Surprise In My Pocket - this ever happen to you?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a new grad with two months in on my three month internship. Most days are really great and some days are the usual new grad version of craziness, chasing my tail all day and wondering how I will ever learn to get everything done on time. Yesterday was Door #2. I was emptying out my pockets of my scrub jacket this morning and discovered two tablets of Norvasc still in their packaging that I had intended to waste due to holding the meds for low BP (They had been crushed in prep for g-tube administration but BP retake after dialysis was 105/52). I'm not too freaked out since they aren't a controlled substance per se, but still don't like it that I got all the way home with them. My next shift isn't until Tuesday night and I am trying to decide if I need to go by there today to return/waste these. On one hand it feels like a hassle, on the other hand I want to be responsible and accountable. Pretty sure I am not the only one this has happened to. If it happened to you, did you go back to the hospital to return them?

I think it seems more suspicious to take it back to the facility. Just wondering why it went into your pocket? I have never worked anywhere where we stuck meds in our pockets. I am sure it was a safety matter but still, I just can't imagine sticking meds in my pocket for any reason. If someone were to see they might think it looks suspicious.

Crush and put in cat litter to dispose, or old coffee grounds. That is how we are supposed to dispose of meds. Forget about it and don't do it again.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
meh.

Back in the day that we carried narcotic keys around, had 2 sets for the floor. People would run around asking for the keys, and finally someone who had sworn they hadn't seen them since yesterday would find them magically appearing in their pockets. So, I made long, very colorful lanyards for them; too big to just stuff in a pocket but long enough to tuck into a pocket so you could lean over without the keys swinging down from your neck and whacking the patient.

Working evenings, lots of us would occasionally meet at a local bar to relax. I walked in one night, the evening supervisor looked up and mildly said "narcotic keys?". Looked down and went "oh s****!", turned on my heel and sped back to the hospital.

Just take them back the next time you go in, since they are still packaged and usable, return them to the patient's drawer or to pharmacy under his name.

What????? :eek:

:eek::eek::eek: In your work clothes?:eek::eek::eek: (sorry another thread:lol2:);).

I remember those %&%$^#&$%&^*&)(*& narcotic keys :banghead:. I was a slower learner than most, I would take them home about every six months :banghead:.

Thank goodness we all had a better sense of humor back then.

Not Done......just throw them away but really get in to the habit of emptying your pockets...it will save you a TON of grief!

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

money! i empty my pockets into my locker every day after my shift. during some down time a few weeks back i gathered all of the money at the bottom of my locker. there was $21 in bills and $113.69 in change.

i certainly can relate to that, however, most of the time i throw my change in my car console, which usually amounts to $20 something dollars. having said that, i need to learn from you... $113.69 that's awesome!:w00t:

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I was wondering if that was a typo! :lol2:

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Specializes in PACU.

I was quite surprised by how much it added up to. We made a little game out of guessing how much money there was once I poured it into a container (it came out to 950 cc of change). There was around a half inch thick layer coating the bottom of my locker.

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950 cc! Only a nurse would measure change in cc. Love:yeah: it!!!

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When you said "surprise in your pocket" first thing I imagined was when I put a suppository in my pocket and forget to dispose of it

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Yeah Esme,

Just think about the fomites on that lanyard!

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Specializes in LTC.

I think this happens to everyone.

I was raging the other day, complaining how every shift, I put some tape out on my cart, and the next day, it's ALWAYS gone.

Then- I went home and cleaned my bathroom... had to be at least 15 rolls of cloth tape in there.

Woops.

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This is why I make a habit of cleaning my pockets out and putting everything into my locker before clocking out. Since I am so forgetful I immediately return narcotics. I've never taken any controlled substances home (thank God, because that's a LONG drive) but I got tired of the stool softners popping up in the washing machine and dryer!

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