Pyxis problems

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When wasting narcotics we need another nurse to witness the waste with in the Pyxis. Here is my problem, have any of you ever went to waste a narcotic and the Pyxis DIDN'T ask for a witness? It has happened to me a few times. Now I am being brought in front of the BRN for investigation regarding this issue. I have contacted the Pyxis manufacturer but still have not heard back from them. It would help me if any of you could post if this has ever happened to you. The hospital that I worked at basically called me a liar and terminated me for this. 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Sorry to hear about your situation, avergowven.

I've had other technical problems with the Pyxis regarding narc counts and such, and made sure that pharmacy was aware. Most times the cause could be found and the printed result showed this.

However, if there was ever any question, I made a copy of the printout and documented on that printout copy a short note of the situation who, what, when, where, and why and kept it for my own personally professional use.

I remember such a situation with alprazolam and had do a urine drop.

Narc counts can be sticky wickets that we need to do everything within our power to CYA.

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It does not matter if the pyxis  requires a witness. You know as a nurse that any waste needs a witness.

You have been terminated over a controlled substance issue. We cant help you. You need  your    and an attorney.

 

Wishing you the best.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

I am afraid I have to agree with BeenThere. If the pyxis wasnt working correctly you still needed to document the waste. You could have either called Pharmacy to fix it or document it on the MAR (or whatever they told you). At this point you should probably contact a lawyer that specializes in these matters. 

Hope it works out and wishing you well!!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Yea narcotics are nothing to mess with. Glad I work where we do not touch them.

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There are times with Pyxis that even if you have a waste it won’t ask you for a waste.  I still waste with a witness.  Say your fentanyl order is for 50-100mcg.  You pull 100mcg.  The Pyxis will not ask you for a waste.  But if you document on the emar that you gave 50mcg, you still need to waste in the Pyxis with a witness even though it will not ask you for a waste.  
 

At least in my facility the Pyxis and emar are two separate entities not connected.  A pharmacist does the actual auditing between the two.  
 

You absolutely always need a witness to waste and if I ever have an issue, I’m on the phone with pharmacy ASAP.  I clear it up right there and never leave discrepancies or anything I do to the imagination.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, NICU.

the only time the pyxis didn't ask me to waste is we're using the entire tablet. you just click "I'm administering the whole dose. no waste to document." someone still has to sign it out in the computer system MAR thing though

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

we don't use a pyxis for meds. we have Omnicell. Our pyxis is for supplies and things like fluids. 

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yes, I understand that even if the Pyxis didn't ask for a waste that I have to document it with a witness. I did document with a witness and when I told the manager about the Pyxis not asking for a witness she basically called me a liar "because nobody else reported that issue". My ORIGINAL question was "HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THE ISSUE OF THE PYXIS NOT ASKING FOR A WITNESS?"  With all due respect, I don't really care if you don't use Pyxis, glad you don't use Pyxis, or you use Omnicell. I am looking for answers to my question. I don't enjoy being called a liar when the Pyxis DIDN'T ask for a witness. 

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So... you had a witness for the waste. You were terminated for bringing up a PYXIS issue?

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

Did it happen when you initially pulled the narcotic, or did you specifically choose the WASTE function and it didn't ask for a witness? Where did you end up documenting the waste? Do you know why that wasn't sufficient documentation? (or is that not the issue)

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BTDT, yes, that is exactly what happened. They said that since that issue never happened to anyone else then I must be lying. They wouldn't even let me show them exactly what happened. I pulled out the medication, pulled out what I needed from the vial. Another RN witnessed the amount and since the Pyxis did not ask for a witness to waste, we both charted on the MAR of that patient. I brought it to the attention of our manager who promptly wrote me up, reported me to the Board, and terminated me. Now the Board, in their one-sided "wisdom" investigated me and found me "guilty". I am now on 3 years probation, have to pay the state back for the amount spent on their "investigation", and have to try to find a job that will hire a nurse with a probationary license. I refused to sign an admission of guilt by the board because I have every intention of suing the hospital, the manager, and the DON. My lawyer took the case pro bono because she said it is a very good case and we should have no trouble winning in court. 

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