Just sign for it

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Our admissions have been arriving so fast that we can't keep up with them. And our pharmacy can't keep up with them either. We frequently do not have meds needed for new admissions and we are ordering meds and they are not being delivered. We had a survey done and we had blank spots in medex, (waiting for meds to be delivered). We have a protocol for obtaining meds but it is not working. Our DON has told us to sign for the meds even when we don't have them. If everything looks good, it is good. So, why do we all feel like crap?:confused:

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

NO FREAKING way would I sign that meds were delivered when we don't have them. I would tell NM that she can put that policy in writing, then put the policy where the sun doesn't shine....just sayin.

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Specializes in Geriatric Nursing.

Signing for meds that we don not receive yet, might be a problem later on .....

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.

NM likes things look good on paper. The paper is taken to Admin. Admin feels everything on the unit is under control and at the same time the unit is suffering.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

this is easy...tell her to come sign for them!!!!! :yeah:

our admissions have been arriving so fast that we can't keep up with them. and our pharmacy can't keep up with them either. we frequently do not have meds needed for new admissions and we are ordering meds and they are not being delivered. we had a survey done and we had blank spots in medex, (waiting for meds to be delivered). we have a protocol for obtaining meds but it is not working. our don has told us to sign for the meds even when we don't have them. if everything looks good, it is good. so, why do we all feel like crap?:confused:
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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

She wants you to sign for meds that aren't delivered yet?

Can she say 'lose the faciility's license?'

Can you say 'I need to protect MY license'?

No, you cannot sign for meds that aren't even there yet.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
NO FREAKING way would I sign that meds were delivered when we don't have them. I would tell NM that she can put that policy in writing, then put the policy where the sun doesn't shine....just sayin.

Yeah, that.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical & Nursing Manaagement.

DO NOT SIGN FOR DRUGS YOU DON'T HAVE.What in the world is your DON thinking, that is falsification of records!!!!! :uhoh3: She needs to meet with the director of Pharmacy and see what THEIR problem is. Administering medication after that 30minute leeway is actually a medication error. If the meds are not up from pharmacy, after a second call I'd complete an incident report and forward it to the director of pharmacy.

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Specializes in MDS/Office.

And does your DON expect you to falsify patient records & chart meds were given even if they were not delivered to your facility? DON'T DO IT!! Report this Crazy DON to her Boss immediately!! Even IF you signed for meds that were NOT delivered to your facility but did NOT sign that the meds were given, this could come back to haunt you during any type of State Survey. Surveyors would want to know why holes were left in MARS/TARS......This Scenario of leaving holes in MARS/TARS just caused several Nurses in our building to receive letters from the Attorney General's Office..... :eek:

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This is a really scary concept. So what happens when suddenly someone is accused of stealing the meds? they were signed for, but there is no proof they were given to a patient and nobody can find them.... Would be very hard to protect yourself from nefarious allegations after the fact.

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Heck of an odd thing for a NM to say. Any chance she or a friend could be diverting?

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This scenario is so scary, prevalent, and maddening.

The powers that be are primarily focused on things looking kosher, despite what might exit their pie hole. And I can tell you from experience that if/when the excrement hits the electronic air-circulating device, it's every man/woman for themself. And bottom line? Even if you could prove that you were only doing what you were told, the board doesn't care. The obligation incurred by your licensure is not superceded by any policy, physician's order, what your boss told you to do, etc...

I would report the DON to your nursing and pharmacy boards. Personally, I would bypass any inhouse reporting entirely. Been there, done that, got mountains of paperwork from peer review, the board, unemployment commission to prove it. Fortunately, the board and the unemployment commission sided with me, but it was an experience I would not wish on anyone. And because people tend to move around within an area's hospital systems, I still get blackballed.

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