NP gave meds to her married boyfriend

IsabelK · Mar 16, 2016

As far as I know healthcare professionals are not supposed to write prescriptions for themselves and give the medication to other people, nor write scripts for people they are not treating. This is what she did wrong. Correct me if I am wrong.

Actually, in at least some states prescriptive providers can write for themselves as long as it's not a controlled substance. Not saying it should happen regularly, but it has been done. I had a friend who used to write for her own labs. I had another friend who had a problem with getting an anti diabetic script from her PCP to the pharmacy and the pharmacist said it was legal for her to write a few days worth of the drug until it got straightened out so she did. It was metformin and she'd been on it regularly. The person writing the script, though, is supposed to keep records. I think her own medical records would have sufficed if asked.

But if a provider write a script for someone, he or she is supposed to keep medical records. So if this NP had written a script for someone for an antibiotic, there should be documentation about an exam, assessment, and plan.

reggaemuffin, MSN, NP, CNS · Mar 16, 2016

I believe you are only supposed to write prescriptions for those you are actively treating- that said many prescribers write scripts for family members and friends occasionally. To answer your question, there are no other consequences- she did not break the law. I doubt she will lose her license over it either.

i am glad you are out of that relationship. However I do think reporting her was quite petty. I understand anger but you didn't know the back story of how your ex husband came to be in possession of that bottle. It could have been thru no fault of that woman. Clearly your ex husband is not the poster child for honesty so who knows if the story he gave you was accurate. But at this point you should stop checking on the case, stop hoping she will face maximum penalties and go live your life. I doubt anything will come of it anyway.

macawake, MSN · Mar 16, 2016

OMG these responses are becoming more about the soap opera than the question. I only posted the back end information because I knew everyone would come for me and say that I should just leave him and leave the NP alone.

The fact that you shared the circumstances behind your decision to report the NP doesn't in any way change my opinion of your actions. You predicted that at least some posters here would feel that leaving your husband and leaving the NP alone, would be the correct course of action. That happens to be exactly what I believe.

If I believed for one minute that you reported this nurse practioner because you had just cause for believing that she poses a danger to her patients and you felt morally or ethically obligated to protect the public from an incompetent provider, I would have supported you. But I think you were motivated by your own hurt feelings and I think it was petty and vindictive.

Look at you own actions. You looked inside your husband's book bag. You found something that clearly doesn't belong to you. You then decide to take possession of this item and subsequently lie about throwing it away. Then you take it upon yourself to send the item that you took to "the authorities", hoping I assume to get another person in serious trouble.

You have no idea who the antibiotics were intended for. You don't know how your ex-husband came in possession of said antibiotics. They could have been given to him, but he could just as easily have taken them without permission. You simply don't know.

My question is besides possibly losing her license, what are the other repercussions this NP can face?

I hope there are no professional repercussions for this NP. You and everyone else are free to think whatever you will about a woman who has an affair with a married man. However, attacking a persons' career and livelihood over a highly personal matter is in my opinion inappropriate and lacking dignity.

Listen, I can understand if the betrayal stings. Your husband let you down. The best thing you can do now is to move forward and try to achieve harmony in your life. Let that be your focus, not the past and the wrongs inflicted upon you.

RNdynamic · Mar 16, 2016

OP: you sound like a female version of myself. Or at least how I used to be: petty and vengeful.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 16, 2016

While I personally question the motives of the OP, it does continue to point out that as APNs, we should NOT be writing scripts for ANYTHING for ANYONE who is NOT our PATIENT.

Simple, no problems!

Guttercat, ASN, RN · Mar 17, 2016

This scenario so ""Nurse Jackie."

OP, my sincerest and best wishes to you as you move forward in life. What a mess!

amoLucia · Mar 17, 2016

Look at you own actions. You looked inside your husband's book bag. You found something that clearly doesn't belong to you. You then decide to take possession of this item and subsequently lie about throwing it away. Then you take it upon yourself to send the item that you took to "the authorities", hoping I assume to get another person in serious trouble.

And then YOU took it upon yourself to try and obtain information that is protected by HIPAA from a pharmacy.

HIPAA violations are serious and perhaps that should also be investigated.

Are we respondents being 'skunked' here on this post?

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Mar 17, 2016

This whole story is hard to follow. So you were with him & he was your husband when you found the meds? Was he your husband when you reported the meds?

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2016

She wrote the prescription to someone with her last name and gave the meds to my ex husband. I stated in my original post that I called the pharmacy and the automated system stated the meds were for somone with her last name.
As far as I know healthcare professionals are not supposed to write prescriptions for themselves and give the medication to other people, nor write scripts for people they are not treating. This is what she did wrong. Correct me if I am wrong.

Your lying, cheating ex-husband told you she gave them to him. Why do you believe him? He's a liar. You don't know how he came into possession of them. You also don't know that she wasn't treating the person for whom the prescription was written. I don't see any disciplinary action being taken against her.

AspiringNurseMW · Mar 17, 2016

So you created an account just to see how much more trouble she could get in? Why? What does it matter to you if you are no longer married (which by the way was NOT indicated at all in your original post). You know, once divorced, most people call their exes, exes, especially when scorned, which you did not.

allnurses Guide · Mar 17, 2016

I found a bottle of antibiotics in my husband's book bag. The prescriber was his mistress a NP(she knows he is married and they have been seeing each since 2012, he would always say it was over but evidence would pop up indicating otherwise, she even bought him a jeep then went to my parent's house requesting it back after he told her he wasn't leaving his wife).
I called the pharmacy and the automated system stated the script was written to someone with her last name. My ex husband stated his friend had an infection but did not have insurance so he asked his mistress to write a prescription. I told him that I threw out the medication. I left my husband and reported this NP to the NY State Education Department Office of Professional Discipline, and I sent the meds to the investigator handling the case. The investigator stated she cannot give me the status nor the results from the case.
My question is besides possibly losing her license, what are the other repercussions this NP can face?

So you stole his legally prescribed medication and disposed of it? Am I missing something?

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Mar 17, 2016

And then YOU took it upon yourself to try and obtain information that is protected by HIPAA from a pharmacy.
HIPAA violations are serious and perhaps that should also be investigated.
Are we respondents being 'skunked' here on this post?

I think so...

It makes no sense and it seems as lies and deceit is abound-and it could be the OP after all...

Who's up for a game of Clue? :blink: