Passing meds you did not pull.

[busy-bee]

Hypothetically......if the unit you were assigned to, was made to split a medication cart.........and if one LPN wanted you to administer meds while she pulled the meds...would you? And if this LPN was so familiar (ugh) with the residents, she pulls medications without looking at the MAR, would you still? And the meds are already crushed and you really have NO IDEA what you are administering, would you still even then? And if you really had no choice because the nurse never would give you the keys to the med cart so you could pass your own...then what? And then if the D.O.N. states they really don't want to make two sets of key...then what? Then when you get the chance (while she is at lunch) to view the M.A.R., some meds she signed off while others she did not...and when you inform her of this, she wants you to sign those off. Not to mention.....you never witnessed the narc count nor where you given report about the patients. Hypothetically, what would you do? And hypothetically say alll shifts do this on this particular unit...so if you complain you are going to be targeted, that is hypothetically.

[leslymill]

If you don't mind me asking, what happened? Are you still licensed? And, yeah, for sure, do NOT let anyone know you are reporting them.

Don't want to derail the thread cause I did post about it somewhere. I was orienting in a hospital and my preceptor refused to waste 1mg of a 2mg vial of Ativan that I had to sign out for on those pixis machines. I had to document I watched a waste before the machine would spit out the vial. She insisted on double dosing the patient against her and her doctors will because she pulls out IVs and fights wrist restraints. She acted like I was a new RN instead of one with 20 years of experience and was hysterical saying the patient "would die from respiratory arrest" (duh, call the doctor) I told the DON I felt this was a violation of the nurse practice act and had to be reported. Six of the nurses on the floor immediately wrote me up for everything from not being able to calculate a 24 hour intake and output record to not being able to collect a clean catch urine specimen. The list was long and stupid. No patient was harmed and I stand by all my decisions I made at that facility. My license is under probation but I doubt I will ever find a job in todays market driven health care environment. I feel like a risk not because of my patient care but because I HAVE A TOTALLY LOUSY ATTITUDE NOW.

[busy-bee]

I haven't been on this unit since the post....but I did note today they are still doing it the same way. If I get sent over there......I'm not doing it......the nurse can pull her meds, then give me the keys and I will pull mine. If there are any narcs to be pulled I will pull them in front of this nurse and then she can keep the narc key...that way I am not responsible for the count. I WILL NEVER ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.....If she has a problem with this...then I will address it with the DON and if she doesn't see there is a problem...then I WALK!

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

nursing student here..ok let me think..would I give meds that I didn't pull, didn't see being pulled, and are pulverized beyond all recognition and not identifiable..uhh..well..

HELL NO!!

The very first thing said during our lecture on med administration was.."under no circumstances, do you ever, ever, ever, give a med you didn't pull!! Did I mention, never ever ever give meds you didn't pull"

I refused to give insulin that my clinical teacher asked me to give that another student had drawn. My clinical instructor was with the other student when the MAR was checked, when the insulin was checked to make sure it was the correct one, and that the instructor watched and checked when the other student drew up that insulin.

I told her, nicely, I would not give any med to anyone that I did not personally draw up or pull no matter who it was that was telling me to do so. She smiled, apologized for asking me to do it, and told me I did the right thing by refusing to give it. (still not sure if she was trying to trick me to see if I would give it, or if she honestly wasn't even thinking that it would be a problem since it would be her license that was on the line along with my tailend. And she was the one who observed the entire procedure)..anyway, i was glad I held my ground and wouldn't do it.

[TrudyRN]

The things we have to do to be able to feed our families... I am so sad, frustrated, and angry. But also proud that we know the right way and many of us do right. Fight the good fight, my cyber friends, and may the good Lord bless and keep us safe and favor us with His lovingkindness and protection.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Don't want to derail the thread cause I did post about it somewhere. I was orienting in a hospital and my preceptor refused to waste 1mg of a 2mg vial of Ativan that I had to sign out for on those pixis machines. I had to document I watched a waste before the machine would spit out the vial. She insisted on double dosing the patient against her and her doctors will because she pulls out IVs and fights wrist restraints. She acted like I was a new RN instead of one with 20 years of experience and was hysterical saying the patient "would die from respiratory arrest" (duh, call the doctor) I told the DON I felt this was a violation of the nurse practice act and had to be reported. Six of the nurses on the floor immediately wrote me up for everything from not being able to calculate a 24 hour intake and output record to not being able to collect a clean catch urine specimen. The list was long and stupid. No patient was harmed and I stand by all my decisions I made at that facility. My license is under probation but I doubt I will ever find a job in todays market driven health care environment. I feel like a risk not because of my patient care but because I HAVE A TOTALLY LOUSY ATTITUDE NOW.

I am sorry this happened, and I thank you for sharing your story with me.