RUSHED NARC COUNT

[jesuslovesme]

Hi, new grad here. The ltc (long term care) facility where I am employed as a RN, I feel rushed during the narcotic count. I thought when counting you say the name of the resident, the name of the drug (medication), and how much is remaining. I already had two nurses yell at me about doing this. They want me to only say the number of medication remaining.

[Reigen]

Take your time when doing the narcotic count. If you want to say Patient/Resident First Name Last Name Medication Name amount remaining, then do so. Then if you want to look at the sign out paper with the "card" next to the paper to double verify that count do so. If they are "yelling at you" for doing the narcotic count the way that will make you feel comfortable, and secure that the count is correct, stop the count, say I will not accept this count. Then call/notify your Director of Nurses. Tell the DON that you were counting narcotics, and the off going nurse was making you feel rushed and that you felt that you could not make a count that would be correct, that you could accept, there fore you stopped the count and will not be taking over.

Never EVER allow someone to rush the narcotic count or make you feel that you could not be certain the count was /is correct. In fact, when I count I say that is a correct count, I accept ( if I am on coming nurse, or do you accet if I am the off going nurse). Once you accept the count as correct you are responsible. Do what ever it takes for you to feel secure.

Also I would be getting the policy and proceedure manual out and checking to see how the facillity expects via the policy count to be done.

Good Luck!

[MJB2010]

Do what you need to do to make sure you know how many of each drug are left. If someone tries to rush you or brush by it, they might be suspect. Dont trust anyone. We had a man come talk to our nursing class, he said new grads are the easiest to use to steal narcs. Protect yourself. Do what you know is right. If they get mad that they have to slow down, too bad they will get over it.

[JeneraterRN]

This may sound pessimistic, but rushing a count can be a symptom of a larger problem. Rushing the count may be an attempt to fluster and confuse to conceal missing narcs. If you are in this situation, follow your p&p to the letter. Bottom line-your name is on that count and if it is incorrect, you'll find yourself in an unfortunate cloud of suspicion. Our workplace went through this, and it is awful. I'm not saying that's what is going on, just be aware.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

It takes about 2 seconds to say "john smith, ativan" and then count. Even with 60 residents, the count will only take two minutes longer. Point that out if you feel rushed. They can afford to spend two more minutes counting to makre sure that they numbers are correct. It's your license, you make sure you protect it.

Ashley

[jesuslovesme]

Thanks for the responses, if this happens again I will make the DON aware. I have to be more assertive which I am not.

[Mrs. SnowStormRN, RN]

Keep doing it the right way, im not jumping to conclusions that the other nurse is a drug addict or anything like that because she could be rushing to get home or to pick up her kids or whatever (unfortunate for her - thats personal). You have to protect yourself. If she yells at you for doing it your way, tell her "This is the way I do the count, you can do the count the way you want when you come on the shift but this is the way I do it." I mean what can she do? Report herself for rushing you? Just stand your ground, be firm as this usually works for bullies. She will be alright, trust me. Protect yourself like youre doing.

[2csmom]

I also agree, take your time and do it your way (the right way) I have seen it where you missed something and the one you counted off with turns on you!! Also if they keep trying to intimidate you...you need to tell your supervisor. Good luck!!

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Never feel rushed. Sometimes I have to count 100 pills over again just to make sure.

We should state the name of resident, med and drug.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

always take your time and do what you need to do, with the narcotic count and anything else you do for your patients...that's how it SHOULD be!

[systoly]

I find the fact that you were yelled at just as alarming as the rushing. A more experienced nurse (such as myself ) might have responded, "that's how mistakes are made".

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

I wasn't aware that the narcs in LTC were ordered individually. I think that's where your colleagues get inpatient. I'm trying to imagine the narc count sheet your place has because at mine where I use to work in LTC it was just a count of the narcs and we didn't go into which vicodin was for who because usually there were several people on it and the others such as ativan etc...so it was a cache and the documenting who got it went into the MAR.

So I'm trying to picture saying every name because most places have at least 100 residents on average where I live and you could have 8 people with a PRN or a routine order for ativan or vicodin, ambien etc... So does your narc sheet have the names of the people and then the drug? If so I don't see a problem saying the name off the sheet if the narcs are suppose to be for specific individuals and listed like that...