No Narc count????

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I just started orienting at a SNF. Today was my first day there. The nurse I was orienting with showed up a little later and jumped right in to get report and then we were off passing meds etc. At first I thought maybe someone just counted her cart for her but when I asked her later about how they do the narc count there she said they don't, they trust each other!!! I am surprised to say the least. I sat there for a minute speechless but then said...I hope no one is going to be offended when I don't accept the cart until I count the narcs. She said they'll be count with you but they might think your a *****!!!!:eek:

Has anyone ever heard of such a thing?? I mean I am a fairly new nurse but.....is this the norm????!!

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Specializes in Addiction, Psych, Geri, Hospice, MedSurg.

NEVER, EVER, EVER risk your job, your reputation, and MOST IMPORTANTLY your LICENSE because other nurses are lazy and want to leave 5 mins early...

They could call me any and every name under the sun, but I TRUST NO ONE when it comes to narcotics... not even MYSELF, which is why I want the nurse to count off with me... things happen. I might take one out and forget about it...

Trust... ha!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

No, not normal or okay, and I absolutely agree with you. I would not start my shift without doing a count either.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

Can you say illegal and against the standard of practice?

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I'm willing to bet you guys do minimum to rare narcotics but....always count. I had someone try to put this over on me once and I reacted the way you did...huh?!

Ironic because when we counted, guess what was off? How long, we have no idea as everyone just "trusted eachother" Even with trust, stuff can slip down in the drawer, get lost, teleport to another nursing station...I felt bad because I'd caused them a lot of trouble. It took a while to figure out, I didn't do anything wrong, the people who didn't count did.

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I agree with all of the above. You should never accept responsibility for a med cart until the narc's are counted and both nurses sign off that it is correct :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele, Neuro, IMU.

I would stick to your guns and training on this one. Count, each and every time you take responsibility for the cart. Who cares what everyone thinks of you. The truth is, you're there to make a living not friends! I agree that it is illegal and against best practice to just take over a cart without knowing if its contents are correct. You knew that right away. I wish you luck!

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wow....I have had many many issues with the narcs being off..mostly due to documentation errors or signing the wrong page etc. Even if you trust your co workers they wouldn't steal or falsify errors to happen. We are all human! If they get mad I would just explain this to them. Personally I would not trust anyone with narc count even if it was my best friend! You are covering yourself as well as them and they should be thankfull for this!

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele, Neuro, IMU.

I would also like to add that anyone who practices above board would not have issue with counting. . .it just makes me wonder about these nurses. . .

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Specializes in LTC.

"I will refuse to accept the keys or this assignment until the narcotic count is done and correct."

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Makes u wonder how often the state does surveys there what happens if a complaint is made and pt leaves and med not accounted for count for ur own license cya and document

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Specializes in ER/ MEDICAL ICU / CCU/OB-GYN /CORRECTION.

If this is the standard of practice at this place I would quit immediately your professional career is in danger.

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