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.

[DoGoodThenGo]

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.

Someone just does not grow a pair to pull a stunt like that over night. Make the phone call. Not only to CYA but it is your duty as a licensed professional.

Think about this; if you don't report this patient and she/he pulls this stunt again and it goes through only to end up with a horrible outcome, then the whole story comes out later and your name will be attached.

[nursel56]

But seriously folks...is this situation even that unusual that the OP described?

I would think that pharmacies would very savvy at picking up these fake call-ins and to me, it wouldn't take but rattling off a little pharmaceutical jargon before you could trip up easily to someone that did not have medical training...might be harder with a former nurse.

However, I think that this probably happens all the time..more than we know.

I am sure those that have worked in a pharmacy would know.

A person might get away with pretending to be someone else to get a refill, but none of our local pharmacies would be likely to fill a new prescription for narcotics over the phone. In all the years I worked in clinics, I don't remember a case where the person used the nurse's name. We got quite a few who would show up at the pharmacy or in the waiting room claiming all sorts of outlandish things. The pharmacist would go through the motions of repeating the story to us, we'd bust up laughing because the last time the person had seen us was 3 years prior for a stubbed toe. :) Sometimes they'd call us if they just thought something seemed flaky to them. Everyone being vigilant is the best way to stop it.

Got to put a kudo in for the doctor I worked with--- after denying a refill for a woman who had a flare-up of "leg pain the doctor already knows about so you don't need to ask him". Hadn't seen us in 3 years but after she flipped out he called her at home at the end of the day to talk about what was going on and I am sure offered to get her in rehab. What a sweetie he was.

[Yulie]

I know it is pretty late to update this thread, but I noticed it in my inbox. First thanks to everyone who commented I really appreciate it. I did speak with our P.D., also our D.O.N I spoke with the pharmacy that gave me the heads up originally and a couple weeks after this post the pt was arrested and taken to jail, this was not her first attempt. Be well