Missing narcs. Being blamed!

An RN supervisor in Long Term Care in NY accepts delivery of a shipment of narcotics from an outside pharmacy. Logs them into the book, delivers them to the units/LPNs. Three days later she is called at home and told that they cannot find 90 pills of Vicodin, which was part of the shipment. There is no policy that requires the LPN to sign when receiving meds on unit. There is an investigation, and 3 months later the supervisor is arrested, and license suspended pending further investigation. Awaiting trial at the end of next month.

How is te RN supervisor to blame after 3 days? No one noticed the drugs were missing the next day?

Any advice, comments, or similar situations are much appreciated!

Time to get an attorney pronto!!

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

An RN supervisor in Long Term Care in NY accepts delivery of a shipment of narcotics from an outside pharmacy. Logs them into the book, delivers them to the units/LPNs. Three days later she is called at home and told that they cannot find 90 pills of Vicodin, which was part of the shipment. There is no policy that requires the LPN to sign when receiving meds on unit. There is an investigation, and 3 months later the supervisor is arrested, and license suspended pending further investigation. Awaiting trial at the end of next month.

How is te RN supervisor to blame after 3 days? No one noticed the drugs were missing the next day?

Any advice, comments, or similar situations are much appreciated!

how could anyone notice if they were missing the next day, if they hadn't been logged into the book?

leslie

Lawyer, ASAP!! I would find it VERY hard to prove. The facility should be in trouble for not having a proper procedure in place for narcotics. Even if there is no where to sign, I find a place. I would NEVER pass on narcs with no signature. Both, side by side. That really stinks, good luck and remember LAWYER ASAP.

After 3 months of an investigation there may be more to the ordeal than we are reading.

No StrawberryBlonde there isn't actually.

earle58- i clearly stated that they were logged into the book. Am I misunderstanding you or vise versa??

I posted a thread yesterday and had a couple of "not getting the whole story" comments. I find this very rude. Almost as though Im being called a liar. Nobody is forcing a comment from you, so if you dont believe your getting the whole story, Its easy, dont comment.

earle58- i clearly stated that they were logged into the book. Am I misunderstanding you or vise versa??

there may be misunderstandings, not sure yet.

so you're saying all the meds (including the 90 vicodin) were signed into the narc book, and, all the meds (including the 90 vicodin) were then given to the nurses by the supervisor.

and none of the nurses verified physical delivery of these meds against what was recorded in the narc book?

it doesn't matter whether one is required to or not...

it's plain old common sense to ensure these things match up.

just so events like that one you write of, don't happen.

something's off, for sure.

not adding up.

leslie:confused:

Thanks NursePeace. I wouldn't write asking for advice and comments, and not give the whole story. That would be a waste. Terrible policy this facility has?-maybe. Nurses stupid for not questioning & checking things?- maybe- but that's the situation that I'm asking for advice on. No reason to hold back.

Such a ridiculous, unprovable situation seems to be nothingto worry about, but it's still scary & frustrating.

Thanks:nurse:

I'm confused too. From what I can tell you received shipment of narcs and did indeed log everything including the disputed 90 pills. No one verified the shipment other than you. HORRIBLE policy.

Days later they called you about the missing drugs and you clearly told them you signed them and received the missing narcs. Investigation was done and months later you are arrested and license is currently suspended.

I believe you didn't take them. Problem is as you signed for them you are being blamed and not sure why as anyone who had access to them from you on could have stolen them.

You must have been questioned so I'm curious as to whether you had a lawyer or union rep present at that time. You should have but my guess is you didn't. Do you have a history of drug abuse?! Have you ever been involved in a situation where drugs were missing in the past?! Not trying to offend or pry just curious why they would arrest you as there doesn't seem to be any concrete evidence against you which is why people feel things aren't adding up. Could somehow have lied and said they saw you steal them?!

You need a lawyer and good one like yesterday. This is a very serious matter as you now know. Your job and freedom are at risk. I would get a great attorney and share NOTHING with co-workers who call. Zip the lip completely and let your lawyer do their job. Keep us posted.

Sorry to come across as rude. Maybe I should make myself clear. Since it took 3 months to make an arrest maybe there is something found during the 3 months that is not known. Something the OP may not be aware of.

Maybe some evidence was found that implicated the wrong person or they are just trying to blame someone. What that could be I do not know.

I guess because the post was so straight forward I just wonder what is it that was found during the investigation to make an arrest, that is if they found anything at all.

Sorry this has happened to you. Hind site of course is a better policy needed to be in place so that not only you who originally signs for all the narcotics and logs them in, then delivers to carts/LPN's who then should have also needed to sign for them to validate the types and amounts of narcotics being accepted. BIG time SYSTEM ERROR as I see it.

I am hoping you have a good support system you need it. Representation absolutely you need one.

Best guess is, one or both of the LPN's when asked stated no such narcotic was given to them. It then unfortunately becomes your word against theirs. Not fair.

Good example as to why policies need to be in place to avoid this very thing. I know that does not help you.

I might be also, in your shoes be careful of what I post on a public forum. We all tend to write in a short hand manner meaning we do not give each and every detail. Or we have managed to write in such a way as it can be miscontrued, seen as something being left out etc. In no way am am I placing any judgement on you personally. It was just a second thought I had. I had seen someone else on another forum who said that when we write in forums it can be used as discovery something and could be used in a court of law. Wish I could recall the exact term, none the less only food for thought.

Good luck.