I made a mistake with my home meds and it affected me at work, will I lose my job?

Larry77, RN · Nov 29, 2005

I did something similar with Benedryl...instead of taking 2 APAP I took 3 Benedryl--which I take nightly for sleep. I realized it went straight to the toilet to try and make myself throw them up...ugh...didn't work. I was working in a nursing home at the time and having the same pt's for months was able to do my job with a foggy head for awhile. I was scared to death though and let my co-worker know what I did so she could watch out for me and help when needed. I only felt fogged for a couple hours and luckily made it through the shift. I felt so stupid about he whole thing. I mean a friggin nurse not looking at the pills he takes himself when we are taught to triple check all meds before administering them...

Not sure why I responded except to let you know it could happen to any one of us.

The only way they could punish you would be to prove that you knew you took them, and knew that you were going to work impaired, putting pt's in danger.

I wish you well...

jeanapoole · Nov 29, 2005

what does pm mean. I am new to this site,

jeanapoole · Nov 29, 2005

I don't understand a few things about your post. If your drug screens were negative...how can you be sure you took the ambien? Yoy said you were wrong about it initially when you took them incorrectly at all. What makes you think it was the ambien and not something clinical, physical or psychological? Have you generally had a good record or have other things happened in the past. Don't ddiscuss anymore of this unless you have an attorney present. Things can be so easily turned against you.
I have been through something very similar and so PM me if you'd like. This happened to me a few times, so my experience may benefit. It also led to a diagnosis of something I knew nothing about, explained a lot about my past amd is treatable! PLEASE PM OR E-MAIL ME! Carol

I don't know what PM means or how to email you. I am new to this site.

HappyJaxRN · Nov 29, 2005

I have been on ambien since the 1980's. It just made me very sleepy. I tried to explain to my manager and even voluteered for 2 drug screens that both came back negative. Every one tells me to get a lawyer but I don't know who to look for in Raleigh.

A lawyer isn't limited to just your city. You can hire any lawyer as long as they are familiar with your state's laws...so you can look outside your city as well. Try googling a search for a lawyer, or start asking around. Open up the yellow pages in your phone book....great place to start.

Sis123 · Nov 29, 2005

IIFC means "If I recall correctly"

PM means "Private message" and the way to do it is to double click on a user's name, then click on the choice of "Send this user a private message" then type one in the box, then click on the button to send.

Best of luck to you in this situation.... hope that it gets resolved soon, and prayers have been said to help give you peace of mind now....

GingerSue · Nov 29, 2005

best of luck to you

I agree with the person who pointed out that - you might not have taken 2 of them, can you prove that you did?

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Nov 29, 2005

Yes, definately contact an attorney. We've had similar experiences and the nurse in question has been sent home and that was the end of it. They understood that they thought they could work with Imitrex on board, PO Phenergan or a Lortab or whatever. I'm sure if the nurse would do the same thing again further action would be taken but making a mistake once is not a crime.

Once I accidently took my dogs phenobarb by mistake, I kept circling the floor in the nurses station looking for a place to lay down but no further side effects! I was just embarrassed and slightly sleepy.

nurse_clown · Nov 29, 2005

i went out for lunch with my husband once and ate shrimp. usually, i'm pretty good with shrimp. then i had an allergic reaction. i had this huge rash on my arms and legs. so i went to the skin doc and she gave me some cream and an anti-itch med. i took the anti-itch med but it also made me real tired. as soon as i came to work, i warned them that i had taken this med and that i'm real sleepy as a result and not to expect me to work "above and beyond" like i usually do. another time, i hurt my back on a patient and couldn't move. i went to the e.r. and they gave me two percocet then expected me back to work. i went back to work and had the nerve to say whatever came to my mind and man was i ever happy :rotfl: . they didn't do anything. and this isn't med related. i usually work the night shift. i've been working nights for the last three years and have gotten used to it. then, a couple times, i was asked to do a day shift. i was so tired and distracted (it's my a.d.h.d) that i ended up making two med errors on the two days i worked the day shift. i don't even wake up past twelve o'clock on a good day!!! so, now when they ask me to work days, i say "well, it's your funeral and my licence."

when something like that happens, you should tell them. tell the team! they might send you home or they may be very understanding. as for the situation now, if you have a union, get them involved. lawyer up!!!! it was a mistake (even if it was on your part). bring the perscription and your meds. and think about putting your pills in an organizer instead of trying to remember when to take what. i think if you aknowledge your error and take the steps to prevent it from happening again and let them know what the plan is, everything should be alright. i believe someone mentioned that being under the influence is pretty serious. i agree. but there are circumstances that

the jennerator · Nov 29, 2005

I was working as a night supervisor and received a call from a charge nurse stating that one of the nurses realized that she had inadvertantly taken ambien before leaving for work. She realized what she had done when she arrived at work and got very sleepy. She quickly told the charge nurse, who immediately assumed care of her patients. I had her clock out and we let her sleep in the nurse's lounge until the morning when the drug had worn off.

My advice to you is to definitely consult an attorney. I would look in the yellow pages (unless you know someone who is an atty). Call a major reputable firm and ask if they have an employment law attorney. I would hope that if you admitted what happened (of course speak w/ the atty. first) and your tox screen was clear, that they would work with you. perhaps you could volunteer to take random tox screens for a probationary period? An attorney would be able to tell you what to do. Good luck, and obviously if something like this ever happens again, go home sick.

Town & Country · Nov 29, 2005

After I was at work for about an hour it took affect and I became very sleepy and I was reported as impaired on the job. They immediately suspended me and turned this over to the NCBON.

Is it just me or is anyone else going WTH???

Talk about jumping the gun! :uhoh21:

Simba&NalasMom, LPN · Nov 29, 2005

So sorry about what you're going through. Being in nursing can be such a scary business sometimes...for me, personally, it's scary enough knowing that lives are in my hands every day; even worse when I think about what can happen to good nurses when honest mistakes are made.

The advice to find an attorney is the best advice...I don't live in Raleigh, but would also suggest that you re-post this in the legal forum to see what kind of feedback they can give you; they might also be able to point you in the right direction re finding legal help locally.

Best to you and your family.

steelcityrn, RN · Nov 30, 2005

I would put you detailed events of that day in writing and send a copy to your employer and the BON, keeping a copy for youself of course, with a apology and a desire to have your job reinstated asap. This was just a honest mistake with a negative drug test. The facts are in your favor.