So I'm observing in the OR and get accused of stealing Fentyl

[confederacyofdunces]

So I am observing in the OR for my very first surgery (exploratory abdominal laproscopy) trying to stay out of the way. The aenesthesiologist call me over and begins to show me how he intubates the pt. I peer down the pts throat to see the vocal chords as instructed and move back to observe. Another aenesthesiologist comes in and these two senior citizen collegues begin to perform the aenesthesia together. The 1st one states he is missing a 3 cc syringe of Fentyl. He and his friend cannot find it. He begins to look at me stating he cannot find it. I tell him he had some of his stuff on the stool (he put the endo scope thing there after intubation). He than states he cannot find it and announces "we have a student here and Im suscipicious". I say Waaah? It then begins to dawn on me OMG I am being accused of stealing narcotics. Im a 3rd semester BSN and I graduate in May. I'll be done. Ive spent all this time and money for nothing. Then Im thinking screw this these are doctors they can strip search me right here. I didn't even see a syringe or even knew he drew something up. This is unbelievable!!!! Towards the end of the surgery he gets his scrub coat and the syringe falls out of it. he says nothing. I say "did you find your syringe'? he says yes snottly. Then he says when leaving "at least I dont have to put anything on your permanent record". I told my clinical instructor and her boss who there for the day and who tried to report to the OR nurse coodinator who was gone. I was told not to share this with anyone so I am venting on a public forum. Im sorry but Im starting to think that nursing really sucks.

[heron, ASN, RN]

"... the MD obviously has a problem."

What kind of problem? Drug addiction? Arrogance? You know this because...?

The OP has every right to be upset ... unjust accusations will do that to a person. She (I assume) also needs to take steps to protect herself.

However, we're supposed to be critical thinkers ... we have only the information contained in the original post ... OP hasn't come back with an update or further info. I still think we don't have enough info to say exactly what did happen ... was the doc diverting or just being overzealous, after having lost track of the drugs he signed out at the beginning of the day ... and too embarrassed at being caught in a brain f--t to be diplomatic.

[heron, ASN, RN]

A quick addendum: if there's other information suggesting there's a diversion problem in the OR, then a quick cc of the OP's write-up to the hospital risk-management officer should light a fire somewhere.

Especially if there's a mandated reporting regulation in her state.

[back2thebooks]

"What kind of problem? Drug addiction? Arrogance? You know this because...?"

Maybe both?!

My statement of "the MD obviously has a problem" was in response to elizabell's post, in which she stated her opinion that probably what was happening was that the MD was trying to thieve the drugs and blame the student. Even if that's not the case---it would seem that he has a bit of a problem--with his mouth and his immediately thinking that because the drugs were missing and because a student is present, he is "suspicious".

[RN2B73]

This is why you should always know how to contact your CI in an emergency. As soon as I felt that suspicion was falling on me, you bet your bootie that I would have been the one calling in my senior personnel (CI) to start documenting what is going on BEFORE ANYONE, including the Doc., leaves the room. I certainly wouldn't have waited until the end of the procedure (and everyone had gone home) before they heard from me. I would have been the one threatening to raise H..L in a situation like this. You can't be passive when it comes to stuff like this! Cover your butt, everyone else would have been if those narcs had not turned up.

I hope if I'm every presented with a situation like this I can be as aggressive as you! I am a very outgoing and assertive person but when I'm in an environment where I feel less than confident(for example a nursing student in a clinical situation) I'm not so sure I'd stand up to those who may need it either. It's a sad situation when honest hard working people have to encounter a situation like this. I don't care what the reason, NOONE has the right to accuse someone of something so possibly damaging unless they have more to go on...

Best of luck to the nursing student who was unfortunate enough to experience this situation.

[heron, ASN, RN]

"Maybe both?!"

And maybe neither?!

Just saying that it can do real damage to jump to conlusions from one anecdote. Hope this hasn't done real damage to OP ... anyone know how it turned out?

Meanwhile, what a great "teaching case" for ethics class ...

[back2thebooks]

I agree, that's why I didn't jump to any conclusions. It's pretty clear that either the MD is a liar with a drug issue or a jerk. To me, either one of these is a problem :)

[PEBBLES1]

I was getting ready to say, he probably stole it. He sounds like he need 2 b drug tested. If I was you, see if the director of your program would suggest. Tell her, you would like to put it on record, because the next student might not be so luck and could get kicked out, 4 his stealing