memonurse

Hello all nurses.... My name is Jim and I just started working as a LPN in a nursing facility in Red Bank. I was in orientation for a week and now on my own. My questin is: is it policy if one DOES NOT have a medication for a certain patient that one searches OTHER drawers for a patient on the same medication and TAKE from THAT patient's drawer? I ask because it seems to be a common practice where I am now employed: and if I do not, there will be NO medication to give my patient obn my rounds. Should I talk to someone about this? Is this a common occurance elsewhere? I know how the pharmacy in a facility can be...always late in delivery, but the situation has been quite bad; moreover it is time-consuming. I have 26 patients on my wing I take care of. PLEASE help me: anyone who knows the rules; as I was NOT taught this in nursing school as one of my 5 rights of giving medication, and am afraid to bring this up to the Director of Nursing at the facility for fear of being canned!! I only started working last month and this is my first nursing position. Thanks. Awaiting all replies. Jimmy from South Amboy, NJ