Nurse Calling In Scripts to Pharmacy Illegally

Nurses General Nursing

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I have a question and a concern. There is a nurse where I work that calls in prescriptions to the local pharmacies for anyone that wants one. Not for narcotics or anything like that but if someone needs a refill for their lasix, or an antibiotic called in she will take it upon herself to call it in. She uses a the name of a doctor that she says will always cover her. She doesn't check with this doctor, she just uses his name.

So staff or friends will call her to call in a script for themselves or a family member and she does it. This happens on a daily basis.

If fact I was having some symptoms of a UTI and mentioned it to someone else and next thing I know this nurse came to me and said she called me in some Bactrim and I should go pick it up after I got off work. She had no idea of my allergy status (I'm not allergic but still). And I have never seen this particular doctor before.

My concern is I know this is illegal and normally I try to mind my own business but what is my legal responsibility. I'm pretty sure our Nurse Manager knows about this.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Yes, I am a licensed, working RN in an acute care setting. I think that reporting this is folly.

I think ignoring it is an even bigger folly, although I'm guessing that OP is following the "turn a blind eye" advice since he/she has not come back.

Ignoring this issue leads to 2 likely scenarios:

1. Dr. Nurse gets caught. OP turns up in the investigation of all past scripts called into pharmacy by Dr. whoever. OP loses license for complicity or failure to report.

2. Someone suffers as a result of Dr. Nurse practicing without a license. #1 then comes into play.

And 1 unlikely scenario: nothing happens. Highly unlikely.

I think a small-town mentality plays a huge role in this situation. While everyone involved KNOWS how criminal the scenario is, everyone's either afraid for their future employment or afraid of Dr. Nurse.

Such a shame. And such a crime.

Doesn't matter if they throw it away, burn them, whatever.....I'd bet they WOULD take it back, considering the person would be holding a bag that shows that a prescription was filled--AND picked up--by the same person, one who had no authority to call IN that prescription and then buy it herself--in someone else's name.

No, I'd be willing to bet that a manager would be willing to listen to THAT story.

If they take it back, a return slip for the meds would be issued---the OP should of course have a photocopy of the original bag/receipt/pharm slip. If they DON'T, well she tried and will have the name of the manager that told her "no".

Yeah. It would be nice if that's how it really worked.

Pharmacies don't (usually) call the police, BON, AMA, NPI licensing board or the DEA. What they MAY do if they are REALLY willing to get involved in this is notify the MD office that a customer is making allegations of fraud. That is the sole responsibility of the pharmacy. They report it to the physician's office, and it is then up to the MD to pursue charges/investigations.

Call it sad or whatever you will- but I bet that if she goes back to Walmart-

1. They will flag her file if she wants so only she can pick up RXs.

2. If she stands and argues long enough, they'll refund her $4.

3. They'll toss the Bactrim and then stand around talking about the crazy lady that just came in with a bunch of conspiracy theories about some "out of control nurse."

4. They will also flag her file with a note that says something along the lines of "Customer very particular and argumentative about her medication. Walk on eggshells."

If you get a very young/eager new grad pharmacist- you'll have a better chance of him at least calling the physician. :/

Yeah. It would be nice if that's how it really worked.

Pharmacies don't (usually) call .....

edited for brevity of post......

If you get a very young/eager new grad pharmacist- you'll have a better chance of him at least calling the physician. :/

Well, you're probably right on those counts. I haven't worked from the pharmacy end of things, so I don't know that it's any different. Still, my sense of justice makes me want to go in there with the bag and bottle and at least say SOMETHING about the error. Perhaps naivete on my part that the right thing might be done, but hey....I can dream!

Yes, and as others said- it would be interesting to know if that nurse picked up any other scrips in the OP's name! At the very least- let Walmart know you don't want anyone but yourself picking up RXs.

Secondly- talk to the doctor. He's the one that would have to do something about the situation, ultimately, since she's essentially "forging" RXs in his name. The nurse manager, etc has no stake in this. If the MD is made aware and chooses not to do anything- well, I guess that's his problem.

Specializes in LPN.

I would be afraid too. Afraid enough to contact a lawyer. I would also be afraid enough to contact the next up in line, and anyone else you can think of in management. Keep copies, and make sure you leave a paper trail.

I would start documenting, and blowing every whistle you have. Don't wait.

That nurse by ordering a drug for you, I believe was meant to silence you. Then she went to the drug store and picked up the drug? That is pretending to be you as well. I would go to that drug store and talk with management as well. If this or anything else goes to court, they will eventually find you as well. Make sure the drug store knows what happened as well.

