I stole a bottle of ibuprofen

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I work at a nursing home. And I took a bottle of ibuprofen because I started my period and was in pain and didn't have any. And didn't have time to go to a store since I work so late. So now I feel guilty. At the time I didn't think anything of it since it's stock medication and over the counter. But now I'm paranoid and feel like I diverted drugs! I'm guilty and need to confess or something!

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Well hopefully your employer doesn't have cameras in the med room. I could understand taking a few to get you through your shift, but the whole bottle? Hopefully it wasn't too full and you guys have more on hand. It was pretty dumb to do that. To risk getting fired so you don't have to go to the store?

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

I wouldn't call it diverting but it is stealing.

First I would have simply asked another coworker if they had anything OTC I could take

Not sure what to say but I would have kept this info to myself.

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

What we used to do in my unit was collect all the empty soda cans from people's lunches every day and turn them in for the refund and then use that money to buy a big bottle of Advil and a big bottle of Tylenol and keep them in a drawer on the unit for the staff to use. It was a very popular program. You should introduce that and maybe pay for the first bottle as a way of giving back what you stole. Then your conscience might feel a little better. Don't do it again! You could get in really big trouble!

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Stealing yes, diversion no. Diversion is a concept typically reserved for controlled substances.

Theft in nursing is a very serious and troubling issue, it is considered a major moral infraction that if elevated is generally dealt with harshly. We take care of a very vulnerable population and have either direct or indirect access to their assets.

Get caught shooting up Dilaudid, go to diversion classes.

Get caught stealing, lose license.

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

The board of nursing in the state where I reside would issue a formal censure to any nurse who was caught stealing stock medication. The formal charge would be filed under "defrauding a healthcare facility of the cost of medications."

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Return what is left to the location you took it and vow never to do it again. Be a liitle more prepared next time or every gas station with a little store sells unit dose medication...stop in one next time and stop the theft!

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