Legality of Securing Med Cart

[PammieRN]

Hi All,

I am feeling frustrated. I work for a company that manages residential facilities for the developmentally disabled. The manager feels like money can be saved if a nurse is not scheduled for the time that the clients are away at their day placement (Alternative to Work) facilities. The problem with that is that

1. the narc/med cabinet keys are not secured.

2. there is no one to count the narcs.

My research into the Oregon Administrative Rules finds that the keys are definately supposed to be secured but says nothing about the counting of the narcs. I am afraid that ethically I cannot condone the proposed situation to the point where I feel I must leave the position (I am the Clinical Nurse Manager) if it is actually implemented. Am I just being overly paranoid?

Any reply would be appreciated, esp. from Oregon nurses....

Thanks,

Pammie

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I'd ask the board of nursing at least. Could the keys be kept away from the facility? Could the owner/manager be responsible for holding them? I think (not certain) that the federal laws require 2 locks for Class II narcs.

[fiestynurse]

The narcotic/med cabinet issue seems like something that could easily be worked out. Nurses are very creative in coming up with solution for problems like this. This doesn't seem like something that you should quit your job over. Are there other issues that you have with this manager?