I am not starting this post to decry the fact that there are nurses on probation for drug related offences. I'm making this post to ask you to tell me how to work with them. Safely and legally. I will relate the following info and ask my questions:
Two days last week a nurse new to our facility was giving to me to "train". She was to receive only two days of training and then be on her own. On the second day of her training I was, of course, also filling the position of two regular staff nurses (working two nurses desks.) At the end of her second day of training I "gave her the keys" and allowed her to pass the evening meds (after all, she's own her own in a few hours) and count narcs with the oncoming nurse. The count was correct. No problem.
Two days later, After she "no-calls, no- shows" up for work, I find out that she's on probation for drugs and cannot legally carry narc. keys. Now the count was right, but whether or not any patents actually received the meds she signed she gave is between her and God.
I ask you, where does the liability lie? (Other than with her!) My work was AWARE of this when they hired her... yet it was NEVER communicated to me. Could they have told me? After all, it is public record. Am I liable at all? Is there anyway to prevent this in the future? (Aside from looking up the licenses of everyone else I work with?!?) Due to the no-call she will no longer be working at my facility but am I required to report this in anyway?
Does it make matters worse when I mention that my DON is ALSO on probation for (An OLD) drug-related offence? I think she's a LITTLE touchy about the subject, and I wont find any support there...
Well if something like this would happen where I work, just about evey nurse would know as soon as the other nurse on duty needed to separate the keys and run to the other hall to pass a narc.
The nurse should have taken the other one aside and said "hey...I can't do that...you will have to do it for me"
CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN
3,734 Posts
Well if something like this would happen where I work, just about evey nurse would know as soon as the other nurse on duty needed to separate the keys and run to the other hall to pass a narc.
The nurse should have taken the other one aside and said "hey...I can't do that...you will have to do it for me"