating that she has always been given all of her medications when you were under her care...

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Specializes in EMT-P.

Take a drug test, negative should prove you guilt free. Have it done by independent company if need be.

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Take a drug test right away!

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Specializes in LDRP.

well, depending on what the supposed drug was, you could get in trouble with the law/board of nursing. If you were diverting narcotics, i mean. I'm not accusing you of it, I don't even know you. Just something to think about if you did it. So if you really did do it, I'd just drop it all and walk away instead of fighting it, looking foolish, and still being busted. If you have a problem, your BON has resources. In my state, i know there is a program for health care professionals with addiction problems (and the BON often makes people go through this).

though, if you truly didn't do anything wrong, and aren't just fronting this story to cover your behind, then get a drug test. get a lawyer. have your lawyer ask to see the video. Although, why would you want to work at a place that woudl do that to you. have your lawyer ask for them to put a letter recanting the accusation in your file/admit it was incorrect/something to that effect, if that is proven to be the case.

good luck, whatever the story may be. Neither situation sounds like a good one to be in.

ps-video tape can't lie. unless it was someone else on the video that looks like you on a poor quality video. and, if you have an electronic meds removal thing (like pyxis) then they'll be able to tell who was in the room at the time the video was recording.

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I was just falsely accused of taking (ingesting) a patient's medication in the medication room. I was told that this action was caught on the video camera. By no means would I ever do this. I have been placed on administrative leave and have contacted the Union but should I also get a lawyer?

Thanks!

If you really did it...just quietly walk away.

If you did not do it, ask to see the video in the presence of your attorney.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

not all drugs would show in a drug test would they? She didn't say what type of med they are accusing them of taking. Videos don't lie, but you can misinterpret, if their back was to the camera and she was pulling meds but then took one of her own meds like a tylenol or something, it can look like it was the pt. med. Or maybe if they put a piece of gum or mint in their mouth while in there? I am sure that could be misinterpreted.

I have meds I have to take in the evenings and on clinicals I am there from 1:30-11:30 so I have to take on my shift. (usually my dinner break is to early) I always go in the break room or bathroom to take though so their are know misinterpretations. I have the Rx's to back me up if their ever was a problem, but I often just put my doses for the evening in my pocket so I wouldn't have the bottles on me at the moment anyway, (although they could check my chart if it came up, it's all electronic and I am seen at the same affiliate).

Anyway, for the OP, if it was something like that, make sure you never do this in front of co workers, but most importantly, never take anything in front of patients, family, or in the med room. That is just misinterpretation waiting to happen and a big mess easily avoided. I guess a 4th semester student in my school got kicked out of the program for taking a Rx in the hallway while she was sitting at the little cove thing on her computer charting. It was mistaken and although she was able to prove later she did have prescription apparently it didn't matter.

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