Mistake with narcotic, would appreciate advice from experienced nurses

[loopring7]

I am a new grad working on a very busy med-surg floor which is often understaffed, which leaves me flustered at times trying to complete everything I need to.  One night I had multiple patients complaining of pain around the clock.  Two patients were getting the exact same dose of oxy PRN.  One patient complained, and I went to retrieve the medication from the pyxis machine. As I was walking out of the med room, another nurse's patient was altered mental status, fall risk, and their bed alarm was going off so immediately I went to that patient to help them from falling ( and I placed the oxy in my pocket. )  That night our unit had no techs and it was very busy, and overwhelming for a new nurse (I have been off orientation for 6 weeks at this point, with no previous nursing or healthcare experience).  I ended up forgetting I had that oxy in my pocket- and later in the shift as the patient complained of pain, I again retrieved a second dose of oxy for them.  I ended up leaving the hospital (unaware) that I still had the first dose of oxy in my pocket.  As soon as I got home, took off my scrubs, I realized that I had the medication in my pocket and IMMEDIATELY went back to work and had another nurse witness the return of the med to the pyxis machine. It was an honest mistake and I rectified the situation as soon as I realized I had the medication. The pharmacy obvious flagged this and I had a meeting with managers at work for them to investigate what transpired.  A few weeks later my manager approached me and asked me to sign a disciplinary action paper (which basically is like saying this is my first strike.  3 strikes and I am terminated from the hospital).  Is this fair?  Should I sign it? what advice may you have? Should I fight it? or is this fair to be penalized for making an honest mistake and correcting it?  I would appreciate responses from the experienced.  I have not found a post like this anywhere, as I realize this is a tremendously unique and unfortunate mistake. 

thanks for your time

[SmilingBluEyes]

Narcotics are a big deal. I know it was an honest mistake and you meant no harm. But you got off lucky. Where I worked, a Narc in a pocket  would be grounds for termination.

I am sorry this happened. When it comes to narcotics, be sure you are going to give them immediately or return them to Pyxis with a witness. (as soon as the fall was prevented anyhow).

Hang in there...you are human. You won't make this same mistake again.

[JKL33]

4 hours ago, loopring7 said:

Is this fair? 

In my opinion? H*LL NO it is not fair. But it's reality now, and this terrible, soul-sucking BS has informed major decision-making in my life. I've been a nurse for "awhile" now, and things do not need to be this way. They didn't used to be and they don't need to be now, either.

I have no dog in this; I've never been disciplined, let alone for a mistake with narcotics. But I simply will not accept this sort of treatment since it is a disregard of nurses and a lack of basic human decency.

4 hours ago, loopring7 said:

Should I fight it?

There is nothing to fight, per se. You could let them know that you are really disappointed that this is the culture at your hospital, but beyond that you're not going to tell them anything that saves you from receiving formal discipline.

4 hours ago, loopring7 said:

or is this fair to be penalized for making an honest mistake and correcting it? 

No. I don't personally think it is right at all.

4 hours ago, loopring7 said:

I have not found a post like this anywhere, as I realize this is a tremendously unique and unfortunate mistake. 

That's just it: It ISN'T a tremendously unique mistake!! You don't need to feel like a criminal here, even though the current way of dealing with these types of issues ends up making people feel like moral failures/criminals. But the truth is that this type of lapse is exactly what happens when people have multiple directives they are trying to accomplish (e.g. immediate response to bed alarm + x + y+ z) and not enough bodies to do all the work in the perfect way.

You are new so I kind of feel bad for unleashing here, but if you want it straight from me the truth is I REFUSE to be treated this way. I consider it abusive when staffing is poor and yet nurses are disciplined for not being able to hold everything together perfectly. That is nothing but abject disregard for nurses and making nurses accept responsibility for decisions that have nothing to do with them (such as staffing).

What I would do in your instance:

DEFINITELY write on the "write up" in the area where you can make a response. If it were me I would write that "the medication was returned in unadulterated condition in an unopened package and credited back to the correct patient with a witness as soon as discovered."  I wouldn't say much in person, I definitely wouldn't apologize, and after everything is signed and done I would verbally tell my manager that I am "significantly disappointed in the type of culture this discipline represents." I would refuse to expound on that and if asked for any further thoughts I'd say I don't have anything else to say about it.

That's what I would do, YMMV.

Sorry you are going through this.