Other nurses signing my initials

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Today as I was doing my med pass I noticed 2 separate spaces where someone had filled in my initials for the previous day's meds on the MAR. Isn't this illegal?

I'm usually on top of the MAR, as my facility is very strict on there not being any blanks when we leave our shift, but I'm only human. Also, no matter what the circumstance, you should never fill in another nurse's initials/signature anywhere!

I feel like mentioning this to my supervisor, because it really upsets me, but I work in a place where management isn't on my side. They only care about themselves and not being audited by consultants. :mad:

What would you do?

If you gave the meds, just go back and line over the other person's writing with your special pen and ask them to stop doing that. Check your MARs at the end of the med pass and at the end of the shift.

Good idea. I do check my MAR at the end of every med pass. Like I said, I'm usually 100% with it (with my special pen), but I had 2 emergencies that night where I had to call 911, and it happened, in my exhausted, no-break, no-time to pee state, that I must have overlooked 2 meds.

Wow, I really expected someone to be able to relate, not make me feel like the worst nurse living. I guess I'm the only human nurse in this bunch. Sorry I shared my experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm surprised that someone else would have done this. Most of the time, other nurses I have noticed, will circle the omission in big, bold lines and otherwise raise a big stink about "Suzy left holes on the MAR". Just a couple of weeks ago, I remarked to one nurse that I was not the person who circled her omission of an entry. I told her that had I seen it, I would have been polite enough to bring it to her attention. This is the type of behavior that makes it difficult to work with some people.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

by leaving those two holes in the MAR you have now created a situation that forces the next nurse to react. They could do anything from call the MD, make an incident report, call you to come in, call the family, leave them blank and circle. Each nurse will respond based on their past experiences in the same situation.

I venture to guess that the nurse has appreciated it when people have done this for her and was trying to be a helpful co-worker.

Now, for me, it would depend on the med and if the patient could verify that they have taken it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Good idea. I do check my MAR at the end of every med pass. Like I said, I'm usually 100% with it (with my special pen), but I had 2 emergencies that night where I had to call 911, and it happened, in my exhausted, no-break, no-time to pee state, that I must have overlooked 2 meds.

Wow, I really expected someone to be able to relate, not make me feel like the worst nurse living. I guess I'm the only human nurse in this bunch. Sorry I shared my experience.

I am not sure they are tring to make you feel bad.....although I agree it can be harsh here......Many of us have forgetten to sign off meds or we have called someone at home to see if a med has been givn. In electronic me systems you should be able to see if a medicine was dispensed and at what time. I have signed the MAR for another nurse only AFTER cecking with the nurse at home. I have written given by..... on the MAR.....and initialed by that entry and clarified in my notes. On 12 hour shifts I hae waited until that nurse returned in the morning for her to sign.

You need to let the nurse that signed your initials that you will not tolerate this in the furture. That you appreciate their trying to help you out, but that this can get you both in trouble with the board and administration resulting in a loss of your jobs and or licenses. Let them know that in the furture you will got to the ADON. I would check with policies and procedures to see what....if any policy exists about forgetting to sign off meds because we are human and are not perfect. I would ask your manager/sup what you she recommends "in case" something happends like this.

Just look at this like many other experiences in nursing.........a huge learning curve.....:o

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am not sure they are tring to make you feel bad.....although I agree it can be harsh here......Many of us have forgetten to sign off meds or we have called someone at home to see if a med has been givn. In electronic me systems you should be able to see if a medicine was dispensed and at what time. I have signed the MAR for another nurse only AFTER cecking with the nurse at home. I have written given by..... on the MAR.....and initialed by that entry and clarified in my notes. On 12 hour shifts I hae waited until that nurse returned in the morning for her to sign.

You need to let the nurse that signed your initials that you will not tolerate this in the furture. That you appreciate their trying to help you out, but that this can get you both in trouble with the board and administration resulting in a loss of your jobs and or licenses. Let them know that in the furture you will got to the ADON. I would check with policies and procedures to see what....if any policy exists about forgetting to sign off meds because we are human and are not perfect. I would ask your manager/sup what you she recommends "in case" something happends like this.

