I currently work in an ALF, usually passing meds but occasionally on the floor. I am very good at my job because I care about my job. If I'm not sure about a medication, I look it up. I want to know what my patients are receiving, possible side effects, ect. The supervisor I am currently under is completely inept, rude, and unprofessional. She should not be passing medications; it is a safety issue. In the last week alone, she has made 3 med errors. We have a woman on hospice, who has most of her meds in liquid form. Well super-supervisor didn't check because she's lazy and doesn't take her time, and the patient received ativan instead of methadose two :eek:days in a row. She completely forgot to give a patient her AM meds, and she gave a medication (tylenol 3) that had been D/C'd for a week because she didn't look at the MAR before she administered the drug. She refuses to admit any time she makes a mistake, and she wrote my fellow hard worker up for not (!) pulling the tylenol 3 from the day cart as well as the afternoon cart. She also tried to pass it off as she punched the med, but did not give it because she saw that it was D/C'd. She's rude to the residents, rude to her coworkers, and it really starts to get to me sometimes. I love my job, but the workplace is becoming very hostile. I'm trying to find a new job, even though i'll hate to leave all my residents (especially when there are unlicensed individuals passing meds that have no idea what they're doing), but I need to do the best thing for myself.
Anyone else work in a hostile environment? Thanks for the chance to vent, everyone
That's what I asked when the hospice nurse brought it, and she told us to keep it in the narc box with the rest of the narcs. I was under the impression that it had to be refrigerated as well.
If it isnt marked "refrigerate" then i would check with the dispensing pharmacist.
I just read an article by Patricia A Rowell, PhD,RN about lateral violence. It was very interesting. There is alot of stress in nursing, and that brings out the worst in us. I can not control how other people act, but I can control how I act. It is hard to always set a good example, but I try.
Thank you I know I am doing the right thing and that my intentions are only to learn and help, I know that I am not PERFECT and that I have a hell of a lot to learn yet. I just want to be the best I can for the sake of the person/people I am caring for, that is a HUGE responsibility and not one that I take lightly : ) I often transfer my high self-expectations onto others and that is not right of me either. I just hope to gain some insight into myself and a little bit of humility (as was suggested to me by one member). Thanks again!
That's what I asked when the hospice nurse brought it, and she told us to keep it in the narc box with the rest of the narcs. I was under the impression that it had to be refrigerated as well.
Where I used to work, liquid ativan was not refrigerated. It may depend on how long it's likely to be stored before being used -- all of our narcs were in single dose containers and were used up pretty quickly.
I once called our pharmacy about a med that was supposed to be refrigerated but had been left sitting out a few hours, to find out if it was still good or if I needed to request another dose. The particular med (I think it was a liquid suspension of Prevacid, but not sure) is one that we always refrigerated, but it turned out it could be left unrefrigerated for up to a week and still be good. When refrigerated, it was good for a month.
I agree with the advice to call pharmacy if you're not sure.
morte, LPN, LVN
7,015 Posts
If it isnt marked "refrigerate" then i would check with the dispensing pharmacist.