I'm the oncoming nurse counting with the outgoing nurse. I find two narcotic count discrepancies. One narcotic was missing and one narcotic was NOT given as ordered. This was for two seperate patients. The nurse basically did false documentation to cover up the situation. I requested for us to get the DON involved right away but she didnt want to for the obvious reason. After we counted. I did get the don involved and gave a statement.
I feel super guilty but I knew I had to get it off my chest. I actually will get written up too for not immediately getting the DON During the count.
Nurses have to stick togheter and help eachother. I get that, which is why I feel so guilty. However, patients and my license come first. This will be a learning lesson for everyone.
Just wondering...was it for the same med? Is this long term care? did she punch out of the wrong card?
It didn't need to be a cover up...she should have just written a note or when to the DON and asked how it could have been noted...UNLESS...she gave the wrong med all together then it would be a med error.
Yes, med errors are bad, but lying about them and covering them up is worse.
This happens a good bit in LTC with the card of meds. Esp if just about everyone is on vicodin or the same med. What did your DON say was the correct way of dealing with it?
CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN
3,734 Posts
Just wondering...was it for the same med? Is this long term care? did she punch out of the wrong card?
It didn't need to be a cover up...she should have just written a note or when to the DON and asked how it could have been noted...UNLESS...she gave the wrong med all together then it would be a med error.
Yes, med errors are bad, but lying about them and covering them up is worse.