Meds from LPN's purse

[davidndenise2001]

I was told by a CNA that another nurse had given a resident a pill from her own purse. The CNA wasn't 100% for sure that it had happened, but it had been spoken of by the nurse on one of their many smoke breaks. It supposedly happened on 3rd shift, so there is hardly anybody there to witness anything. I told the CNA that she needed to report it to the DON. It was her job, in my opinion, as a patient advocate. The resident is usually combative and yells all the time. The night after all of this supposedly happened, the resident was out like a light. Hardly a peep out of her. Well, I read in the mar and the chart where she had been given about 4 doses of ativan within the past 48 hours for aggitation. Everytime I've gave her ativan, it hasn't worked, so I quit giving it, so I was kind of curious as to why it had worked all of a sudden. The CNA also told me that that same nurse also states that she gives residents "a little extra" when the usual dose doesn't work.

Has anybody else ever happen in their facility? This is a LTC facility - FYI. Is there anything else that myself or the CNA can do other than report it to the DON?:angryfire

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

I'd be following the chain of command, like, yesterday. There's no time to think about it; this other nurse, as you've described it, is practicing medicine which, as you know, is outside her scope as a nurse. This needs investigation by your administration... today.

[davidndenise2001]

We left a note for the DON because we aren't there when she is. Wouldn't a blood drug test show what and how much meds are in the residents system?

[Fiona59]

I'm just wondering why you needed to state LPN in the title of this thread and then refer to her as a "nurse" when discussing the incident.

Bad practice occurs at all level of nursing.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

It didn't even occur to me to wonder why she said "LPN" in one place and "nurse" in another.

I would certainly not report gossip. A court of law would call this hearsay.

I *would* document any changes in that resident's behavior and keep a close watch.

[nurseby07]

I'm just wondering why you needed to state LPN in the title of this thread and then refer to her as a "nurse" when discussing the incident.

Bad practice occurs at all level of nursing.

Why wouldn't he? Isn't an lpn a nurse?

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

I'm just wondering why you needed to state LPN in the title of this thread and then refer to her as a "nurse" when discussing the incident.

Bad practice occurs at all level of nursing.

Maybe because if he titled the thread 'meds from nurses' purse' it would sound stupid, I guess it's a choice. RN's purse,LPN's purse whatever, I sense your defensiveness. Personally, I know a lot of LPN's who know their stuff as much ,if not more than RN's ,don't take it personally . I tend to respect the character of the person ahead of the title

[danissa, LPN, LVN]

totally agree, it's irrelevant Whose purse it's from, it's still wrong! no need to flag up LPN or RN, we are all nurses!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I think it is a NURSING issue, not part of which type of nurse would have done this. I know shady CNAs, LPNs and RNs. I remember once, when my son was a baby, I used to take him to this pediatrician for a brief period. The Medical Assistant (who we can all collectively agree is NOT a nurse) was a friendly, consciensous, knowledgable and highly skilled in calming down children for their vaccines. About a year went by when I went back, and I realized she was no longer there. The other MA that worked with her told me that she used to sell doctor's notes, forge prescriptions for her dirtbag friends for narcartics and was arrested. It really takes all kinds...

[ktwlpn, LPN]

I'm just wondering why you needed to state LPN in the title of this thread and then refer to her as a "nurse" when discussing the incident.

Bad practice occurs at all level of nursing.

I worked with an RN that got fired for giving a resident a med from her own stash.....stupidity knows no boundaries...