Nurse lied on me, now i may lose my license....scared...

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Hi, I've been an LPN for almost 5 years and am currenly in school to get my RN. I have never been fired from a job or anything like that.I get all 5's, the highest you can get on an evaluation. I work at a State Nursing Home and they day shift nurse has only been a nurse for a year. She is a scumbag! I hate to say that about any nurse, but she doesnt give medications when ordered, she is best friends with our unit manager and everytime you say something to the unit manager she takes up for her. I know, for a fact that she is selling prescription Lortabs while on the job, but I have yet to say something. I work weekends, 2 16 hour shifts and 1 single. From friday, to monday monring. When she came back on monday she went to the DON and told her that i wasn't giving a liquid medication to a resident.

So, the DON contacted me and i had a meeting with her. I told her that yes i was, she said that the other nurse said the bottle was emply like when she left for the weekend. I told her that 3 other people get that medication, 30 cc 3 times a day. She didn't know about the other residnets on it, so i told her that i used a whole bottle and didn't throw it away...

So before all of this was going on, i had applied at the health department. A monday-friday 9-5 job. with holidays off. I got the job. I put my resignation in and my DON won't speak to me now. Im afraid she may try and retaliate against me for resigning. I've been there over a year and a half. I havn't heard anything, but i'm just so terrified that i may lose my license over some little nurse saying things like that. I wasn't written up, and i wasn't put on leave. Can she really go to the board of nursing and have me still work there at the same time? BTW, I live in Florida.

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Don't get perturbed until something happens. To ease your mind, call the Board yourself and find out if you have any allegations pending. You are probably worrying for nothing at this point. Good luck in your new job.

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Specializes in ICU, cardiac, CV, GI, transplan.

If you were giving the medication, I don't know of any possible way they could prove that you weren't. It becomes a case of their word against yours, and neither one of them was there for the weekend to observe you giving or not giving it, correct? I don't think there's a whole lot they can do to you.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

They can't prove anything, so I wouldn't worry. Just do your time and get out of there.

This person sells Loratab? I think she's the one that should be reported, that's a felony offense and whose not getting their Lortab because she's selling it?

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She is selling her own lortabs, she has a prescription for a "bad back" and she sells them. She texted one of my friends and said, "ive got a new bag of "skittles". I know they can't prove anything, i just am afraid since i'm leaving they will try anything to get back at me.

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Specializes in CTICU.

If you're that worried, leave now.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Get out. NOW.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

Relax. Your license isn't in any jeopardy.

They have to show/demonstrate evidence of impropriety. They have to prove you were diverting medications or that you were grossly negligent in your responsibilities.

You're in a hostile work environment. I wouldn't go back. Why bother? Turn the page and move on...

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Specializes in LTC, M/S, CCU, ER.

Am I the only one who thinks that the OP should meet with her DON and tell her what is going on? At the same time she can confirm with the DON that the issue of the liquid medication is cleared up. Don't ask if you're in trouble--say that you want to be sure that the question about the liquid med was cleared up to the DON's satisfaction. That says that you have nothing to be in trouble FOR, you just want to make sure that there are no more questions.

When discussing your coworker (who SO needs to be reported!) you can state that you have no proof, but you want the DON to be aware so that she can be watching. I would also take that time to say that this situation was a major factor in you taking another job, if that is the case. I would also recommend documenting (for yourself) afterwards about what you discussed and date it, just in case there's ever any questions.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

The OP stated that the unit manager is friends with the alleged drug selling nurse. I would remove myself from the pan of fire first before I did anything, personally. But, from what I read here, there seems to be nothing to be afraid of...as mentioned, it has to be shown and proven. If you got another position, just leave...you are probably not the first person that flew the coop.

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actually, lots of people have quit and/or looking to quit. I have until the 8th until my 2 weeks notice is up, see i have almost 200 hours of annual leave they have to pay me for if i leave them with a 2 week notice. I can't lose that...Thats the ONLY reason that I'm still there. My 11-7 supervisor is on my side, she told me if anything happens she would back me up and she's the one who approved my resignation letter. So, i think after my time is done i may contact someone about that nurse selling her prescription meds. I don't want to start anything, but she shouldn't do it. I wen't do my DON and was really upset, crying and she told me that she had forgotten about the incident and she hopes that I did the same. She said that the nurse ambushed her and didn't tell her the whole story, ( She told her only one resident got the medication, not 3) so she didn't know i could have used a whole bottle. Anyway, i'm going to stop worrying about it..Thanks for everything.

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Don't walk.

RUN.

Run far, far away. Keep your head down, and if you report anything you HAVE to have more to go on than someone saying they have a new bag of "Skittles", because that person can say ANYTHING at that point. You need something more tangible, because if you're proven wrong, you could find yourself being sued civilly for defamation of character.

Sometimes the only thing you can do is cover your own butt.

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