pt. called in narcotics under MY name...now what

[Yulie]

Im an lvn at a clinic. I just found out a pt of ours, who was denied her last request of hydrocodone phoned it herself using my name. We found this out because she did not include strength and the pharmacy faxed over a clarification fax. I am angry. What is the best way to handle this now? I did speak with the pharmacy, they said they have an investigator who will check into it. Should I file a police report? Tell the board? has this happened to any of you and what is the best way to handle it. My license is dear to me and I am offended someone would jeapardize it.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Im an lvn at a clinic. I just found out a pt of ours, who was denied her last request of hydrocodone phoned it herself using my name. We found this out because she did not include strength and the pharmacy faxed over a clarification fax. I am angry. What is the best way to handle this now? I did speak with the pharmacy, they said they have an investigator who will check into it. Should I file a police report? Tell the board? has this happened to any of you and what is the best way to handle it. My license is dear to me and I am offended someone would jeapardize it.

It hasn't happened to me, but more than one patient i had in alcohol/drug rehab had done the same thing, and had legal charges filed. I do not think that is a bad thing- sometimes it takes something like a police investigation to get someone into treatment. AND you have a license to protect- anyone looking into this would find out you had nothing to do with it. The pharmacy starting an investigation may be all that's needed. You could call them and ask if the police were notified. I would hold off on calling the BON for now... They tend to hear what they want, not what is going on. :)

I'd be really angry also. But I don't think you're in any jeopardy. :)

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Oh $%^@! yes I'd file a police report. She needs to be arrested and dismissed from the practice immediately.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Oh $%^@! yes I'd file a police report. She needs to be arrested and dismissed from the practice immediately.

I thought it was a patient at the clinic.... ?????

[BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Where do you live that you can call in narcs? We can't here.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

I thought it was a patient at the clinic.... ?????

Yes, the pt needs to be dismissed. As in fired from the practice. They should refuse to treat her in the future.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I would think it would be up to the physician in the practice.

[Yulie]

It is a patient.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

Controlled II cannot be called in but it's common to call in the others like vicodin, norco, etc... Yes; please report it to the police. I've know a few patients that have done this ... it's never a good thing. You don't want to be an accessory to their crime. It's your duty as a nurse to report it.

[guest64485]

Make sure your boss and doctor knows what happened, and yes, I would talk to the police that she impersonated you and ask them what your options are.

[Thujone]

Yes please do report this, they have put you at risk of losing your license, and god forbid things end up in court, but if comes down to it, you need to be able to tell a judge or jury that you took action, and reported it to your charge nurse and also to the law, that will look very good on your end.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Yes please do report this, they have put you at risk of losing your license, and god forbid things end up in court, but if comes down to it, you need to be able to tell a judge or jury that you took action, and reported it to your charge nurse and also to the law, that will look very good on your end.

IMO, the OP is not at risk of losing her license. The pharmacy is the one who alerted her; she didn't know about it. The BON can be nasty, but even they will be able to tell that it was the patient who is guilty of a crime- not the nurse who he impersonated. She is more a victim of identity theft than anything else.