Giving Medication to Coworker

JadedCPN, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2021

45 minutes ago, TxERNurse said:

I made the mistake of giving a coworker a steroid injection after the ER doctor asked me to. Of course, this coworker continued working and did not enter the ER as a patient so no documentation occurred. My manager just questioned me about it.

What consequences if any should I expect to come from this?

Oh boy, this could turn into a really big deal especially since your manager already knows. It could range from being written up, to being terminated, to being reported. You gave a medication from the ER, to someone who was not a patient, without a real order.

I'm curious how your manager found out, and what your response was?

TxERNurse · Jul 19, 2021

44 minutes ago, JadedCPN said:

Oh boy, this could turn into a really big deal especially since your manager already knows. It could range from being written up, to being terminated, to being reported. You gave a medication from the ER, to someone who was not a patient, without a real order.

I'm curious how your manager found out, and what your response was?

I told the truth, figured lying only hurts me more.

I know a variance is already in the works; however, I'd imagine the worst-case scenario involves a report to the BON. If that is the case, any idea what might come of that?

I'm only thinking worst-case scenario here, this is the first time I've done something so dumb.

caliotter3 · Jul 20, 2021

Not to sound trite, but gee, I wonder why the doctor didn't give the injection himself, if he thought it necessary. I'll bet he would have a better chance of doing so without negative repercussions.

JKL33 · Jul 20, 2021

I'm not sure how this lack of judgment doesn't end up being a big deal.

2 hours ago, JadedCPN said:

You gave a medication from the ER, to someone who was not a patient, without a real order.

^ This. And "medication from the ER" = stolen/theft.

But--real world? It's going to depend on a lot of variables that we can't possibly know, right down to the culture, how short they are on help, how crazy they are with CYA mode, etc., etc. It's possible that the fact that there are 3 of you involved and that you told the truth about this might mitigate the situation. But very possible that HR will advise them that they shouldn't sweep this under the rug.

Curious - did this request catch you off guard, or what? Why did you do this?

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Jul 20, 2021

Why in the world would the doctor agree to "order" a medication for a non-patient?! Were you under the impression that your coworker would be admitted and the medication would be a real order at some point? I have no idea what the consequences will be, but it certainly shouldn't fall on you any more severely than the MD or the coworker who received the shot. Good luck.

JKL33 · Jul 20, 2021

1 hour ago, JBMmom said:

Why in the world would the doctor agree to "order" a medication for a non-patient?! Were you under the impression that your coworker would be admitted and the medication would be a real order at some point?

LOL...not familiar with ED shenanigans are we? ?

Historically? Everybody's a little more cowboy down here than they should be. Okay, a number of people tend to be that way.

Hmm. If I had to guess I would say this somehow involves a relationship between the 2 other players. There are other possibilities but this is near the top.

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Jul 20, 2021

2 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

LOL...not familiar with ED shenanigans are we?

Nope, I'm from the ICU world of law and order. ? (I had a coworker take a motrin from the pyxis once because none of us had any- we were all a little worried)

I suppose I should be a little more aware of how things work in the real world, that just sounds a bit risky- mostly for the scenario the OP now faces.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Jul 21, 2021

I worked in a facility that fired 2 nurses when one gave another a liter of IV LR. It was considered theft and they were dismissed.