I need opionions

Nurses General Nursing

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I work for a carh lab with about 12 people the other day the narc count was off I signed off a Demerol that wasnt used I had to look at this multiple times the last count wa supposedy ok We dont count with

2 people at the same time even though were suppose to I pluled this to return to pharmacy and I wanted to look up the case just to make sure I was right I was then distracted by the day work Another nuses saw I had the demerol and I told her the count was off I needed to go to pharamcy but we were with a pt so I told her we'll talk about this later I then got some bad news about my dad who needed to be hospitalized I became upset and was found crying by another co worker after talking with her was Icomfortable waiting after work to see my dad . She asked me help her with a case I did I was then sent to lunch at this pont I totaaly forgot about the drug Ater returning from lunch I was brought into the office and basically accussed of attempting to steal the demerol. I was shocked I explained myself gave themthe drug immediantley. I was then suspended and Im in fear of being fired I know I was wrong of not taking care of this right away I have worked at this hosptial for 20 years I have a perfect record I am destroyed I was also told no one would know about this The next day the whole dept was aware This investagation by them is taking over 90 hours I asked to be given a drug teat and was refused I admit Iwas wrong but feel this is overkill And now defamed I nedded youe thoughts thanks

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A) Don't ever let them refuse a drug test, insist on one. If they still refuse, go someplace IMMEDIATELY and pay to have one done. Other than that, not much else you can do except wait. There isn't any way to prove your innocence, so all you can hope for at this point is that they believe you and understand why it happened.

B) It took me several minutes of re-reading to figure out what you were saying. The lack of punctuation and all the running sentences made this VERY difficult to read. This is probably why so many read the post without answering.

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I can't believe that with someone who has worked 20 years that they would not have handled this differently than they did. Sure you left the floor with meds (did I get that right?), sure you should have straightened that out immediately, but oh my goodness to immediately go from point A to point C is not what i call sensible or in the proper spirit of nursing whereby the Nurse is treated as a person. And to not have them accept your desire to get a drug test tells me that the REAL issue is not the narcotics but something else. They seem way to anxious to take this and run with it....have you had problems with anyone there in the past? Are the powers that be not liking you for other things? This place is definitely NOT a supportive place and or those in charge are not looking out for you as a person or as a nurse. I would truly rethink your future there even if this does go away.....

Here's hoping you get a much more supportive environment to work in....

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crna, she says she has a perfect record.

with all due respect, my instincts are telling me something is amiss in your post.

hindsight being what it is, i would have gone and gotten tested elsewhere.

perhaps a consult with an atty would protect your interests.

be well, and best of luck.

leslie

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Specializes in ICU/PCU/Infusion.

Sounds like you were in the middle of a bunch of circumstances that caused this horrible situation. Sure, you should have taken care of the drug immediately, but I'm surprised that you have been taken this far to task for something that seems (?) to have happened all on the same day, during your shift.

I hope you will get yourself a drug test, and quick! That will be the way to show at least that you didn't use the demerol, and haven't used any in the testable past.

Good luck, and I'm sorry that everyone seems to be aware of your troubles. Having your coworkers aware of all this is a shame. :(

(((((((((hugs))))))))))

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has anyone accidently not corrected a narc count due to being busy . Where I work we rarely count with two people The count was off a extra demerol I pulled it to return it to return it to pharmacy and forgot about it due to the work load and being short. Another nurse saw me with it I told her I needed to go the pharmacy and never got there. I was the one who accidently signed it out I was later pulled into the office and asked about it I immedently said I had it and turned it over and was suspended. This was on Thur I will be called Mon for another meeting I am terrifed of being fired I have been at this hospital for 21 years and have never been in trouble. I refuses to be charged with stealing drugs. They refused to give me a drug test Do you think I should hire a lawyer HELP

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
has anyone accidently not corrected a narc count due to being busy . Where I work we rarely count with two people The count was off a extra demerol I pulled it to return it to return it to pharmacy and forgot about it due to the work load and being short. Another nurse saw me with it I told her I needed to go the pharmacy and never got there. I was the one who accidently signed it out I was later pulled into the office and asked about it I immedently said I had it and turned it over and was suspended. This was on Thur I will be called Mon for another meeting I am terrifed of being fired I have been at this hospital for 21 years and have never been in trouble. I refuses to be charged with stealing drugs. They refused to give me a drug test Do you think I should hire a lawyer HELP

No way I could give legal advise but I wonder about your post. Is your hospital P&P Not to count with 2 people at start of shift ,when staff leaves and the end of shift? Every where I have ever worked we did and thought it was a law. (Now with accdose don't have keys or do a count. But when you take out a med ,it asks for how many left and it has to match) If I took out a Demerol or anything else and did not use it, would waste it with another nurse that pt refused. Never carry it around or return it to pharmacy. That has been the policy everywhere I worked. Locked up with keys or the in a automatic delivery system. I do wish you good luck,get some advise from some one. And go get your own drug test. I also never heard of hospital not giving everyone a drug test if the count is off and can't be resolved. .

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I agree with sunflower. I would never pull anything on my own.

If it's in there and the count is over, we have our DON pull narcs that need to come out. She has to take care of the disposal.

I would go get my own drug test immediately and a lawyer.

Praying for you.

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if you had been counting w/another nurse (as you should have been), this miscount would have been caught.

i'm sorry, but i don't feel sorry for you.

a 2-nurse count is just nsg 101.

if this is your first offense in 21 yrs, then you've been darned lucky.

yes, i would consult a lawyer to protect my license.

good luck to you.

leslie

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

I disagree with the prior comment. Guess what? YOU'RE HUMAN. Did anyone get hurt? NO!!! Were you negligent at the expense of your patient? NO!!! Stick to your guns and prove your innocense if not by pure character than hire an attorney. Good luck to you!!!!!

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Specializes in nursery, L and D.

I actually scrolled back up to see if the OP was maybe from another country. Who doesn't do 2 nurse counts? And even if they drug test you, they could say, theoretically, that you took the drug to sell/give away. Who knows. You are opening yourself up to a huge liability (exactly like this) not doing 2 nurse counts.

On the other hand, if the facility has been doing 1 nurse counts as there P/P, and sending the narc drugs back to pharm is the norm, which sounds crazy to me, but if that is the case, I would fight it. Everyone forgets stuff, and it sounds like you hadn't left the facility yet, so that is a plus. You never actually "took" anything away, so maybe that will help. All I know is, if you stay there, and keep your license, get that P/P changed ASAP.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Doing things this way, you all will be in big trouble, sooner or later. Yes, you are asking for it. Please, never count alone, nor correct counts unwitnessed. It's nothing but grief you will get if you do. Good luck.

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