Narcotic count

HH_RN13, ASN, RN · May 17, 2013

Well that wasn't a med waste it was a med error. And should be reported as a med error.

HH_RN13, ASN, RN · May 17, 2013

I would not recommend falsifying the records because you could be in serious trouble for that

newrn776 · May 17, 2013

I would not recommend falsifying the records because you could be in serious trouble for that

Well I've already done it so now I'm just wondering if someone will find out and if I get in trouble. I realized after it was a stupid mistake but I didn't know what to do.

lmccrn62, MSN, RN · May 18, 2013

I am a new grad that just started working at a LTC facility and love the job. I was doing the narcotic count with the 3-11 nurse (I work 11-7). We got to a patients Xanax and the count was down by one. The nurse realized that she had accidently given the patient two Xanax instead of one Xanax and another med and had me co-sign saying that we wasted the other Xanax. Is this okay? I'm having terrible anxiety over it and I am afraid I will be questioned about it even though it looks fine by the book. I new advice and reassurance!!

A lesson learned. Never sign for a waste unless you saw them actually waste it. Working with scheduled drugs s very serious. For all you know that nurse could be diverting medications for herself. Be very careful because you could sink with her. The nurse had a med error by giving the wrong dose and that needed to be reported.

aamy · May 18, 2013

I made a stupid mistake too when I was relatively new. Although I knew it was the wrong thing to do, things were moving so fast I didn't have time (or didn't take the time) to make the right decision. I still think about it to this day and think how stupid it was. It was definitely a lesson learned. I don't trust ANYONE that I work with 100%. I have been accussed of being "by the book". But that's okay, it has saved my butt many times. Don't be afraid to tell someone no. Remember, it's YOUR license. Once they learn that you won't tolerate that kind of behavior, hopefully they won't ask you to do anything like that again.

loriangel14, RN · May 18, 2013

I would be concerned about working with soemone that would ask me to falsely sign for a waste. I wouldn't trust this nurse.

ksrn20 · May 18, 2013

Well I've already done it so now I'm just wondering if someone will find out and if I get in trouble. I realized after it was a stupid mistake but I didn't know what to do.

This sounds pretty childish to me and makes me wonder if you really belong in nursing. All you are concerned about is if you will get in trouble?? What you both did was extremely wrong. Did you ever bother to question if the resident that may have gotten a double dose was okay? Or if you are working with a coworker who may be under the influence? Your patients' safety is what should be important to you.

Common sense should tell you, if nursing school didn't, that of course you could get in trouble for this.

Mommy&RN, BSN, RN · May 18, 2013

The signing the waste was wrong.

What was the 2nd medication supposed to be? You may end up seeing results of the pt not receiving it, too. Gonna be hard to explain why "an antihypertensive" that had the pt under control "didn't work this time".

singingtothewheat · May 18, 2013

Lesson learned, but don't ever document less than the truth with any narcotic. It's a sure fire way to get yourself in a huge jam.

newrn776 · May 18, 2013

I feel terribly guilty and ashamed about this situation. I remember in nursing school learning about these types of situations and thinking ill Never let that happen and I can't believe that it did. Does anyone have any advice about what to do? Or advice on what to do if this situation happens again ( of course I would refuse to sign off on it) but immediately do I get my supervisor?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 18, 2013

What you did was wrong. But you can't change that now. ((HUGS)) This nurse knows better and she was probably looking or someone to cover her mistake or her diversion. You could report this right now...........Reporting it now will do nothing but bring you trouble. IN reality there is not a likely chance that any one will check. Right now I guess just pray that no one finds out.

NEVER DO THIS AGAIN. When asked just say no. Tell the nurse they need to filed an incident report and if they refuse tell the supervisor. Beware this nurse if they ask you again will be very intimidating for you to do this again. You will need to be very firm in your response and go to the supervisor immediately.