Write to your pastor, write to anyone, and keep copies. Don't hide, you didn't do anything wrong.

Get yourself a long distance away from her, don't even get in close proximity to she if you can help it. Make sure people aren't thinking that you and her are friends. Don't let her craziness rub off on you.

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Further, if the pharmacy didn't question who she was prior to picking up said prescription--when you said the antibiotic was only $4.00, that leads me to believe that she must have used your insurance to purchase the same.

One of the grocery stores near me has free antibiotics and $4 for other prescriptions--no insurance necessary. Also, anyone can go to pick an Rx. They only ask for the birthdate of the person whose name is the the Rx. Not defending this nurse who calls in and picks up rxs., but the pharmacy may not have done anything wrong.

One of the grocery stores near me has free antibiotics and $4 for other prescriptions--no insurance necessary. Also, anyone can go to pick an Rx. They only ask for the birthdate of the person whose name is the the Rx. Not defending this nurse who calls in and picks up rxs., but the pharmacy may not have done anything wrong.

In my area, there is strict rules about people picking up other people's Rx. You have to sign them out, even antibiotics. And prescriptions are more expensive here, I suppose, as with my insurance it is $6.00--and because they have my insurance on file, it is automatically sent in to the insurance.

So I am not sure that the pharmacy necessarily did anything wrong, but I do know that often they would like to be informed, as if the OP keeps an eye on her prescription history with them, and the nurse in question is picking up multiple prescriptions in her name without her knowledge, then certainly it could be a loss for them, if the OP should decide to challenge any of it through her insurance, or challenge it at all. But all of that is pure speculation, hence why it is best to inform the pharmacy to flag your chart. It is, and not being a conspiricy theorist, a form of identity theft.

And a huge breach of HIPAA to have tracked down the OP's DOB that would be needed to call in the prescription to begin with.

And I have a real issue with the arrogance and control that this nurse seemingly has over her co-workers. Most of us can say that we don't ask for all sorts of drama that one doesn't need--we all have the goal I would think of going in, doing our work, then leaving. This nurse is counting on the fact that everyone will continue to keep their mouth's shut. The nurse in question, in my opinion, is scamming the heck out of each of her co-workers. Which, whatever makes one sleep at night, but do NOT let it invade one's personal life. That is where the line was crossed, and where the OP needs to rectify. Which stinks, as the OP didn't ask for this, but unknowingly became a party to it.

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
And I have a real issue with the arrogance and control that this nurse seemingly has over her co-workers.

I definitely agree with you on this.

I think you have to inform the doctor. Even though she thinks the doctor has her back or will cover her...well, I'm willing to bet that he does not know what is going on and that he will not approve of this. Before you go to the BON and fall on her sword, go to the doc first and see if he handles it.

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

In theory all that sounds good, but I have seen too many messengers be the ones who are shot. In reality I would just get away.

Specializes in L&D, OR, ICU, Management, QA-UR, HHC.

Again to all who have commented, thank you. As the comments have been split as to what to do and are so heartfelt it has made it harder to decide what to do. I did talk with the Nurse Manager earlier today and told her of the situation. She did not seem shocked, which, I admit, did shock me. She did say that the doctor would more than likely back whatever this nurse said as they "always back each other." They are not romantically involved but they go back about 14 years and have covered for each other all along. He is somewhat reckless and gets into trouble frequently. This community is very small and he is the only doctor in his specialty here and the hospital and community want to keep him here. He threatens to quit and move off every 6 months or so which would close our unit down. He's not likely to leave at this point in his career but he has them convinced. The NM told me that this nurse has been "the bane of my career but there's nothing I can do" She said if I wanted to report this she would try to support me but she felt that it could come down more on me. She then told me of a laundry list of issues she has in dealing with this nurse including daily tardies (up to an hour), repeated call-ins, issues with other departments, etc. So it sounds as it's a no brainer that if I stir this crap pot the stink will stick more to me. I told the NM that I may have to leave if that is what the culture is here and she said "I hope not, you are an excellent nurse and we're happy to have you, and we've lost too many because of things like this. I can't promise you it will get any better but it certainly won't if you leave." How's that for a guilt trip? Anyway I've decided to decrease my hours to part-time and the NM said she would schedule me on a separate rotation from the nurse in question. For now I will bide my time.

Specializes in Perioperative; Cardiovascular.

Wow! I say go after the bigger fish and report the physician to the State Boards. He is allowing the nurse to practice beyond her scope of practice. She has no business doing that unless she is an APRN. They are both a threat to the community.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Thanks for the advice given. Thread closed as OP made decision.

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