I did a no-no

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in LTC, psych.

I recently received a reprimand on my license in my home state for giving Phenergan to a sick co-worker.:cry: How will this affect me job wise.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Acute/Subacute Rehab.

A reprimand? Really?

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Specializes in Case Mgmt, Anesthesia, ICU, ER, Dialysis.

You're lucky you didn't loose your license or face prosecution for practicing medicine without a license.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I've had many coworkers who have had reprimands or stipulations on their licenses. While it has not stopped them from finding work, it has sometimes made their job searches a little more challenging, because some facilities have a very unspoken policy of not wanting to deal with individuals who have licensure reprimands.

In my area, the non-hospital workplace settings seem to be more willing to hire a nurse with reprimands or stipulations on their licenses. These places include dialysis centers, clinics, home health agencies, hospices, nursing homes, rehab centers, doctors offices, group homes, and consulting firms.

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Just curious, how did they know you gave Phenergan to a co-worker?

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Specializes in ED, OR, SAF, Corrections.
Just curious, how did they know you gave Phenergan to a co-worker?

Yeah, me too. I seriously doubt there just happened to be a member of your states Board just walking by and observed you give it. Someone on your unit must have seen you and reported it.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Or the sick coworker was the one who let it slip, perhaps accidentally.

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Specializes in jack of all trades.

Yes you are very lucky you didnt recieve a suspension with probationary limits for that one. Also someone "tattletailed" most definitely. I made the mistake of setting down Mylanta on a bedside table and asked the tech to be sure Mr. SO-SO drank his mylanta so I could attend to a coding pt in the next cubicle. This so called "faithful" tech told the manager and I recieved a board suspension for 4 months for under the precept I allowed a non-licensed person to administer Mylanta lol. This will be on my license the rest of my career! It's not worth it!!! You are very very lucky that's all they gave you. I'm not being negative but sometimes we are inately wanting to help a pt or a co-worker only to have it backfire. Always consider the consequences down the road before you act. Not everyone is as trusting as you may think.

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Yes you are very lucky you didnt recieve a suspension with probationary limits for that one. Also someone "tattletailed" most definitely. I made the mistake of setting down Mylanta on a bedside table and asked the tech to be sure Mr. SO-SO drank his mylanta so I could attend to a coding pt in the next cubicle. This so called "faithful" tech told the manager and I recieved a board suspension for 4 months for under the precept I allowed a non-licensed person to administer Mylanta lol. This will be on my license the rest of my career! It's not worth it!!! You are very very lucky that's all they gave you. I'm not being negative but sometimes we are inately wanting to help a pt or a co-worker only to have it backfire. Always consider the consequences down the road before you act. Not everyone is as trusting as you may think.

Wow, seems like a harsh punishment since Mylanta is an OTC med and you were the one who dispensed the med, not the tech. I think many nurses at one time or another would be guilty of giving a patient a med to take but not actually watch them take it. I guess this situation is one of those reality checks to remind us to be extra careful about our license and patient safety.

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Specializes in LTC, psych.

yes the co-worker took the med, kept it for 3 wks, then took it back, gave it to the DON, & told her she'd gotten it from me. Yes it was stupid of me to trust her, & yes I will never even give anyone even a Tylenol. I have known nurse to do similar actions but no one ratted on them. I attended a disciplinary conference before the BON & they chose to give me the reprimand as it was my 1st offense.

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The DON didn't fire you? You are very lucky indeed. Now you know why there is a saying, "Trust no one". I would avoid that coworker like the plague that she is. When one thinks about it, she is as guilty of any wrongdoing as you were. She was the one soliciting the theft of a controlled substance and should have been dealt with for having it in her possession without a valid prescription for same.

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I'm sorry that happened to you. Thank you for posting about it so others can learn from your mistake. :o

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