I really think I've been set up.

[NurseCard, ADN]

Okay, PLEASE, PLEASE let me preface this by saying this. I screwed up. I majorly, royally screwed up. I got caught doing something I was probably, seriously not supposed to be doing, and during the week that &*%$@! Joint Commission was visiting no less... I screwed up. People do things they shouldn't do; people screw up. I seem to do this a LOT.

Having said that... I feel like I was just set up. I feel like someone really wants rid of me where I work, and I feel like I have been set up. There is absolutely NO WAY this happened the way my manager said that it did. Absolutely no way. I mean, I have been racking my brain here.

Okay... I worked last night, 7p to 7a. In the mornings between 5-7 am, we have to do a med pass. We don't have med carts; all of our patients' meds are in three different Omnicells on our unit, and sometimes it takes a fair amount of time to pass all the meds plus give IV meds, shots of Lovenox, take patients to the bathroom/clean them up while you're in the room... etc..... So, a good majority of us pull our meds beforehand; ie before we even start the med pass. We don't OPEN the packages and put the pills in cups or anything; we just pull the pills, vials of medication, ALL in their original packages labeled and all, and put them in ziploc baggies with the room numbers labeled on the baggies. If I had a med cart (which would be nice), I'd put the pills, unopened and labeled, in the patients' drawers. But we don't have med carts on my unit. Anyway, so this is what some of us do. I always try and make sure I've got the pills in a secure place after I pull them and put them in the baggies; I don't just leave them out on an open counter where anyone can just walk by, see them, and take them.

So, this morning I gave all of my patients their meds. Rushing to get done in time to give report, as usual, but I gave all the meds. I **KNOW** I did. Furthermore, I **KNOW** that I did not go and pull anyone's meds out of the omnicell a second time. Number one, there is no way I had TIME to do this. Number two... I'm often pretty tired in the mornings but not THAT tired. Usually that time of the morning, I'm actually rather jazzed up and alert. It's the hours of 2, 3 AM that usually really get to me!!!

I got a call just a little while ago from the clinical manager. Apparently, a nursing student found a couple of ziploc baggies this morning with meds all in them. I was totally and completely shocked when she told me this; there is ABSOLUTELY no way that this could have happened... if so, it had to have been baggies of meds that someone from two mornings ago left laying around. IT WAS NOT ME. I GAVE THESE MEDS. Well, it is pretty well impossible that they could have been from a couple of mornings ago, unless they were found in the patients' room (the two patients' meds in question are two elderly ladies sharing the same room). The reason for that is that that place has been cleaning from top to bottom in preparation for Joint Commission.

The only other scenarios are a) I DID "double pull" the meds from the Omnicell; I actually forgot that I had already pulled these patients' meds and I pulled them again; thusly leaving the ones that I did actually pull lying somewhere... major OOPS. Or b) Someone found the baggies, empty, came to the conclusion somehow that they were mine and that I had used them in the manner that I did use them, got REALLY ticked off about it, and so my manager called to basically get me to admit that I had done so.

Yes I was careless. I should not have been pulling the meds and putting them in baggies in the first place, and then I should not have left the baggies lying around like that, especially in a week like this one.

So, I guess basically what I'm ASKING is... do I go ahead and quit without notice so I don't get fired; do I do nothing and just see what happens next, or do I come clean and admit that I made a mistake and should not have been pre-pulling the meds in the first place, and see what happens?

I'm hesitant to even bother to do that last thing, because I'm really feeling that my director, and possibly my manager too, would just as soon get rid of me and find any reason to do so. I won't get into exactly why I feel this way... no it isn't some paranoid delusion... let's just say that things have happened over the past couple of months that lead me to believe that I might be on the chopping block.

I'm worried about being able to find another job. I'll tell you what though; I am SO SO ready to leave nursing. I could walk away from it today and not look back. I am so not cut out for it; I did fairly well at my psych nursing job but that was because it seemed like non detail oriented ME, didn't have quite as many nit-picky rules, regulations and policies to deal with. Plus I didn't have to pass meds; not usually anyway. I just HATE details, and I'm "that nurse" in all of your posts about the horrid, lousy nurse that you worked with that night that drove you crazy.

Anyway, I don't know what to do now. I'm about to just go see if I can get myself a lucrative waitressing job; maybe work my way up to bartender. That would be fun. Ultimately I want to go back to being a career artist. I just want OUT of this but I still need to make at least close to what I make now! I support my family!!!

