Passing meds you did not pull.

[busy-bee]

Hypothetically......if the unit you were assigned to, was made to split a medication cart.........and if one LPN wanted you to administer meds while she pulled the meds...would you? And if this LPN was so familiar (ugh) with the residents, she pulls medications without looking at the MAR, would you still? And the meds are already crushed and you really have NO IDEA what you are administering, would you still even then? And if you really had no choice because the nurse never would give you the keys to the med cart so you could pass your own...then what? And then if the D.O.N. states they really don't want to make two sets of key...then what? Then when you get the chance (while she is at lunch) to view the M.A.R., some meds she signed off while others she did not...and when you inform her of this, she wants you to sign those off. Not to mention.....you never witnessed the narc count nor where you given report about the patients. Hypothetically, what would you do? And hypothetically say alll shifts do this on this particular unit...so if you complain you are going to be targeted, that is hypothetically.

[Larry in Florida]

Hypothetically......if the unit you were assigned to, was made to split a medication cart.........and if one LPN wanted you to administer meds while she pulled the meds...would you? And if this LPN was so familiar (ugh) with the residents, she pulls medications without looking at the MAR, would you still? And the meds are already crushed and you really have NO IDEA what you are administering, would you still even then? And if you really had no choice because the nurse never would give you the keys to the med cart so you could pass your own...then what? And then if the D.O.N. states they really don't want to make two sets of key...then what? Then when you get the chance (while she is at lunch) to view the M.A.R., some meds she signed off while others she did not...and when you inform her of this, she wants you to sign those off. Not to mention.....you never witnessed the narc count nor where you given report about the patients. Hypothetically, what would you do? And hypothetically say alll shifts do this on this particular unit...so if you complain you are going to be targeted, that is hypothetically.

Don't let me catch that kind of crap going on!

Larry RN in Florida

[CraigB-RN, MSN, RN]

Of course if the facility was being safe they would be using unit dose and not opening it till it's at the bedside, Hen it makes no difference who "pulls" the meds.

[WickedRedRN, BSN, RN]

Let me add to this. I had a similar situation, meds were late because a nurse left, I got a call to go help on the unit. Another nurse was at the cart pulling meds. She said, "here take these to Mr. X and give them" as she tries to hand me a med cup full of pills.

I said no, you have the cart, its yours to pass, then promptly walked down the hall to DON and reported incident. Said nurse no longer works at my facility.

Make no mistake, the license of the "hypothetical" nurse being asked to give meds she did not pull is not "hypothetically" in jeopardy, it *IS* in dire danger. Personally, I would run, not walk from this environment. Not to mention the jeopardy the residents are in from this incompetence.

Regards--

[linzz]

No, I would just not do this. It is way too risky. If it came down to it, I would certainly start looking for a new job right away. It is very unfair of any facility to ask a nurse to do this.

[AlabamaBelle]

Hypothetically, get out now. Yesterday wasn't soon enough.

Hypothetically, of course.

Cindy

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Said hypothetical nurse already KNOWS the answer to this hypothetical situation, and thus, I suspect, is looking for confirmation of her hypothesis.

And what it is, should be a no-brainer for anyone who values his/her license: Don't pass it if you didn't pour it. I've seen lawsuits filed, livelihoods lost, and careers ended because someone forgot this most basic principle of med administration.

'Nuff said.

[Midwest4me]

As everyone else has said, "no". This practice is a dangerous one for the patients as well as for the nurses. Making a second set of med cart keys is a smaller price to pay than the price of a lawsuit or fines slapped upon the facility.

[Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN]

Oh hell no. and I would suspect anyone who won't give up keys for another nurse to give her meds as someone who may be deferring narcotics.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

Absolutely not.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

Drop a dime on the facility to the licensing agency. This needs to be aggressively investigated. Better to be a whistleblower who keeps your license than collude in illegal behaviors.

"All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

No way in hell would I do that.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

Nope no way. I would be looking for a new job ASAP.