keys for narcotics

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I'm a new LPN at a LTC facility so I'm given the key to the narcotics box while on duty. I know I'm not to give the key to other nurses but what about my supervisor or even the DON? I'd feel embarrassed not to give my superiors the key if they asked for it so want to make sure I'd be correct in not handing the key over to them. Please advise, thanks. (This is probably a simple question but I want to make absolutely sure I know what I'm doing :) )

I gave my DON the keys if she/he asked for them. Never had an issue. This was before the current age of conspiracy theories for everything from 9/11 to ant farts.

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I go where my narc key goes. If the DON/ADON or super wants them..I'm going along for the ride.

Now if they just wanted the med cart key, that they can have (the med cart key is seperate from the narc key).

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Any psych nurses care to weigh in? I have a feeling its way different in psych, or maybe just the two facilities I've worked at...we do share the keys. If the med nurse goes on break, she might pass the keys to the charge, no counting in between. I know the count could come up wrong, never has happened to me personally, & not sure what I would do if it did! :o

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Specializes in Med/Surg Tele; LTC; Corrections.

Thank goodness for pixsis!!.... I too remember those days of having the keys..... I don't miss them. I agree I wouldn't give anyone the keys unless I was clocking out to go home right after.

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I liked the response that if they want to get the keys then you ask them to do inventory with you and they take responsibility for the keys. Then you are not saying no you are just giving the responsibility back to your DON, supervisor, whatever.

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Specializes in wound care.

were i work we have one key chain with just the narc key , and the other key chain with the thousand other keys . Are all your keys on one ring?

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yes, all the keys are on one chain. I like your idea of keeping the narc key separate.

I worked on a unit one day when I was the only nurse in charge of 37 residents and had to manage 2 med carts. Each cart had its own keys (about 20 on each set!), and most were unlabeled! I thought this was nuts and such a waste of my time because everytime I had to use one I had to test out several first! Is that nuts or what? Once I become more of an oldtimer, I'd like to take on the project of labeling those keys but feel it would be resented at this point since I'm so new.

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Specializes in LTC.
I gave my DON the keys if she/he asked for them. Never had an issue. This was before the current age of conspiracy theories for everything from 9/11 to ant farts.

LOL!!!

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I have one key ring that only has the narc key, the key ring with the med cart key has several other keys on it..the med room key, etc.

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Admittedly, there is an ant fart conspiracy.

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.

If I need to get into a med cart (which is very rare), I take the nurse along with me. Even if they hand them over and don't look like they want to move. LOL... Our keys are on one ring for each med cart.

As a nurse manager I have keys to the med rooms, but not to the carts or narcs and I don't want them.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

You are responsible for those keys and the narcs.

If ur DON or anyone wants them, u have to go with them if say, they wanted to check the narcs. You can't let them out of your sight.

Anything happens to the narcs, you are responsible.

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