A parent brought in a refill of clonidine for a student that has taken it since the beginning of the year. The bottle stated clonidine 0.1mg take one tablet at 1100. Correct student name on bottle
Audit was done in my clinic by supervisor. Supervisor told me to pull up drug.com pill identifier and identify each pill I had in my locked drawer. When we got to the clonidine which are white and round, the imprint on it stated it was trazodone (which student is on for sleep)
Supervisor told me to write up an incident report. I did, I told mom and the Dr. what happened-- that the student was receiving trazodone instead of clonidine. Mom stated she does not know how the wrong med was in the bottle. She stated she was sorry and was not concerned.
I was suspended for 3 days and a formal investigation was performed on me by HR.
My supervisor also reported me to the board of nursing. I am now awaiting my fate with a lawyer on retainer.
There is not a policy written to use a pill identifier when intaking meds. supervisor stated it falls within the 5 rights of medication admin.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 3/24/2021 at 10:38 AM, uofanurse said:
I am back at work. And super scared to be here in lieu of what is going on. I have a lawyer on retainer that is costing me $5000. I am really thinking about just not coming back because I am afraid of what else they will try to sanction me with.
I completely agree with you Why have me stay if you think I’m such a horrible nurse to begin with that you had to contact the board for me
That's the Board's first clue that the complaint is a malicious one. Your practice is so terrible your supervisor has to report you but you get to keep working there. Yeah, right.
@uofanurse - any update? I think about you and this situation often and hope everything is okay with you.
I second this. I just caught up on a thread and part of me wants to tell you to stay just so then if this IS a malicious attempt by your supervisior she does something else to give your lawyer more ammo to bury her in the dirt. And if it isn't and it was just a med error that needed to be reported, then it all blows over and you are safe. Maybe he was sleeping in his later classes and that's why the audit was done?
Specializes in school nursing/ maternal/child hospital based.
I am so sorry for the stress you must be under!! Honestly, this was not even something I thought to check. I count in scheduled drugs, keep a detailed record of administration but never considered that I had to verify that the medication in the bottle was correct. WOW Thinking of you. I am sure right will be on your side! HUGS
Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
You may have already done this, but can you find the precise definition of what the "5 Rights" are, according to your State's Board of Nursing? This could be a game changer, because I am pretty sure that the definition is not what your supervisor is indicating.
TriciaJ, RN
4,328 Posts
That's the Board's first clue that the complaint is a malicious one. Your practice is so terrible your supervisor has to report you but you get to keep working there. Yeah, right.