RN job in jeopardy please help

Nurses General Nursing

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Shell shocked. Worked last night, they called today and asked me to come in today early. Administrator there plus managers, still befuddled. I gave an Ambien to a patient at 2100, I remember pulling them out, snapping one off, shutting the drawer. Apparently the rest of the pack is missing now, drawer is empty. We have the Pyxis system with fingerprints, they say I was the last one to access, no other nurse, no techs, they've searched everywhere, floor, trash, shredder.

They were nice about it but I'm placed on leave and they're "going to call me" it's implied that if the 8 Ambien don't turn up I'm fired. I would think someone diverting meds wouldn't pull out all the meds, leave the drawer empty and carry them around for the whole shift and expect to come back the next night. But since I don't have any answers for them and the drugs aren't able to be found, I see their point. What can I do or say? I have no idea on earth what happened, I've worked there several years and I've never had a problem, this is my first nursing job. :o

I'm scared not only will I get fire I'll lose my license, what should I do?

Specializes in Too many to list.

I am really happy for you that this is over. I think that we have all learned some valuable information from your experience. Just glad it turned out OK.

Specializes in TRAUMA,TRANSPLANT,CARDIOTHORACIC.

the amount of time the drawer was open will show up on the pyxsis..so if someone came in behind you and u didn;t sign out,they cud have taken the pills...but if you can prove you were away from the pyxsis while the draw was stil open...it could help...we now have cameras in the ceiling of our icu...do have them? small black half globes...they may also show who followed you after the pyxsis...get a lawyer...it's your career....u can pay after the case....don;t roll over....and yes do a drug test...one of my jobs is cardiothoracic icu...someone was stelaing viagara..it wass in a single controlled drawer...tehy sked all the males RN'S only,we threatened to sue and greieved it successfully..sure enuf it was a female RN,taking it for herself(don;t go there!)....Again you best defense,accounting of your time and drug test...even if the hospital says there is no drug test for ambien,,the drug has certain ingredients that get ped out,like most drugs do...go to your own doc and give a witnessed urine test and pay for the test...good luck......jeesh ambien...u can buy it online anytime....what clowns...

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
THEY FOUND THE AMBIEN. They just called me to say the Director of the Pharmacy opened up the Pyxis today and they had fallen to the back somehow. They are going to pay me for the night I had off and I have my job. I am so freaked out though I'm not sure I'll stay (for a few other reasons having nothing to do with this involving a few individuals who dislike me and nitpick me to death) but at least I'm on good terms. I didn't really get an apology though but that's ok because THEY FOUND THE AMBIEN.

Good news!

Good luck in whatever you do!

Specializes in Med Surg.
Not true. There is no diversion program that keeps the recovery off your license record, but there is a disciplinary process in place similar to that of RNs who go through the BON's program rather than Diversion.

Hmmm...the LVN we caught diverting meds was not given a disciplinary process. He was just plain not an LVN any more. Perhaps he diverted more than once and didn't tell us.

......someone was stelaing viagara.....

Ok, I'm confused. Other than the obvious on-label use of viagra, why would a hospital use this for an inpt?

Specializes in Med Surg.
Ok, I'm confused. Other than the obvious on-label use of viagra, why would a hospital use this for an inpt?

I believe the initial use of Viagra is to treat malignant hypertension.

I believe the initial use of Viagra is to treat malignant hypertension.

That totally makes sense. I was churning through the inpt uses of the vasodialator aspect. I was thinking blood pressure, but I was thinking this would drop a pressure like a rock...just what would be needed for malignant hypertension. Thanks!

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I was just going to say...I have seen them fall back into the area behind the drawers or stuck up on the top of the the drawer area and get stuck! I am so glad they found it!

Yeah...I had a friend get accused for a non-narcotic med and it fell back and stuck..they had to take the drawer out to find it. So now I make sure that if something is missing they check that!

WHEW!

Specializes in Pediatrics, PICU, CM, DM.

Wha??????

Go back and read the original post. The facility was trying to intimidate the nurse by suggesting that fingerprints in and around the Pyxis had been checked, when in fact it is extremely unlikely that they could have done so in the very limited time available. Even assuming that fingerprints for the nurse were readily available, which is only likely in states that use these routinely on drivers' licenses or if there is a preexisting criminal background, this case would exactly not merit a "rush" job for print comparison. This reflects a nursing administration that is inclined to use bullying (and lying) as a tactic so it's probably just as well that job search is already being considered.

im glad to hear that they found the medication and you still have your job.

Specializes in TRAUMA,TRANSPLANT,CARDIOTHORACIC.

Congrats,now you can sleep easy(pun intended)...... :cheers:

Specializes in pediatrics.
Shell shocked. Worked last night, they called today and asked me to come in today early. Administrator there plus managers, still befuddled. I gave an Ambien to a patient at 2100, I remember pulling them out, snapping one off, shutting the drawer. Apparently the rest of the pack is missing now, drawer is empty. We have the Pyxis system with fingerprints, they say I was the last one to access, no other nurse, no techs, they've searched everywhere, floor, trash, shredder.

They were nice about it but I'm placed on leave and they're "going to call me" it's implied that if the 8 Ambien don't turn up I'm fired. I would think someone diverting meds wouldn't pull out all the meds, leave the drawer empty and carry them around for the whole shift and expect to come back the next night. But since I don't have any answers for them and the drugs aren't able to be found, I see their point. What can I do or say? I have no idea on earth what happened, I've worked there several years and I've never had a problem, this is my first nursing job. :o

I'm scared not only will I get fire I'll lose my license, what should I do?

Does your shift remain until the narcotic count is complete? Seems like the count should have been done before you left.

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