I need help

Published

I am an RN with my BSN. I have been a nurse for 20 years. The last 6 years at a very small hospital in PA. In early December a nurse was fired for diverting Metformin and lasix. No narcotics. However, at this time it was also found that Ativan was also missing. Our Ativan before was only in the mini fridge (which was locked) but the Ativan wasn't locked. Since this time, we are all required to count this among other meds. No biggie. Last Thursday I was walking into work (days 7a-7p.) I was told by the night shift nursing supervisor to head to our DON's office. She was there along with the head of the HR Dept. They essentially asked me if I diverted any medication. They said that my name comes up on the reports for giving more narcotics than any nurse. Now, a year ago the pharmacist told me this. I went to the head of my dept and she said "oh, don't worry about that!" Then they started to ask me about the Ativan. I immediately volunteered for (and took and passed) a UA. We are a hospital that has random UA's. I have only had one, and passed. I was suspended and I still haven't heard about my job. If there is no proof, and my UA is clean, can they fire me or turn me into the board? Just a question. I am a nervous wreck about this. I have never taken any medications and I am an advocate for pts not being in pain. I always treat what they tell me. I document it. We are also unionized. I went to the union. They can't do anything until the hospital proceeds.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/surg/ortho.

No. they have no proof that you took anything so they can't Report it to the board.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's exactly what I think. But you never know. It has taken a week and they still haven't gotten back to me. I would think that they need concrete proof?! I didn't divert, so they have none.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/surg/ortho.

I might look into consulting a health lawyer who has experience with such matters before you do anything. Maybe they could give you some sort of advice about what to do. I've also heard of other nurses who were in a similar situation going to get a hair follicle test on their own( that goes back 3 months) prooving no drug use for a significant period of time.

even with a negative drug screen you will be "suspended" from working until an investigation is completed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/surg/ortho.

You could just be disciplined for inaccurate documentation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in tele, ICU, CVICU.

Having your clean UA then & there was very smart. Even though it was clean, people divert to sell to others (or so I've heard). So unfortunately just because somebody is negative for drug screen, they could still divert.

I think they need hard evidence to move forward with reporting to the BON. It sounds like they've got nothing and were hoping you'd admit to something you did not do. I don't see how they could proceed further in reporting to the board. As someone said, you might be reprimanded if somehow your charting is inaccurate. But again, it doesn't sound like that will be an issue, from what you've said.

even if you do give a larger amount of narcotics than other nurses, you're charting will reflect that. As would HR or your supervisor talking to your patients to confirm they received the meds. Do you have a pixus (sp?) or other computerized med dispenser requiring a user to login? If so, there is no way somebody else could be logging in as you?

Have you always given more narcotics than other nurses, which can demonstrate your medication habits have not changed? Especially if this is all relatively a new issue? If you've always given more narcotics than others, could pharmacy somehow track your logins? It's not evidence, but if you're record shows relatively similar habits for a decent time frame, whether more narcs than other staff, that would demonstrate that your habits haven't changed.

It sounds like they don't have a leg to stand on and will lift your suspension. Just trying to play out different possibilities...

Please let us know how things turn out. Hopefully it will be done with soon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

You posted this in another forum...I'll cut and paste my response from that thread into here:

Unfortunately, a clean UA doesn't automatically get you off the hook. They are aware of the fact that a lot of nurses divert not for their own use, but to sell/give to others. So to them, a clean UA means that you haven't USED it, but not necessarily that you haven't DIVERTED it.

If you have , call them ASAP.

If you don't, contact a lawyer versed in dealing with healthcare/nursing issues. You can find one here: TAANA Executive Office - Home.

Do not rely solely on the hospital or union attorney to represent you. You need someone whose sole interests are yours and yours alone, not yours along with someone else's. Because when push comes to shove and they have to choose between you two, a hospital/union attorney is going to go along with whoever is paying their tab...hint: that's not you.

Also, consider minimizing what you post online about this. The less detail, the better.

I'll also add that a facility does not need to have hard proof of you with Ativan in hand in order to report you to your state BON. If they have enough to conclude that it's likely you have diverted it, they can go ahead and report. In fact, anyone can report a nurse to the BON if they have any concerns about the nurse's practice...unfair, at times, yes. But sadly true. However, the BON doesn't blindly accept a complaint's word as law, and will conduct their own investigation.

Best of luck.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Consult healthcare attorney. The hospital is not your friend

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion