Pyxis error

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Hello colleagues,

I really need some opinions and advice. Last Thursday (7/28/16), I was escorted to HR, in which they showed me a print out report of my transactions from the Pyxis the day before. It showed I had removed a narcotic on a patient that wasn't my patient and not even in my dept(PACU), but in pre-admission tesing I found out. I never go to that dept I said, and this was not my patient, and I didn't perform this transaction. They informed me I had to submit my fingerprint for this transaction. I continued to tell them I never made that transaction.I also provided them with as much details of that day. Long story short: I was suspended w/o pay, submitted to a drug test, which was negative and had to be driven home from work in my car by someone else with the director of security following behind. This has left me devastated, horrified, scared to death, mentally and physically stressed. I am not a druggie nor a drug thief!!! I've been a nurse 41 yrs! Why on earth would I do this now?? I know they have policies, but they still damaged my integrity, character and reputation as my coworkers knew something was up before me! I can't eat or sleep. I have prayed and prayed. I'm truly scared I'm going to lose my livelihood, go to jail, God knows what else. I called this past Monday and left a message for the HR director to call me back. Never got a call. I heard today she is on vacation. I tried to get hold of the person covering for her, but could not get thru to HR or even leave a message. I finally called another dept director for help, and she took a message to that person..never got a call back today. Tried to call again before they closed. No answer and not able to leave a message. I have consulted with one attorney, who basically took my money and didn't give me any encouragement, only that he could send them a letter for $1000. Needless to say, I'm looking for someone else, but I can't afford an attorney and make too much money for a pro bono attorney. Tomorrow is my last paycheck. What then?

I truly believe this is based on human error in the Pyxis, but how can I prove it?? Please send me your opinion and advice on this mishap. Any article links would be greatly appreciated as I need all the info I can to prove my case.

Thank you so much in advance. I trust going to my colleagues because I believe we take care of each other!

Respectfully,

DD

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The only explanation I can think of (besides their version of events) is that you failed to sign out and someone else pulled it under your name. I know it's usually possible to pull meds for a patient in a different department when some extra steps are taken. I would ask if any other medications were pulled at the same time.

Are there any security cameras around the place that might show anything? How many other people were working with you that day? Have they had any similar incidents?

I'm assuming there's no documentation that the pulled medication was actually administered.

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I would find out if there was an error with the fingerprint. I personally have logged in with my fingerprint and it came up as another employee. I had to call our help desk and reset everything, so I know that can happen!

I wish you the best...I hope everything turns out as it should for you.

edited to add: when this happened to me the employee who came up with my fingerprint was not another RN but in another department completely (I don't remember now but it was like an RT or PT, something along those lines.)

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

is there some kind of proof that you were somewhere else? logged into a computer somewhere, a camera? We are only allowed access to Pyxis on our "home" floor and have to have a temp access code to other floors if we float. Sounds like rather dramatic treatment.

On another note, we routinely give other patients meds on our floor. If someone is behind or in an RRT or an MD needs assistance, we medicate for each other. It's no big deal. The fact that it happened in an area where you weren't even at is vexing.

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Wait. What? This makes no sense.

Why could you not drive your own car? Your employer does not have that authority. Something does not add up here.

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I believe you but I think you need get more legal advice. You can not afford not to have it. Something is not right. Do you have ?

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Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

I know this doesn't help you now if you don't already have it, but this is a prime example of why I carry . The fact that a computer error could get you accused of diversion (which can affect your license) is just scary. Especially since you seemingly did nothing wrong. You need a good lawyer. You can't afford not to have one at this point. Also, your employer has no legal ground to force you to be driven home. Once you are off the clock, they are not responsible for your actions. Unless you were acting erratic and out of sorts.

This is story just doesn't make sense and their has to be more to it, even if you don't know what that is.

I I do have to ask though, did that med just never get given? Because I can't see why you would get flagged just for pullin and giving a med. so it would seem whoever pulled the med with your Pyxis access is actually likely diverting. Unless I'm just misunderstanding.

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Specializes in NICU.

Our Pxyis requires a username and fingerprint to get access. I could see that the pyxis would confuse a fingerprint, but the other person would also have to use your username.

1 Was this Pyxis on your unit or the unit that the patient was on?

2 If it was your unit, did you access the Pyxis for another patient at the same time as this incident? Pyxis has a timer if you don't log out. Someone would have to be right behind you to access your login before it timed out.

3. Pyxis requires a dual login to pull a narcotic. If it was accessed on another floor, then the other nurse would question why you are pulling a narcotic on their unit. If the pyxis is on your unit, if you were still logged in, the nurse behind you could enter their login as the dual login and retrieve the med. That person would needed to be looked into.

4. Was this a scheduled med or PRN? If it was scheduled, the odds would be astronomical that you would pull a narcotic (to divert) on a patient on another floor at the same time that they have that narcotic due.

5. Did you administer the same narcotic to one of your patients around the same time. You might have pulled the med under the wrong patient.

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3. Pyxis requires a dual login to pull a narcotic. If it was accessed on another floor, then the other nurse would question why you are pulling a narcotic on their unit. If the pyxis is on your unit, if you were still logged in, the nurse behind you could enter their login as the dual login and retrieve the med. That person would needed to be looked into.

I don't think it's typical to require a dual login for narcotics. And thank goodness ...that sounds like a nightmare!!

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Specializes in Ortho, CMSRN.

If there is a time stamp, is there a way to pull up a chart that you might have been working on to maybe prove that you couldn't have been in two places at one time? I mean, if they'd listen to you! I'm always scanning meds or charting at work throughout the day. Surely you charted or time marked something on your floor around the same time the med was pulled if it was a day that you were there.

Of course, that would mean them actually listening to you and allowing you to attempt to prove your innocence. I think a lawyer would be the best idea.

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Our Pxyis requires a username and fingerprint to get access. I could see that the pyxis would confuse a fingerprint, but the other person would also have to use your username.

1 Was this Pyxis on your unit or the unit that the patient was on?

2 If it was your unit, did you access the Pyxis for another patient at the same time as this incident? Pyxis has a timer if you don't log out. Someone would have to be right behind you to access your login before it timed out.

3. Pyxis requires a dual login to pull a narcotic. If it was accessed on another floor, then the other nurse would question why you are pulling a narcotic on their unit. If the pyxis is on your unit, if you were still logged in, the nurse behind you could enter their login as the dual login and retrieve the med. That person would needed to be looked into.

4. Was this a scheduled med or PRN? If it was scheduled, the odds would be astronomical that you would pull a narcotic (to divert) on a patient on another floor at the same time that they have that narcotic due.

5. Did you administer the same narcotic to one of your patients around the same time. You might have pulled the med under the wrong patient.

Our Pyxis doesn't require a dual login...the fingerprint takes the places of the typed username/password. The only times another RN needs to log in or fingerprint are for wastes and for certain meds we can't pull after hours (stuff that pharmacy has not yet verified). And we have plenty of times we meds from another floor or unit. On many occasions pharmacy has not adequately stocked our Pyxis and we end up pulling meds from down in ICU or another floor, including narcs.

Interesting to read how places differ! :)

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

Our Pyxis only requires a dual sign out if it something like 5:1 dilaudid PCA syringes

As far as driving you home, I guess if they thought you were impaired and let you drive, they would be liable.

Keep us posted. I agree with a PP-get a lawyer somehow.

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