I am a new nurse and I am not sure exactly what to do regarding this issue. I am about 4 weeks into my first job as an RN and yesterday my preceptor asked me to see if any of my patients had PO Zofran. I asked why and she said that one of the nurses was feeling nauseous. She stated that the nurse she was asking for had asked for PO Phenergan but that she felt better giving her Zofran. I replied by saying "no, none of my patients have PO Zofran". I'm sure I had a funny expression on my face because she followed up with the fact that she frequently took medication like Mucinex or any over the counter medication from patients, reasoning with me by saying "you can get them from the store. So it's okay." And I responded by saying "you can't get Zofran from the store and even if you could the patients are still having to pay for the medication that you're taking from them."
I'm at a loss and I can't get this off my mind. I feel like taking any medication out of the pixis under a patients name is stealing from that patient. I've already had issues with this preceptor and next week I'm going to finish my orientation with another nurse. (This preceptor frequently leaves the floor to talk on other floors or to go outside and smoke. There was one instance when a patient was going into ARF and we had to call a rapid response. She was outside smoking and wouldn't answer her phone when called. Another instance just recently was that one of my patients was having chest pain and I was having to make all of the decisions and call the doctors all by myself. Being new and never having to deal with those things alone are VERY SCARY!)
Anyways... I know what the rules are regarding a nurse stealing/diverting narcotics from a patient. But I don't know what the rules are if it's non-narcotic medication. Also, I did not see this nurse take anything. It was merely a conversation. I don't want to cause a stink over this since I've already had issues with this nurse. But, I just can't get it off my mind. Is this something that I should take to my manager. Or is it something I should file an anonymous incident report over? Or should I just ignore it all together? I don't know what to do and if she does end up in trouble she's going to know it was me that ratted her out. Any advice?
Specializes in Gerontology, Case Management, Pediatrics.
The original poster was referring to taking a prescription drug, not tylenol, advil or maalox. I wonder what the Board of Nursing would say to this discussion.
Since you did not see her take the medication, unfortunately you have no proof to report her; if reported, she may pass the suspicion to YOU.
I think you handled the situation appropriately from the conversation. At this point, unless you have proof, is best to continue with another preceptor and keep honing your nursing practice; you know what to do...and you have an idea on how to handle the gray areas of nursing from this experience; pick your battles.
This. No evidence, no crime. You're stirring up trouble for yourself over a Zofran that you have never seen be stolen.
The original poster was referring to taking a prescription drug, not tylenol, advil or maalox. I wonder what the Board of Nursing would say to this discussion.
not 100 % sure but it may be seen as an employment issue. boards dont govern every wrongdoing that a nurse does, it would be impossible. unless its a controlled drug I dont think they intervene. I could be wrong.
The original poster was referring to taking a prescription drug, not tylenol, advil or maalox. I wonder what the Board of Nursing would say to this discussion.
(no sarcasm; meant as it reads)
Thank you for trying to bring the thread back to the original issue.
OP, it sounds to me like you handled the situation just fine. Since you have not seen her take anything, at this point it is just a conversation, which again, you handled appropriately. I would let it lie.
Oh please. I will refrain from engaging in debate, but I honestly do not care if someone takes a tylenol because they have a splitting headache. Or a zofran if they're about to vomit. Narcotics are a whole different ballgame since they impair and can be sold on the street. I'd rather have them be able to function through their shift than worry about the cost of a tylenol. Also for those complaining about the cost, go down to the ER and look at how many of those people will end up not paying for their admissions, and get back to me about how a tylenol is going to ruin the hospital's profit.
With electronic charting, many places charge for what is charted and not what is taken out of the pyxis. Hope this eases the feeling that a patient is paying for a nurses meds. However, it does not make it right to use up hospital supplies of any sort for personal use. But you are in a bind because you are new. My experience is those already in place get more credibility than new people even if well experienced transplants from other healthcare facilities. Tough one, but I would bite my tongue until credibility is established.
Do keep in mind that just because it is not a controlled substance it is OK to use on the job. Phenergan is one med that can make you very drowsy and unsafe for patient care.
In my state a nurse can be charged with diversion/theft of a prescribed drug for any legend drug not just controlled substances. I personally saw 1 nurse and 1 medication aide charged with possession of a dangerous drug (legend but not Schedule 2-5). One person had stolen meds from the destruction pile and the stash was discovered during a suspected DUI stop. It was in the trunk of the individuals' car. The police suspected the other individual had gone over the border and obtained a very large quantity of an antidepressant. The police discovered in excess of 300 capsules of this antidepressant in the trunk of their car. Again a traffic stop.
I share this info because before this I never realized that the criminal code in my state considers theft of legend drugs a serious issue whether the item is a controlled substance or not. So there is the potential for losing a license or being remanded to a treatment program for diversion. Just some food for thought.
Also a previous poster, (CCM I believe) mentioned a state surveyor expressing a real concern with the dispensing of OTC meds from the medication cart to a fellow employee. I personally was reprimanded for doing exactly this myself in years past. When I called the BON in my state it was explicity stated that unless I had a professional nursing relationship with the other person and was following doctors orders to give them a med whether legend or OTC it is not acceptable practice to dispense meds to someone else who is not a member of my immediate family or a guest in my home. Again something to think about. As nurses we want to help someone feel better when they are experiencing pain or nausea, etc. but we need to also be careful that we are not over stepping our professional boundaries amd exposing ourselves to unnecessary risk.
Or a zofran if they're about to vomit. Narcotics are a whole different ballgame since they impair and can be sold on the street. I'd rather have them be able to function through their shift than worry about the cost of a tylenol. Also for those complaining about the cost, go down to the ER and look at how many of those people will end up not paying for their admissions, and get back to me about how a tylenol is going to ruin the hospital's profit.
LaRN
272 Posts
forget about nurses stealing meds, what about employees who steal other employees food? there should be a special place in the fiery lake for them