Help I'm being kicked out of nursing school!

[miwachiru123]

Yesterday at clinicals, I was watching my instructor change a PCA. There was still 5ml left in the syringe (5mg) but since this was not a full dose, the machine made us change it out for a new syringe. My instructor took the dilaudid and said she was going to go waste it. Well at the end of the shift there was a discrepency in the omnicell and it was from the dilaudid. My instructor told all the nurses that I had it last and it was my responsibility. I never even came in physical contact with the syringe!!

They are threatening to kick me out of school what do I do help!!

[deyo321]

Ohhh please be very careful that you always witness a waste. ALWAYS. Back when I started I had a night nurse who was training me and was very sloppy about narcotics and I thought well this is the real world of nursing, not school, ok. Not so. She was eventually stripped of her license. She had even forged my initials and another nurses. Imagine how incredibly stupid I felt when my NM came to me after I had accepted her explanation at count that she and another nurse wasted 6 vials of morphine. She had told me they had done it before. It did not even cross my mind that she was diverting. It was not even the other nurses intials! I had to write a statement to the board. Not something you want to be involved with. Don't let more experienced nurses intimidate you into poor practice.

[VICEDRN, BSN, RN]

I am sorry but I am going to be completely un-PC here. Your instructor is full of it! Seriously! I am fellow student and we barely get to touch the pepcid and heparin! The narcotics? Heck no! Never in a trillion years would they waste with one of us! NEVER!

Further, instructors are RNs and they know the other RNs want to be in the loop with med stuff so I would expect that whatever really happened is way over our (you and me, students that is) heads!

I can understand all of this of course. They are darlings for allowing us to practice under their licenses and are setting a good example by not overreaching our skill sets!

What you have here is an instructor who is using you as an excuse!! I am certain that every licensed person involved sees right through her bullish story!!!!!!!!!!! Let them deal with her. Tell your story to the dean as suggested, express your concern about the instructor and keep it movin'

Relax. Take a deep breath. I will give the same advice I gave every client I sent off to deposition: tell the truth. Everybody knows what the truth sounds like. Stick to your guns!

I am so sorry about your situation...

[SmilingBluEyes]

It could have been like my floor though. Nurse's get lax, one will waste (without a witness) and then ask another nurse to sign the log. Hypothetically, there may not have been a witness.

But an instructor KNOWS better and also knows he/she best follow policy to the letter. Being an "outsider" she would be suspect, and know it.

I suggest the OP see the nursing school director/dean and possibly go higher if need be----- Post-Haste -----and get this resolved as fairly and promptly as possible. Not is only nursing school on the line, but possibly MUCH MORE. There is not much any of us here on the site can do as:

1. we were not there and not witness to the situation.

2. we cannot offer legal or similar advice on this website.

In the end, only by going up the chain and ensuring thorough documentation is done on this situation can the facts come to light and be dealt with in the proper, fair, and most expeditious manner.

And those floors, units and nurses who are "lax" in wasting narcs, this is a cautionary tale to be heeded. I always make a witness watch me waste and sign right away, no exceptions. I also don't sign wastage I did not see. It's not worth my freedom and career.

[Music in My Heart]

Threaten her with a report to the State Nursing board.

Only as the very, very, very last resort.

In truth, if you reach a point where you roll out the threats your odds of success are precipitously low.

[lpnflorida, LPN]

Your instructor is not allowed to change out narcotic in a pca pump without another Rn at her side. This is policy in our hospital. To be honest, I have not ever seen or heard of an instructor who changed them out at all. They usually go to the Rn and have them do it along with another floor Rn.

[CHATSDALE]

this is a sad situation, scary but stick to your guns and DO NOT let them make you resign by threatening you

deyo gave you some good advise for now and for the rest of your career, do not allow yourself to be lax no matter how the rest of the staff operates..you will never regret doing the right thing and it is always easier down the road to get on a witness stand and say 'i did the right thing'

this instructor is following the old nursing adage CTOA [cover thine own hiney]

you have invested a lot of time, money and effort into getting to the point where you are now - don't let them bluff you

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

But an instructor KNOWS better and also knows he/she best follow policy to the letter. Being an "outsider" she would be suspect, and know it.

I suggest the OP see the nursing school director/dean and possibly go higher if need be----- Post-Haste -----and get this resolved as fairly and promptly as possible. Not is only nursing school on the line, but possibly MUCH MORE. There is not much any of us here on the site can do as:

1. we were not there and not witness to the situation.

2. we cannot offer legal or similar advice on this website.

In the end, only by going up the chain and ensuring thorough documentation is done on this situation can the facts come to light and be dealt with in the proper, fair, and most expeditious manner.

And those floors, units and nurses who are "lax" in wasting narcs, this is a cautionary tale to be heeded. I always make a witness watch me waste and sign right away, no exceptions. I also don't sign wastage I did not see. It's not worth my freedom and career.

I absolutely agree. If I was a "visitor" on a floor, I would make sure I was on my best behavior when it came to following the rules, especially if I had students under me.

I'm surprised the OP was even allowed near the PCA. The students that come to my floor aren't allowed to do anything with the PCA's. Has to the be the floor RN to change the cassette and chart on the PCA.

[afranklin]

Your fingerprints will not be on the syringe so relax!

When you know you are innocent, you've got to remain calm in order to recall each and every detail.

Do not let this woman intimidate you; take charge of this, now.

[leslie :-D]

it's when we're hardest hit that it's imperative to keep our cool.

agree, to write down everything that happened, including dates, times, witnesses..

any, all detail.

submit to dean and keep copy for yourself.

as they say, the truth shall set you free...

and hopefully nail your instructor.

hang in there honey.

and when push comes to shove, don't go w/o a fight.

you did nothing wrong.

hugs...

leslie

[Thankful RN,BSN]

That is something that u can learn early is that people will lie on you to save themselves! Hopefully, the instructor will remember and fess up. My best wishes to you.

[BEDPAN76]

This incident is fishy, with a capital F. I agree with all previous posters. Keep your cool and document. I know you have that "sick" feeling in your stomach now but hang in there and know that we are behind you . Please let us know how this plays out......

[Heloisea3]

I agree with everyone else. Document, document, document!! My school does not allow us to waste narcs, so I am really surprised at this. It sounds like your instructor either has the memory of a gnat or is completely trying to throw you under the bus. I hope everything turns out well for you. Let us know how it goes! Good luck!