[Aneroo, LPN]

I'd go talk to your nurse manager. You know you messed up, doesn't sound like someone is trying to set you up.

Those "nit picky rules" are there for a reason- to cover your butt and it's usually best practice and what is best for the patient. It's not something we love, but it's there to keep the patients safe.

If you feel you're on the chopping block, I'm curious as to what else has happened. I'd go ahead and start looking for another position in another facility.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

The omni cell should have some way of giving an activity report so you can determine whether or not you double pulled the meds. If you did indeed pull the meds twice, if it were me i'd fess up. I don't think that resigning before the matter is investigated further would be the right move. Employers talk and it's not favorable to have it reported that you left your last job due to a possible error without an investigation. It's like admitting guilt to something that you potentailly may not have done.

If you are indeed tired of the nursing profession, then you have every roght in the world to leave and persue somethingdifferent. I just would hate to see you burn any bridges.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

I was just thinking the same thing about the omnicell. Pharmacy should be able to see if you pulled the meds twice. Or can you pull a reoprt? We have that option on our pyxis, but I am not sure if it has to be done that day or not. Pharmacy will deffinately be able to help.

[rhondaa83]

If I can give you one peice of advice to carry throughout life, is to ALWAYS BE HONEST AND ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES. No one is perfect, but it takes a real person to admit when they have done wrong.

[oramar]

You know I don't not think it is considered prepouring to put a patients meds in a bag all ready for a certain med pass as long as they are in their individual marked blister pack. Pre pouring to me is prepaing meds in a way that makes it inpossible to identfy what they are. Also, those bags could have been from everyone. If you confess could it be that you are confessing to someone elses mistake? If you double pulled the meds from the omni pack that is not the same as giving same med twice. I can't figure out what your mistake is here.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Can't the omnicell be interrogated? This would show whether you pulled the meds twice.

The system you described, of all the patients' meds being in the Omnicell, then the nurse having to pull meds for each individual patient, sounds like a poor system. My optimistic self thinks maybe this is an opportunity to examine the system and make some changes.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Access histories can be pulled, but some people pull out the next dose of meds with the first. This would only show 1 access entry, instead of 2. My guess is this is what occurred?

Hang in there, RNW. Just tell the truth. You'll end up in worse shape if you lie.

[hamnurse]

My first reaction to your post...I agree...You need to first go talk to your manager and tell her/him what you USUALLY, or as a common practice, do. Then, give your opinion as to what is happening here. Honesty is always the best policy, even if it costs you your job. If you have thought things through, and you know you have learned a valuable lesson and will never do this again, apologize and see what happens. If, after thinking things through, and know within yourself that you will continue to bag meds but will try to hide it better, then be the better person, and leave nursing. This profession is so much more than getting the meds out on time. You must have the heart of a nurse. Look deep within yourself and you will know what you must do for your own sense of honesty and integrity. "To thine own self be true" and "honesty is the best policy"are two appropriate sayings to bear in mind. After all, you have to live with yourself too. For what it's worth, I think everyone has done some things we have had to face within ourselves too Hon, so look within yourself and you will know what to do. Leaving nursing is not failure. Admitting to something you know you did not do, would be, now wouldn't it? Think it through and do what you have to do.

[whodunit]

I agree with the other posts; there has to be a paper or electronic trail with pharmacy etc. that can show who, where, when etc. these meds were pulled. That said, your post sounds like you really don't like or need to be in nsg.If you are not going to work in any kind of nursing again, why worry about quitting or getting fired?Long time ago, when I was a new nurse, I made a mistake that I didn't think was bad enough to get fired for, so I waited thinking once all the facts came out everything would be ok. Well... it wasn't and I was fired:imbar and I think blackballed as well from ever working for that health care system again.So... if you are thinking of continuing work as a nurse, my suggestion is to leave before you are fired.Good luck in whatever you do.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't resign for what is a common practice. The manager knows this.

