missing narc

Specialties Geriatric

Published

i work 3-11, during the change of shift narc count, the 11-7 nurse noticed a missing med on one of the cards. we get the blister cards and they are numbered starting with 30 and work down to 1, I gave the med, which is a routine hs med. I gave it and punched the pill out of the proper slot which would have made the count 27. During our count the other nurse noticed a missing med from the #10 slot. I did not notice this earlier when I did my count with the 7-3 nurse. We looked all thru the med cart, took all the meds out of the drawers and both narc boxes,. searched the residents room, was not able to find the missing pill. So we called the DON and she told me that since I signed the book at the beginning of the shift and it is my responsibility I cant leave til that med is accounted for. Never found the med. so me and the other nurse had to write up a witness statement, and the DON said she would have to call the OLTC, DEA and the Police and I would probably be suspended. She is to call me tomorrow and let me know. I feel horrible that I missed that. I just skimmed over the card and seen there was a pill in the slot that coordinated with the count. MY BIG MISTAKE !!! I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN !! my DON was nice about it, (I was in tears of course, being a new nurse and having the count be off is very overwhelming) But it really bothers me that I didn't notice it and the day shift nurse didn't notice it either. But since I signed the book and said the count was correct, I have to take responsibility for it. Which I do since it was found on my shift. It just really bothers me that I will be suspended. Another nurse friend of mine told me that something similar happened to her and it all worked out ok. they just reported it as a missing narc and she had to take a drug test and it all worked out OK and the SBON didn't take her Lic. or anything. But I'm still worried ! :crying2:

if the on coming nurse had his/her hands on the cards, and you had the ledger, the pill may well be in his/her pocket.

It can happen in the BlInk of an eye...and DOES.

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if the on coming nurse had his/her hands on the cards, and you had the ledger, the pill may well be in his/her pocket.

that did cross my mind as well. but i really dont think this nurse would have done that. She offered to even say we wasted it. But like a dumbass that I am wanting to do the right thing, i told her no, would have saved me a sleepless night and a headache if I did. lol...but my damn conscious gets in the way every damn time. damn that concious.

So, you trust her because she agreed to... falsify documentation? Guess what, Sweety- SHE took that pill.

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And every place is like that, you just have to drill certain routines into your head, so they become routine without your even being aware of them.

-Knocking on doors

-Washing your hands

-Counting narcotics

-Always keeping one eye on your back

Stuff like that. It can be done. Still, you can get canned for any or no reason. Just forge forward. "Trust No One".

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I got to work today and about 4 hrs in to my shift the DON tells me they found the missing pill. I said "really where?" she said "it was wasted on dayshift" I said "really ? I lost sleep over that !!" then she said "it's all good just be more careful when you count". and then she kinda chiuckled. Either they get a damn kick out of scaring the hell outta me or they just don't care. I was fully prepared to take responsibility for it just because I miscounted. I knew that pill wasn't lost on my shift. but I was prepared to take the responsibility. Don't get me wrong I', glad that it all worked out. but if the day nurse would have signed it out in the book as wasted or even just told me she wasted it, would have been nice. But it makes me wonder. It was a routine HS med, why would the day nurse need that card ?? unless she didn't look and accidently poked it. I dont' know, but I'm not gonna question it and getting my lic for the border state asap.

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
So, you trust her because she agreed to... falsify documentation? Guess what, Sweety- SHE took that pill.

I have that feeling too - if she was suggesting the two of u just say ya'll wasted it, that sets off a BIG red flag with her - just saying. Definetly watch your back.

Anne, RNC

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i don't know if she took it and i am not one to say, but I just had a gut feeling to not waste with her cause I was afraid it would come back on me some way. Glad i didn't now because the DON said it was wasted on day shift. But I question that. Why didnt the dayshift nurse say anything during our count ?? I don't think that is something you are likely to forget. But i suppose you could. So I will giver her the benefit of the doubt. Still don't know why she would have anything to do with that card since was a HS med. And the DON adjusted the count in the book and signed it. So that gets it off of me...I hope. All is well now and I didn't get suspended. But I still think that goes back to the fact that we are short staffed and got a hiring freeze and corporate has been in the building for the last few months. I just hope I'm in the clear, I am SOOO LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB !!! I'm thinkin HH or Hospice care.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, Neurology, Rehab.

FairlyLuv:... I think your NM is OVERREACTING!! the police, dea.??? One pill was missing it's not like 100 were missing. an incident report should be filled out and they will try to determine what happened, but calling the police is ridiuculous!!!! I think you will probably be ok though. There are times that happens. The patient did not receive the extra med, no one died!! Blessings to you, you will survive!

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

Basically a cover-up most likely. The DON doesn't want to make all those calls as much as you don't want them to be made. The day nurse probably said it was wasted when she was asked, because that's exactly what the DON wanted to hear, and she knew it. Your DON did you a solid and swept it under the rug. Just make a mental note and count your blessings it didn't get pinned on you.

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Specializes in Medical Oncology, Alzheimer/dementia.

I think in situations like this is when our character and integrity comes into play. This has happened to me before, and anyone who knows me knows I don't divert narcs. Some of the nurses I followed were so shady, they'd get a look at way before me. Things like this happen for a reason. My guess is that fairlyluv, you will become super anal about the narc count...wherever you work.

And I agree with SuzieVN, trust no one.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Don't hold your breath waiting for the DEA to come investigate ONE missing pill. We had 8 oxycodone go missing. I called the DEA and they never came.

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OMG. Police? Please. This happened at my LTC too. My supervisor and another nurse just signed that it was wasted. Didn't even ask one question. It is not that big of a deal. But of course, missing pill does not happen everyday.

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I think in situations like this is when our character and integrity comes into play. This has happened to me before, and anyone who knows me knows I don't divert narcs. Some of the nurses I followed were so shady, they'd get a look at way before me. Things like this happen for a reason. My guess is that fairlyluv, you will become super anal about the narc count...wherever you work.

And I agree with SuzieVN, trust no one.

"A flight of the Alone, to the Alone." -Plotinus

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