I've been working at an Assisted Living Place since May 7. Here's whats happened since I've been there
My 2nd day, they find out around 60 Tylox were stolen. Cops called, got a report. I guess they sell for $10 a pill on the street.
I also find out that before this happened, maybe a week or two before I started, another set of Tylox (for the same patient, no less) had gone missing. That time it was b/c the DON had left the keys out.
The set that was stolen sometime between the first set and my second day of working there (they arent sure exactly when it was taken) looked like the lock box (which was really a filing cabinet with a padlock on it) had been broken into... the drawer was all bent/warped, like a crowbar had been taken to it or something.
For some reason the ADON got suspended for the second set hat they discovered stolen.... She was back 2 days later, and both the ADON and DON were written up since they were both supervisors "in charge" of these meds.
By the way, this place had 3 nurses, myself included... the DON, ADON and me (They use Med Techs.. nurses are more like case managers, doing doctors day and stuff like that).
So, a few weeks later (maybe a week and a half ago) the ADON apparently comes in on a Friday night... on her day off, in her uniform. Goes up to the med cart and says to the Med Tech she's gonna do their 45 day review (the med tech gets "tested" every 45 days, they are supposed to be followed around for a complete med pass)... the med tech was like "Um, The DON's already done all of them" so the ADON said "Oh well I'll help you on your med pass"... She ended up giving meds to 2 residents and leaves... The 2 med techs said she smelled like alcohol and was acting weird, so they counted the meds after she left and apparently 4 or 5 narcotics (just individual pills) were missing!
Then on Monday, they discover MORE narcotics were stolen... like A LOT! They had come on after the nurses has left for the day on Friday and were left locked up in the nurses' office (med techs have a key to get in tho), but someone must have unlocked the door (or someone left it unlocked) and taken them. Obviously, someone who knew what they were doing.
They ended up firing the ADON b/c of all that had happened (she'd only been there maybe 7 or 8 months)... well, I think they really said "You can either be terminated or resign" so I think she wrote a resignation letter.
Down to 2 nurses.
During this whole time the corporate office sent in a QA Nurse . Well, we just got the report back and there were 16 pages of errors. Although I had gone through a couple of the charts to see what she was talking about and there were only maybe 1 or 2 errors she said I had done.. one of them said the doctor ordered a coumadin change and it was not written on the MAR but it was?!? I did nothing wrong, so who knows what the hell this lady is talking about.
Anyway, b/c of all the errors and the missing meds, the DON was told she had to be terminated or resign today.
Down to one nurse.
Me.
Been a nurse for 5 months... and only practicing for a month and a half.
I'm on call from now on 24/7 until further notice. We have another DON started July 2nd, but I HOPE TO GOD corporate sends other nurses from other facilities in the same company between now and then to help out.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I have been wondering about Megan myself. Megan if you are out there, please update us. And, most importantly, I hope you still have your license and sanity.
Jeez. I read through this entire thread and there is no resolution at the end! What a bummer. Hopefully, the OP is well. Perhaps, they've hired more nurses, or she's moved on to greener pastures. It sure seems scary to have a new grad in charge of 63 patients - alone. Wow.
PrincessAnnie
48 Posts
It is their job to hire more nurses. Instead of thinking of them you should think of yourself before something bad happens.