Just look at this like many other experiences in nursing.........a huge learning curve.....:o

I agree, it has become harsh here. thank you for your response.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I have seen it done a lot. Usually the nurse calls the other nurse first to ask permission, though. That way neither nurse gets into trouble. :o

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Progressive Care.

Any medication not given should have the pre-printed administration time circled in ink. If the nurse from the next shift administers the medication, he or she will write the time, draw a line, and sign their initials next to the time the medication was actually administered. Any time a medication time is circled, another nurse cannot come back and initial that time. If the medication was not given, a reason must be indicated. Our MARS have codes (N for NPO, A for Absent/Off Floor, C for Condition of Patient, etc). If no reason can be specified for why the medication was not given, I would circle it and time the entry in the nurse's notes as to why it wasn't given.

Anything left un-circled or unsigned for your shift is just asking for someone to come behind you and sign your name. But, with automated dispensing systems like Accudose and Pyxis, they should be able to verify that you never pulled the medication. Unfortunately, for medications not on floor stock, there would be no record that the medication was actually "pulled" because it would have had to have been sent over by pharmacy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

WOW, tough crowd. First off, I don't know what states y'all practice in, but in Massachusetts " Legally, a nurses' verbal report to another RN is NOTjust as binding as their initials. " Jeez, we've all forgotten to initial the MAR every now and then. It doesn't make us evil or bad nurses. I had a nurse not initial meds for 25 residents. I had to report it to everyone. When the woman from the BON came in she said, "I know the rule but you know as well as I do that nurses forget to sign things off all the time and the residents are fine.'

Sorry you've gotten a verbal beating on here. I'd be more concerned about the person who fraudulently signed your initials. You made an honest mistake in forgetting to sign. She falsified documentation. I'd be counseling her if I were the manager.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
WOW, tough crowd. First off, I don't know what states y'all practice in, but in Massachusetts " Legally, a nurses' verbal report to another RN is NOTjust as binding as their initials. " Jeez, we've all forgotten to initial the MAR every now and then. It doesn't make us evil or bad nurses. I had a nurse not initial meds for 25 residents. I had to report it to everyone. When the woman from the BON came in she said, "I know the rule but you know as well as I do that nurses forget to sign things off all the time and the residents are fine.'

Sorry you've gotten a verbal beating on here. I'd be more concerned about the person who fraudulently signed your initials. You made an honest mistake in forgetting to sign. She falsified documentation. I'd be counseling her if I were the manager.

thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Any medication not given should have the pre-printed administration time circled in ink. If the nurse from the next shift administers the medication, he or she will write the time, draw a line, and sign their initials next to the time the medication was actually administered. Any time a medication time is circled, another nurse cannot come back and initial that time. If the medication was not given, a reason must be indicated. Our MARS have codes (N for NPO, A for Absent/Off Floor, C for Condition of Patient, etc). If no reason can be specified for why the medication was not given, I would circle it and time the entry in the nurse's notes as to why it wasn't given.

Anything left un-circled or unsigned for your shift is just asking for someone to come behind you and sign your name. But, with automated dispensing systems like Accudose and Pyxis, they should be able to verify that you never pulled the medication. Unfortunately, for medications not on floor stock, there would be no record that the medication was actually "pulled" because it would have had to have been sent over by pharmacy.

I'm more than aware of how to legally sign a MAR, and document why a med wasn't given.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac, Thoracic, Vsg, ENT, GU.

I'd always call the nurse at home to confirm the meds WERE given or WERE NOT given. Then, I'd put her initials followed closely by MY initials and I'd put my signature at the bottom or top of the med sheet. Meds being computerized now I'm not sure how it would work. Techniqcally the nurse should be FIRED yesterday!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There is a chance that someone has the same initials as you. If you forgot to sign and that is a med error you could make a late entry and add your initials to the space. I would defiantly put a complaint in writing to your supervisor about this and make a copy of it. Forgery is very illegal at least in the state where I live.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment