Just sign for it

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Our admissions have been arriving so fast that we can't keep up with them. And our pharmacy can't keep up with them either. We frequently do not have meds needed for new admissions and we are ordering meds and they are not being delivered. We had a survey done and we had blank spots in medex, (waiting for meds to be delivered). We have a protocol for obtaining meds but it is not working. Our DON has told us to sign for the meds even when we don't have them. If everything looks good, it is good. So, why do we all feel like crap?:confused:

DO NOT SIGN FOR DRUGS YOU DON'T HAVE.What in the world is your DON thinking, that is falsification of records!!!!! :uhoh3: She needs to meet with the director of Pharmacy and see what THEIR problem is. Administering medication after that 30minute leeway is actually a medication error. If the meds are not up from pharmacy, after a second call I'd complete an incident report and forward it to the director of pharmacy.

Ditto!! Your DON is trying to get all of you to falsify records to trying to paper over a systemic problem. Continue to chart missing meds.

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P.S. Also report to any regulatory agencies, including JCAHO.

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Not talking about narcotics. Example: Pharmacy sends only a 2 week supply, med reordered before 2 week supply has been used up. Then the med is due to be given, but the new supply has not been delivered yet. We call and are told it's coming, or they say 'we sent it'. Our pharmacy is not in house, it is an hour away and many times the meds arrive after the end of our shift.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I've been in that situation, with a paper MAR. If the med wasn't in the e-kit (which was mostly antibiotics), and I couldn't borrow from someone else, I signed for the med, circled it, and charted "med not available."

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Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Rehab, Home Health.

We were told not to write med not available. I agree that's too generic. I write specifically "med not received from pharmacy yet" then fill out occurrence report with copy of med reorder form attached and forward copy to pharmacy and DON (our DON fortunately is NOT trying to hang us out to dry).

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I'm with everyone else, this is a fast track to loosing your license. Don't do it. Is there anyone above her that you can talk to this about?

I'm still a bit confused..are you signing that you gave it - and didn't because you did not have the med

or that your received it and didn't? Either way it is falsifying info and could get you you in deep trouble.

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HELL no honey...can you afford to kiss your license good-bye? Because you will be. You know what is morally & ethically right, your DON evidently doesn't and she doesn't care about you or your fellow staff as otherwise, she wouldn't even mention it. God forbid you do...& what happens in the lawsuit 5 years down the road...no way, let her sign for them, regardless of what she threatens...

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

Wow, if that works let us know. If all that counts is the paperwork- I may never have to tough a patient or pass a med again. We have computer charting- if all that is required is the documentation not the actual occurance, I could work from home. Sounds like your NM is taking the easy way out. Rather than find a solution to a problem, just avoid letting anyone know it is a problem and it dosen't matter. Don't be too hard on her- this is the norm rather than the exception.

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Thank you for all your responses. I and my co-workers have a lot to think about. We work hard and really care about our patients. We are trying to do what's best for them and keep our management happy. Someone above us is more concerned about money and they don't listen to us. They critique us all the time.

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Keep staying strong and doing whats right. You have all of our support. Good luck and keep us posted on the outcomes.

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

I don't understand why we are so afraid to tell our bosses no. I have done it, it doesn't make me well liked by the PTB, but, um, OH WELL. Got into a 10 minute "discussion" with my boss, who informed me that if a bed was needed after housekeeping left, it would be my responsibilty to clean it so I can take another patient. Um, NO. He couldn't believe when he told me 4 times, my response didn't change. I finally ended it like this..."Listen, it isn't going to happen. You can tell me to clean a room 20 times, I won't do it. I have no less than 5 people in my care actively dying right now. Write me up if you want, lets see how well that goes over when I take it over your head. I can see the write up now, ShayRN, was insubordanite and refused to take 1 hour out of her day to clean a room. Never heard another word about it. So, here is my script for you to your nurse manager (all Dr. Phil like)

It seems we have a problem with medications being delievered in a timely manner from pharmacy. We need to brainstorm on solutions, because surely you don't want to put my license or the organization's accredidation on the line with unlawful falsification of records. I will not, under any circumstances sign for anything that isn't physically here. What would happen if the drugs never made it here due to accident of the driver, or poor road conditions. Are we then to sign that the drug that was suppose to be here has been given? I am coming to you as a professional with my concerns, the next call I make will be to the Board of Nursing to ask for THEIR advice on how to deal with this situation. Nursing jobs are a dime a dozen, but once they take away my license it is gone forever. I will not allow that to happen for you or anyone.

Bet it stops, that day.

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