Missing narcs returned to med cart...sorry long

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Here is my question for all of you...

A couple of weeks ago, our facility had some narcotic syringes missing from our med cart. This happened on a weekend that I do not work. I was frantic because I knew that I had counted these syringes correctly with the oncoming staff. I was not called or notified that weekend of this. Found out when I reported to work the following week. I am in the Admin office wanting to know if police called, drug testing and trying to get to the bottom of what happened. So come to find out, this is what happened, (after I stated I was going to call police to file a report). The Admin stated that another CMA wanted to "teach" the other CMA's a lesson the importance of counting the narcotic syringes. He/she had taken the narcs out of the locked med box and had given them to the Admin, so the narcs would be "missing". He/she in turn had them in his/her desk drawer and not locked up. He/she showed me that he/she had the missing syringes and he/she left them on him/her desk for at least a week. We kept telling him/her to put these up or waste them, (with witnesses),

due to the fact that many people are in and out of his/her office all the time. Kept telling Admin that syringes could be used and returned to the desk top.

So guess what? Came to work and the syringes are back in the locked narc box and signed off by the CMA that originally took them out! How in the world do I know that the medication is actually in the syringes? I keep signing off the narc count sheet as incorrect d/t to the fact they were missing and now returned. The staff confronted the Admin regarding this and we were told the CMA's needed to be "taught" a lesson by this other CMA. Informed him/her that he/she had put our nursing licenses on the line with this stunt. We were told this action was never directed towards the nurses...huh?

Where do I go from here (besides out the door)? Oh, one other thing...this certain CMA is the "best buddy" of the Admin. and loves to keep the facility "stirred" up to their advantage.

Has this ever happened to you?

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

That is an appalling thing to do, and although I am not sure about the law in the US I am fairly sure illegal. In the UK there are very strict guidlines about storage of controlled substances and failure to comply is a serious issue. By keeping these drugs in an unsecure area this is in breech of the requirements.

Like you I would be unhappy to confirm that these drugs are in fact correct as there could be anything in those syringes.

Also is the administrator a nurse, is she allowed the responisbility of these drugs I know in the UK she wouldn't be.

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Sharrie,

Thanks for your reply. The Admin is NOT a nurse and should not be in a position for narc responsibility or possession of meds.

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I didn't know MCA's were allowed to be even any where near Narc's. that was a very dangerous and illegal stunt. Have you called the nursing board to see what the policy is regarding this type of behavior? That was a very stupid thing for them to do.

Very very low if you ask me.

I am in Okla home to, but I don't work there so I don't know much about what the CMA's do regarding meds and such.

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

Can you not report this to either your senior nurse to let her deal with this?

This would be my first port of call

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Our DON was unaware of this stunt. She was in the office with us regarding our licenses. She is FURIOUS that we were all put in this position.

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good, someone needed to be. Hopefully they wil be reprimanded for there stunt. Never know when state may want to make a surprise visit.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

personally, i would waste them the next time i did count. do it by procedure, with another nurse and note that the content is questionable because they were not locked up for a period of time and put the names of those who moved the syringes. why put patients at risk? and having to answer to this might teach those involved "a lesson".

what right does any staff have to teach any peer "a lesson"? i would be livid.:angryfire

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I think that there needs to be some specimen cups passed out to the parties involved.

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Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.

What she did is illegal and breaks all kinds of laws/rules/rights/policies you name it. Wow.

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Thanks so much...I am really furious about this. But, where do I start reporting this? Their corporate office, state BON, state facility licensing?

Mods, please don't TOS this, as I am not asking for legal advice, I just don't know which way to turn and just need direction. I am so angry that this stunt was pulled and my license placed in jeopardy.

Thanks...

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:omy:

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