LPN taking home meds

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I have a question regarding who to contact about a very dangerous concern. I found out this LPN running a nursing home has been taking home patients meds and giving them to family member, all types of thing like pain pills and whatever anyone ask. I found this out because my nephew ended up with some in his backpack that my sister found and he confessed his best friends Mom had a bunch in a drawer, I played detective and I called her and stated I have a bad back ache and she said she has such and such Meds that she gets from work. I was appalled. I cannot believe this. I was told to simply turn her in but I don't want to be found out for this cause I am afraid of what might happen if she loses her job, but she does not need to be doing this. Advice please. I think she should not practice as a LPN doing this. She could have killed my sisters only child.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Adolescent/Child Mental Health.

I'd be afraid to find out what happens if she's allowed to keep her job...

I don't see a gray area here. She should be turned in.

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Specializes in ER, education, mgmt.

If you feel like this is a battle you wish to wage, there are several angles here:

First of all, she is stealing from her employer and her patients. This is a criminal matter. Imagine if this was your grandmother who did not get her pain/BP/heart medications. THe DON/CEO of this facility needs to be made aware. You may also make an anonymous complaint to your state's cabinet of health and human services.

Secondly, she is diverting controlled substances. This is a matter for the state's BON.

Third, she is practicing medicine without a license. She is also pretending to be a pharmacist without a license. These state licensing boards may wish to know about this.

Once again, only you can decide if you want to get involved. You do not have to provide proof- the state agencies and/or facility can conduct their owninvestigation. Best wishes and keep us posted.

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You are worried that she could have killed your sisters only child yet you hesitate to turn her in? You only have one choice....

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Write a statement and send it to the local police department. Send a copy to the state agency that oversees nursing homes in your state.

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Why not just notify the BON? The police may not know quite how to handle it--the BON does.

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The police handle theft cases every day.

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Sorry, my past experience with the police and missing narcotics from a camp (over 700 tablets) didn't go well. They didn't have time to do an extensive investigation...didn't understand how narcotics are to be counted and how they could be diverted and what proof did I have that the camp director had the only key to the cabinet. They also didn't understand that a kids camp didn't need narcotics.

Another time I called the police on someone who asked for a narcotic RX on a woman that had died a few weeks earlier. The police didn't do anything....wasn't sure what laws had been broken.

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I'd go the BON route as well and let them investigate the situation. My guess is you could make that report without giving your name. They will understand the severity of the situation and how it should be handled better than the police in a case like this one.

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Specializes in Medical.

I agree that is a licensing issue - pharmacists aren't allowed to dispense meds without a prescription, let alone nurses!

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I have a question regarding who to contact about a very dangerous concern. I found out this LPN running a nursing home has been taking home patients meds and giving them to family member, all types of thing like pain pills and whatever anyone ask. I found this out because my nephew ended up with some in his backpack that my sister found and he confessed his best friends Mom had a bunch in a drawer, I played detective and I called her and stated I have a bad back ache and she said she has such and such Meds that she gets from work. I was appalled. I cannot believe this. I was told to simply turn her in but I don't want to be found out for this cause I am afraid of what might happen if she loses her job, but she does not need to be doing this. Advice please. I think she should not practice as a LPN doing this. She could have killed my sisters only child.

I appreciate that you would not want to be seen as a "informer," but read your last sentence again.

"She could have killed my sisters only child."

You're right about that, and the danger she poses makes it imperative that she be stopped. Fair it may not be, but you seem to be in the best position to stop her by reporting her to the proper authorities in your state.

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actually she sounds like a pretty "old fashion" drug dealer to me.....perhaps if you contact your

State Police, narc division, you would get a better response......and cps on her as well.

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