{{{witch}}}

[Ms.RN]

okay, please, please let me preface this by saying this. i screwed up. i majorly, royally screwed up. i got caught doing something i was probably, seriously not supposed to be doing, and during the week that &*%$@! joint commission was visiting no less... i screwed up. people do things they shouldn't do; people screw up. i seem to do this a lot.

having said that... i feel like i was just set up. i feel like someone really wants rid of me where i work, and i feel like i have been set up. there is absolutely no way this happened the way my manager said that it did. absolutely no way. i mean, i have been racking my brain here.

okay... i worked last night, 7p to 7a. in the mornings between 5-7 am, we have to do a med pass. we don't have med carts; all of our patients' meds are in three different omnicells on our unit, and sometimes it takes a fair amount of time to pass all the meds plus give iv meds, shots of lovenox, take patients to the bathroom/clean them up while you're in the room... etc..... so, a good majority of us pull our meds beforehand; ie before we even start the med pass. we don't open the packages and put the pills in cups or anything; we just pull the pills, vials of medication, all in their original packages labeled and all, and put them in ziploc baggies with the room numbers labeled on the baggies. if i had a med cart (which would be nice), i'd put the pills, unopened and labeled, in the patients' drawers. but we don't have med carts on my unit. anyway, so this is what some of us do. i always try and make sure i've got the pills in a secure place after i pull them and put them in the baggies; i don't just leave them out on an open counter where anyone can just walk by, see them, and take them.

so, this morning i gave all of my patients their meds. rushing to get done in time to give report, as usual, but i gave all the meds. i **know** i did. furthermore, i **know** that i did not go and pull anyone's meds out of the omnicell a second time. number one, there is no way i had time to do this. number two... i'm often pretty tired in the mornings but not that tired. usually that time of the morning, i'm actually rather jazzed up and alert. it's the hours of 2, 3 am that usually really get to me!!!

i got a call just a little while ago from the clinical manager. apparently, a nursing student found a couple of ziploc baggies this morning with meds all in them. i was totally and completely shocked when she told me this; there is absolutely no way that this could have happened... if so, it had to have been baggies of meds that someone from two mornings ago left laying around. it was not me. i gave these meds. well, it is pretty well impossible that they could have been from a couple of mornings ago, unless they were found in the patients' room (the two patients' meds in question are two elderly ladies sharing the same room). the reason for that is that that place has been cleaning from top to bottom in preparation for joint commission.

the only other scenarios are a) i did "double pull" the meds from the omnicell; i actually forgot that i had already pulled these patients' meds and i pulled them again; thusly leaving the ones that i did actually pull lying somewhere... major oops. or b) someone found the baggies, empty, came to the conclusion somehow that they were mine and that i had used them in the manner that i did use them, got really ticked off about it, and so my manager called to basically get me to admit that i had done so.

yes i was careless. i should not have been pulling the meds and putting them in baggies in the first place, and then i should not have left the baggies lying around like that, especially in a week like this one.

so, i guess basically what i'm asking is... do i go ahead and quit without notice so i don't get fired; do i do nothing and just see what happens next, or do i come clean and admit that i made a mistake and should not have been pre-pulling the meds in the first place, and see what happens?

i'm hesitant to even bother to do that last thing, because i'm really feeling that my director, and possibly my manager too, would just as soon get rid of me and find any reason to do so. i won't get into exactly why i feel this way... no it isn't some paranoid delusion... let's just say that things have happened over the past couple of months that lead me to believe that i might be on the chopping block.

i'm worried about being able to find another job. i'll tell you what though; i am so so ready to leave nursing. i could walk away from it today and not look back. i am so not cut out for it; i did fairly well at my psych nursing job but that was because it seemed like non detail oriented me, didn't have quite as many nit-picky rules, regulations and policies to deal with. plus i didn't have to pass meds; not usually anyway. i just hate details, and i'm "that nurse" in all of your posts about the horrid, lousy nurse that you worked with that night that drove you crazy.

anyway, i don't know what to do now. i'm about to just go see if i can get myself a lucrative waitressing job; maybe work my way up to bartender. that would be fun. ultimately i want to go back to being a career artist. i just want out of this but i still need to make at least close to what i make now! i support my family!!!

i still dont understand about zipper bag thing. first, why would a hospital not have a med cart and allow this kind of things to happen? are all of your patients alert and oriented or are they confused? can your nurse manager ask your patients if they got their morning medicine and can they answer her? try to keep figuring out what could have happended. i dont think quitting now is a good idea without finding out what had happened. did your manager checked all the medications in the zip bag to confirm that all the meds inside are the early morning medications that you are suppose to give to your patient or are they the pills that are suppose to be giving in the morning after your shift? hang in there:icon_hug::icon_hug: