RN job in jeopardy please help

puggymae · Oct 26, 2006

I would call a lawyer, and have that person present when you are "called in."

sanctuary, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 26, 2006

If you have a union, take a rep with you for any interviews. If you are non-represented, call your state nurses association, and ask them for both advise annd a legal recommendation. Some lawers will work with nursing assoc. for a reduced fee.

No, this should not affect your license. Take some time to go in early, and take your supervisor with you. Do a "dry run" of the med pass. Then look in all the likely and unlikely places it might be. I once found a card of meds in the med book, tucked between pages...(now, how did that happen???) That will let them know that you are eager to solve the mystery. And remember to breath. :icon_hug: :icon_hug: This will pass.

rita359 · Oct 26, 2006

Shell shocked. Worked last night, they called today and asked me to come in today early. Administrator there plus managers, still befuddled. I gave an Ambien to a patient at 2100, I remember pulling them out, snapping one off, shutting the drawer. Apparently the rest of the pack is missing now, drawer is empty. We have the Pyxis system with fingerprints, they say I was the last one to access, no other nurse, no techs, they've searched everywhere, floor, trash, shredder.
They were nice about it but I'm placed on leave and they're "going to call me" it's implied that if the 8 Ambien don't turn up I'm fired. I would think someone diverting meds wouldn't pull out all the meds, leave the drawer empty and carry them around for the whole shift and expect to come back the next night. But since I don't have any answers for them and the drugs aren't able to be found, I see their point. What can I do or say? I have no idea on earth what happened, I've worked there several years and I've never had a problem, this is my first nursing job.
I'm scared not only will I get fire I'll lose my license, what should I do?

Don't know why this would happen, but is it possible that a pharm tech removed the ambien for some reason or by mistake and the ambien is actually back in the pharmacy? In our hospital drugs are delivered every hour. Saw a tech trying to fit more into a pocket than would fit and remove everything and take it back to pharmacy instead of only putting what would fit into the pocket. All she would have had to do is forget one step and exit and it would have looked like we had 25 or 30 of the particular drug when we actually had none.

mamason · Oct 26, 2006

They need to verify who had access to that particular drawer during your shift. If the lids offer access to all the narcs without having to be punched into the pixis, then that could possibly mean someone got into the drawer for a different med and may have possibly taken the Ambien along with the drug they were origionally accessing. Our pixis would only let you access the particular drug you punched in. The lids to the other narcs, in that drawer, were locked and you could not open them. Is it possible that someone from pharmacy came up to your floor and took the narcs for some reason and didn't tell anyone? This used to happen a lot on the floor that I worked on. Caused a lot of chaos! Another reason why I don't work there anymore.

fe3 · Oct 26, 2006

Thanks for all the responses. I got very little sleep I keep going over things in my mind and I just don't understand what happened. To answer some other questions:

We are non-union. I've worked there nearly 2 years, it's my first nursing job.

I know the drawer can be lifted up and all the meds exposed. I don't think a key is needed but am not sure? I've been asked to recount with the charge before when they needed an extra pair of hands to clear a discrepancy and it seemed like it just lifted up but I guess I never paid that close of attention. They tell me no techs visited the Pyxis all night (even though I'm sure I saw one at some point). I keep remembering the new day shift nurse working till 10pm that night right next to the Pyxis, then in the morning, the housekeeping staff with her cart pulled up right next to the trash in my cubby blocking my chair when I walked over and she was rummaging around in my trash emptying it. Suddenly everyone looks suspicious to me, just like I probably look suspicious to the rest of the staff there.

They claim they looked through the trashcan nearby and all around places it might be. I can't imagine throwing 8 Ambien in the trash, sometimes I'm on autopilot but not like that. This is so horrible, I am just physically sick over this, I was just humiliated and shaking when I went home last night.

TazziRN, RN · Oct 26, 2006

I know the drawer can be lifted up and all the meds exposed. I don't think a key is needed but am not sure? I've been asked to recount with the charge before when they needed an extra pair of hands to clear a discrepancy and it seemed like it just lifted up but I guess I never paid that close of attention.

Then it's in the controlled drawer. The only time the lid can be lifted up is when there are two people counting.

I would suggest you have a nurse friend that you feel close to go with you as a witness to the meeting, since you are non-union.

fe3 · Oct 26, 2006

Then it's in the controlled drawer. The only time the lid can be lifted up is when there are two people counting.
I would suggest you have a nurse friend that you feel close to go with you as a witness to the meeting, since you are non-union.

I will try to get someone but I don't know when they are going to call me back or if I should call them to see what's going on.

lsyorke, RN · Oct 26, 2006

Make sure that they search the Pyxis thoroughly. We've had packages stuck in the area above the drawer(the area around the actual drawer).

fe3 · Oct 26, 2006

THEY FOUND THE AMBIEN. They just called me to say the Director of the Pharmacy opened up the Pyxis today and they had fallen to the back somehow. They are going to pay me for the night I had off and I have my job. I am so freaked out though I'm not sure I'll stay (for a few other reasons having nothing to do with this involving a few individuals who dislike me and nitpick me to death) but at least I'm on good terms. I didn't really get an apology though but that's ok because THEY FOUND THE AMBIEN.

Make sure that they search the Pyxis thoroughly. We've had packages stuck in the area above the drawer(the area around the actual drawer).

luvmy3kids · Oct 26, 2006

I'm glad to hear you are in the clear! I can't believe they didn't apologize though! That is very traumatic and they owe you an apology! Take care!

fe3 · Oct 26, 2006

I'm glad to hear you are in the clear! I can't believe they didn't apologize though! That is very traumatic and they owe you an apology! Take care!

Well they said something like, "Sorry you went through all that but you understand our position. You can come to work as scheduled next shift"

So that was sort of a halfway apology but I'm just happy they found it, I don't care.

gitterbug · Oct 26, 2006

Went through a bad experience with a pack of lortab getting lost, actually fell behind drawer too. Once something happens, you never feel the same because people don't seem to want to speak up and say a good word for you. Glad it all worked out for you.