Narc count short!!

[dlissa74]

what do you think??

i got off work at seven a.m. did my count handed off the keys and went home. i received a call at twelve a.m. stating that the drawer was short 2 narcs. i did my count with the on coming nurse for the next shift. when i left the count was accurate. how could it be short after i left and went home to bed? what do i do now the don stated she doesnt know what she is going to do then she stated she was going to report it to state. then she went back to say she did'nt know what she was going to do. should i go ahead and get a lawyer. i mean what do i do. she was very hateful to me on the phone she always is but the hate fullness and the threating are old now. what would you do?

[WillowNMe]

I wouldn't sweat it. I'm sure you have your own technique, but I do something similar as heron... When I count narcs, I count them with no one talking and no suggestions as to the number. Some of my co-workers will just put the same number in the box as it was before and then sign it without counting. I guess I feel like there's been enough trouble with narcs at my job, and especially with me three months away from completing my BSN, I don't need any issues :) CYA practice!

As for quitting your job - have you tried looking? Best time to get a job is when you have a job. Don't follow what other people are doing - you have to decide whats best for you. That whole jumping off a bridge if your friends do it type theory

[sevensonnets]

I agree with Heron. Both nurses should be looking at the book while counting. Don't let anybody interrupt you either while counting. When the oncoming nurse signs that the count is correct and takes possession of the keys, anything "missing" after that is on her, not you.

[Popwhizbangz, LPN]

I'd say you're in the clear, as you and another nurse documented the count was correct when you left.

I have had many many narc count problems, overwhelmingly paper problems, easily fixed with a careful review of narcs given since last count. Pre-counts also help - whenever I can I count long before shift is over, so I can relax, and/or fix problems before the shift change.

Finally, we are all the victimes of a very stupid situation.

How so?

For decades we've had machines that can pretty reliably dole out a single box of candy, gum, what have you one at a time, allowing little or no opportunity for abuse. How is it that our society can manage to dole out cheap candy better than narcotics? Its a scandal to me, a huge waste of time and energy nurses can't afford to waste, and a giant source of distrust, anxiety, etc. Hospitals should not be allowed to act so negligently with such a heavily regulated (Civil and criminal law) area of practice. We pay the price, every day. Its just plain wrong, and it makes me angry every time I think about it, especially given how cheap and simple technical solutions could be (just contact any candy-machine manufacture)....

[Mudder]

Exact same thing happened to me once. Got called around 12noon after I had gotten off at 7a by the DON telling me the narc count was off, I told her she needed to talk to the nurse that accepted the keys and took the cart. I had passed the count on to her and if there was a problem, it wasn't mine :)

[littlemister0508]

I know exactly how you feel. When I read your "thanks for the replies" I swear it is my exact situation. I am overwhelmed at my job as well. Our DON has let our staff situation get out of control. We are working with the very bare minimal and I feel like our residents are not getting the care they deserve and it is not our fault. The nurses that I work with are good nurses working in a bad situation. It is heart breaking. I got into nursing to take care of these little elderly people. It is my passion. I worry about them and my fellow nurses. I too am attached to the residents and do not want to leave. I am beginning to feel I have no choice as I also do not want to lose my license that I have worked so very hard for. Good luck to you!

[Ayeloflo]

Since the DON is so hateful of you, was she just trying ruin your sleep? You never know what tactics a bad person will use against you. When you get a chance, look over your chart and the MAR in case you made a mistake. But even with that, the on-coming nurse signed and took the keys. Did DON question the on-coming nurse as well?

[dlissa74]

Well thanks for the continued replies when you are a new nurse well 3 years of experience but not with this type of issue it helps to have someone else that may have the answer. I do appreciate all of your help I will sleep better tonight. But some one did ask me if the DON spoke with the other nurse that I can't say. As far as the DON I am evidently an idiot I should have left a long time ago. She is so cruel that when my mother was dying I called out on a saturday to go out of state ( never missed a day of work)they had called a code on my mother. At the time I worked mon-fri 1st shift well the upcoming monday I called the facility to speak to her she did not speak to me her secretary did and I was told if I did not come back to the facility to fill out FMLA papers I would have no job so I had to leave one state and make the 8hr drive back to the job to feel out FMLA paperwork. They would not fax it to me. My mother did'nt die then but she did 6 months later. (But I guess I should have noticed the signs in the DON then. I am the one that when they had no help I stayed late, came in early, came when they had no help and when my mom was about to die I got chewed out on the phone. Wow I guess this is all an eye opener to me.