LVN "teamate" not doing meds properly-advice wanted

GoosbyLPN · May 28, 2011

True, but I respectfully disagree with the fact that the RN isn't held accountable to some degree. They are her patient's too. And forget the BON, what if meds aren't given on time and somebody codes? Even if it isn't caused by the med error, can't you just see the RN on the stand and them asking,"Did you ever witness Ms. LVN give medications late? Did you ever witness her chart incorrect times for medications? How can you be sure at Ms. LVN gave your medications at all? Why did you never report her?"
I realize it's a small chance, but it's a real one. Report it. At least you will not be eaten up with guilt and feel you are sacrificing patient safety.

Iagree with KayRN910 whose to say if she is really giving the patient the meds..if she will will falsify documents she probably will not give the meds.Ive heard about this working as a CNA. The Nurse needs to realize someone health is in her hands.

mesa1979, BSN, RN · May 28, 2011

True, but I respectfully disagree with the fact that the RN isn't held accountable to some degree. They are her patient's too. And forget the BON, what if meds aren't given on time and somebody codes? Even if it isn't caused by the med error, can't you just see the RN on the stand and them asking,"Did you ever witness Ms. LVN give medications late? Did you ever witness her chart incorrect times for medications? How can you be sure at Ms. LVN gave your medications at all? Why did you never report her?"
I realize it's a small chance, but it's a real one. Report it. At least you will not be eaten up with guilt and feel you are sacrificing patient safety.

Totally Agree!!!! :up:

ktwlpn, LPN · May 28, 2011

I am getting assignments as a team w/me as the RN and an LVN. I caught her not giving a med on time (which she then gave me attitude when I brought it to her attention as she's talking w/the charge nurse-her best buddy). I've caught her marking meds as given when she gave them later and blamed pharmacy for bringing them late.(I can understand pharmacy bringing them late, but don't mark it as done at 0900 if it didn't get to the pt until 2 hrs later). This person seems pretty lazy as she is gone off the floor frequently to joke w/ the charge in the nurses station.
I don't want to cause problems, but I don't want to lose my license over this either. The hard part is that she has a lot of friends at work and I've been there less than 2 years and tend to stay "out of the loop" and avoid the politics/gossip. Should I talk to the manager (who saw firsthand that she didn't give the med until later, but yet it wad marked and brought it to the LVNs attention and suggested she mark the actual time she gave it). I feel like I have to double check that she gave the meds b/c I don't trust her. I'm not trying to cause this person trouble, but want yo voice my opinion that I refuse to be assigned w/her as a team. I get floated to her unit frequently, so not sure if they'll just try and ignore
my request.
Any advice? I want to handle this as a professional, but afraid it will turn catty and be to my detriment.

ewww -it blows to be "out of the loop" Our adon's dtr is a cna in the facility and in nursing school. She is sloppy, lazy, careless and has been reported for being verbally abusive and her carelessness actually caused significant harm to a resident. NOTHING EVER HAPPENS. I am dreading her coming on board as a nurse -which she will despite the very strict policy regarding nepotism-which has been lifted for 5 mins every so often--long enough to allow an adminaistrator or unit managers loved one to get in. And the unit managers-one in particular has her "favorites" If you don't kiss her bum you are out of the loop and subject to harrassment galore. If you are in her loop you can make mistakes like crazy and pretty much do whatever you like....surf the net, print your husbands resumes, do your coursework on line-all on company time.....

Are you going to report her because you truly fear a negative outcome for a patient? Are her actions that dangerous? If so,then you know what you are obligated to do. You have to make a choice-the lvn does have a license she can loose. Check your nurse practice act and facility policy to see where your responsibility lies when teaming with her. Maybe go to HR for some info and then make your decision. It was a late med,correct? What type of med was it? I would be more concerned if it was a pain med or anti-convulsant,etc. Tell her that when she works with you that you prefer she NOT document false info and will report her if it continues and then do so of you feel that strongly about it.

I recommend that you choose your battles very carefully....

demylenated, BSN, RN · May 28, 2011

If indeed you find the meds are late according to the facility, keep track of EVERYTHING... every infraction, every thing you address with her and what she says, and every time you go to the administrator and what they say. That way YOU CYA! Good luck. I hope things get better.

monkeesilly · May 29, 2011

At a facility I worked in, if the mar said 0900, we had a 2 hour (before and after) window in which the medication is given "on time" (because we may have 30 patients to pass meds on). We simply put our initials on the MAR as it being passed. Every facility is different... but, in the facility I used to work at, when I did pass meds, giving it at 1100 (when the mar said 0900) is actually on time.
Another facility was a strict 1 hour (before and after) window... so you had from 8-10 to pass 09 meds and be "on time."
quote]
I was always taught to write the time.. whatever the facility policy is on how much time the window is, you sign your initials as well as put the time.. even if it is within the window.. document, document, document. If there is EVER a problem for any reason what so ever I want my butt covered. Just a thought.
As for someone else making that error. I would tell, you aren't "telling" about her stealing your lunch. Your job as an LVN, LPN, RN.. whatever... is for the patient, patient saftey. If she is doing whatever she wants when she wants, and false documenting, that needs to be told to a superior. She can be putting all of you and most importantly the patient at risk of their life. Is petty crap like we are in high school and she is going to hate you more important than a life??

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · May 29, 2011

I agree with the above posters. I don't know that you can lose your license due to something she did, but she can definitely loose hers due to her own actions. She works under her license not yours.
I would talk to her and then go up the chain of command, her practice is un-acceptable.

Meant to write *lose* Haha sorry:o

melmarie23, MSN, RN · May 29, 2011

are you paper charting? we have computer charting and we do have the ability to change the time on the EMAR if we wanted, but the actual time is always recorded behind the scenes. So they'd actually know if we were back charting or not. No faking/fudging it with the EMAR.

but I can sympathize with you OP. Its often times hard to do the right thing for fear of backlash. It really really sucks. But my best piece of advice is do what feels right to you-what will make your conscience clean and help you sleep better at night. And if worse comes to worse, if the backlash of reporting said co-worker is too much, then you can always leave. Easier said than done, but it is always an option. But at least you would be opening the door for better opportunities....

babblingbrook · May 30, 2011

Just to clarify: we do paper charting, so pretty easy to lie; our policy is to give meds 1 hr before or after time it's scheduled. If it isn't done within that time you should write down time actually given, I get floated to this unit usually at least once a week.

My assistant nurse manager caught the LVN fudging a med time b/c she's crossed it out, but didn't give it at that time.

This LVN was assigned to give my meds on two different occasions and both times she either didn't give med at all or fudged the time given. I'm looking for another job and have been pretty much since I got there since the job treats their nurses terribly (implementing team nursing in a psych facility rather than have one med nurse be held accountable-which was the previous policy, etc). I keep getting asked why I didn't give a scheduled IM on a pt in which she wad responsible for giving. My fault for being too busy to double check she did it, but she's been there over 4 years doing meds.

I requested that nightshift no longer assign me on a team w/ the LVN. That had helped, but it annoys me that such a lazy, negligent person keeps her job. I will talk to the assist nurse manager rather than go directly to the nurse again as that had gotten me no where and she hasn't improved. Keep your fingers crossed I get offered another job soon as I might face serious backlash as her other good friend works in my regular unit. Lol