"Misplaced" EXPENSIVE med... sorry... long

[Snickers&DtCoke]

Namely I think I just want to vent... but THANKFUL for a wonderful peer out in the world.... and looking for a better way to have handled/resolved this situation....

Sometime ago I correctly signed in a boatload of meds from Pharmacy delivery. I tend to be overthorough in eyes of some of my co-workers, but diligently, in a clear way, verify dose and #pills/ oz. delivered on the log in sheet & always note if there is any discrepancy.

Trying to keep this short... I signed in a VERY EXPENSIVE medication (think 3+ months wages) and put it away properly. My name is now the only one on the line verifying it is in the facility.... and I put it away properly. (since this episode.. NOW I feel I have to note that I placed in fridge/tx cupboard etc.)

SOOOOO recently I was asked... "Did this med arrive? What did you do with it? It's not here." I stated, 'You can see that I checked it in" I'm certain I put it away. I looked all over the med room for it, though I know I placed it in the fridge.

The next day, I'm again asked where this is and being reminded how much this med is. I'm told that they THINK facility will cover cost to replace... but I'll most likely be disciplined because I was last one to see it.

JUST before the day nurse leaves for the day.. she says to me, "You know the day after you logged that med in, so and so moved to a new facility. She/He also is on that med. There is a small chance I may have packed 2 boxes instead of 1.

I'm sorry I know this is long...Sure enough I placed a call to another facility :uhoh21: asking if there might be one of our res. medication that doesn't belong in their med fridge ... She called me back within 15 minutes and said, "I have it, I'm getting in my car and bringing it to you right now." I couldn't believe it! I was sooo thankful. Thinking about this.. If she were a mean/desperate nurse (is there such a thing??) she really could have said.. "OK, here it is.. "and begged a bribe for it!!

Now... THANK YOU to my wonderful peer who did deliver that to me.:bowingpur:nurse:

and WHY would I have been the one that had to be disciplined for that med being lost when I have signed that I saw it.. and put it away. My signature should be VERIFYING it was HERE!!!!

and WHAT (if anything) would you do now?

The day nurse that casually mentioned this as she was leaving at the end of her shift would have belittled () me to no end if SHE had been the one who logged it in and I was the one who sent it out wrongly!!!! When I notified her it was found she casually states... "Oh so I accidentally sent it with that res." Well.. I would HOPE it was an accident!! I"m certain she wouldn't do that intentionally!

Any comments out there????

[morte, LPN, LVN]

1) the nurse who brought it back for you, prob. burned (in the past) and taking a positive action...

2) nurse who sent med prob burned in the past, taking a neg action

as contrary as it may seem, THANK the nurse who eventually mentioned she may have sent it off....at least she did that much.....you or i prob. would have driven to get it,lol....

[ukstudent]

Suggestions for the future.

1. Have a talk with administration about WHY you were being blamed for the missing med. Would you have been blamed if it was a missing opiate?

2. If they are still going to hold whoever signs in the meds as being responsible for them, then stop signing in the meds. Maybe this responsibility will have to be taken on by administration.

3. If there is a very expensive, uncommon med. Have a separate bin's with the pt's name on it. That way when a pt leaves only their meds go with them.