Need Advice- MD supervising tech giving meds

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I need some feedback. I am an ER nurse in NJ. I was in triage and a tech who is in her last semester of nursing school wanted to learn how to give a tylenol suppository. She was acting as a tech at the time of the incident. The medical director of the ER was at the bedside when the tech carried out the and gave complete direction during the event. After he allowed it to occur, he called my manager and reported I had allowed a tech to give medication. I was suspended and an investigation is underway. THe hospital threatened they could have reported me to the board. The doctor has had no consequence. The doctor handed the tech scissors to open the suppository packaging, told he how far to insert the medication, and then after calling to report me stated he was "uncomfortable with the situation and did not know what to do". However, he was comfortable enough to call my manager 5 mins after the medication was given under his supervision. Does anyone else have any feedback on this?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Write down your story and call your malpractice carrier for advice.

Were you there? Did you speak up? Were there witnesses, (patient, patient family, staff)?? What does the tech say? Is the tech going along with the doctor's version?

UAP's are a fine line for delegation (medical physician vs. nursing). NJBoN has a flow chart for delegation & RN responsibility on their website.

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Both I and the attending/medical director were present. I assumed he was using this as a teaching example since he was present from the beginning to the end. He actively participated and then called to report me. The family only spoke spanish so they could not give feedback nor did they complain. The tech was also suspended and the hospital threatened to call her school to report her. NOTHING has happened to the doctor!! She and I gave the exact same report of the incident.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Do you have a malpractice/liability policy?

If yes, call them ASAP if your administration is threatening to call the BoN. At least the tech gives the same version as you.

Just because the family was Spanish speaking they may have understood more than people think. However as this is a personnel issue it's not appropriate to bring them into the "investigation "

The student/ tech should NEVER have requested or agreed to administer a rectal medication. That is a skill for school ( unless working as a student nurse tech) and asked of her clinical instructor not a physician at work. If she made the request perhaps her school should be contacted. I know my class was warned about asking/agreeing to do student/nursing clinical skills at work whether a CNA, tech, aide , etc. disciplinary action would be forthcoming if caught or the school became aware.

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You deserve nothing less than the death penalty! haha, no, but seriously, why are so many nurses out to get one another?

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