Reported to DEA

[S.S.]

Hello I just received a call from a facility I was working at that they've reported me to the DEA bc I signed narcotics out at a time that I wasn't in the building. I messed up because I would forget to write it in when I was giving it and would go back at the end and write it in. I put it for 3 but forgot I got there late at 4. I'm so terrified what should I do? Should inget a lawyer? I've never been arrested and this is my first time getting reported 

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

Why would the DEA be interested in a documentation error?

This seems over the top. 

[offlabel]

Yeah...no one reported you to the DEA.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

If you gave the medication and you documented it late that is a documentation error. Not great but certainly nothing the DEA is interested in. 

Did they at least confirm the narc count was correct after the late documentation was discovered?  If  they did count and it was off, well that opens a whole other can of worms. First step would be an internal investigation though, not an immediate threat to report you. I doubt any facility would report direct to the DEA anyway, typically if there is an issue with suspected diversion they would report first to the BON, Unless of course  the narc count is so far off that it warrants police investigation, in that case they would call the local police first, not the DEA

[shanell79, BSN, MSN]

DEA? That's crazy, was it a federal facility? What did they say when they contacted you?  I'd be terrified as well! These things are usually reported to board of nursing, not the DEA.

[Patricia Ordnung]

I may be wrong, but I seriously doubt the DEA has any interest in one narcotic not being properly documented.  However, this is a reminder of the importance of documenting your narcs as soon as they're given.  

[TylenolPlease, BSN, LVN, RN]

Actually this can be true, the reason is: If the "Facility" has had diversions in the past they have no choice but to report (like already on probation sort of speak)

When you say "write it in" I'm assuming there is no pyxis or omnicell.  In that case it's a little harder because one can easily make a human error a lot more "sort of speak." --

So with that being said this may be true.  But why wasn't it caught the day of?  At the end of shift count? Did someone write something there after the fact?  Hmmm....

But here's the thing it would start with an "internal" investigation with HR, Pharm, Supervisors & OP.  But being that OP is no longer working there is prob why they went straight to the DEA.  If that's even true.   

Call them back, ask for the person you spoke with, tell them to send you something in writing via email.  Tell them you want a copy of the "report" (if they say, that person does not work there, then someone's *** with you)

If they refuse, tell them to give you the person to speak with at the DEA, press them for something!  Anything.  

Try to piece these things together, because believe it or not there are people that do some really silly things just to try to make peoples lives miserable (like pranks)