missing narcotic

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Need some advice and peace of mind, if possible.

I just received a call from the Nurse Supervisor of a unit I had floated to last Thursday regarding an MS Contin that I had returned to the Pyxus that night. I had the return witnessed by another RN and distinctly remember commenting that it was weird that the drawer for the MS Contin opened for the returned pill rather than the bottom "return" drawer that usually opens. The other RN just shrugged it off and I did too, thinking it was credited back. Now the Pharmacy is unable to account for the MS Contin in the "return" drawer. The Supervisor is going to ask Pharmacy to recount the MS Contin drawer. In the meantime I am paranoid that I will lose my job and/or license. I am not that kind of nurse and I DID have another RN witness the return. What should I do if they can't find the MS Contin? They can have all the urine and/or blood they want from me! This is the first time this has ever happened to me and I'm going crazy with worry. I REALLY love this job!

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At worst, you should get a write up for this for not calling pharmacy when you noticed the initial "problem." I don't see how your license is even remotely in danger.

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For your peace of mind, discuss this with your witness. S/he is equally responsible. The pharmacy recount may solve the issue. But it's not the first time the Pyxis has made an error. It's only a machine.

Stand firm that you returned the medication and had a witness, let everybody else figure out the damn machine.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

Everywhere I have worked, returned meds are always returned to the pocket from which they came. Therefore, for narcs, the pocket is unlocked at you return the med with a witness.

Write down what you did. Make sure you get the name of the nurse who returned with you. Perhaps you can email or speak with the supervisor, explain exactly what happened, stick only with facts, don't sound too desperate to "convince" her of you side of the story, and tell her to talk to her nurse who returned with you.

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Sorry so late to update. The narcotic was found in another medication pod when pharmacy did a recount. I did receive a write up for mishandling a narcotic which I agreed with. I am thankful for the support from everyone. I am striving daily to provide quality care, ensure patient safety and improve patient outcomes. Bless all of you for you support.

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Sorry so late to update. The narcotic was found in another medication pod when pharmacy did a recount. I did receive a write up for mishandling a narcotic which I agreed with. I am thankful for the support from everyone. I am striving daily to provide quality care, ensure patient safety and improve patient outcomes. Bless all of you for you support.

Sounds like a petty write up, to me ....but I'm glad they found it and the outcome was not worse.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.
Sorry so late to update. The narcotic was found in another medication pod when pharmacy did a recount. I did receive a write up for mishandling a narcotic which I agreed with. I am thankful for the support from everyone. I am striving daily to provide quality care, ensure patient safety and improve patient outcomes. Bless all of you for you support.

Mishandling a narcotic by returning it to the drawer that opened when the Pyxis transaction was completed? That's a bit ridiculous. I wouldn't have signed that write-up, personally.

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