What would you do?

[namaste_71]

Something pretty disturbing happened and I'm not sure how to handle it, or what my options are. A family member spent about a week on the general, inpatient psych unit at the local hospital. When she arrived home, she pulled 5-6, 2 mg Xanax from her pocket and said "a nurse" had given them to her "under the table," so to speak. I'm certain she did not have access to this medication at home, nor did she have a prescription for it. Also, per her medical records and physician's orders, this medication was never prescribed for her during her stay.

She could not remember the name of the person but did offer a physical description. She also said the woman told her to take the meds if she was "feeling suicidal." If it's the person she described to me, this particular clinician treated her rudely and condescendingly through her stay.

I attempted to contact the facility directly, but the administrator will not return the phone call and the nurse in charge said "none of our nurses would do that." To get medication, the med nurse has to scan the patient, scan the med and then has access to the prescribed drugs. I know, however, that there are always ways around this procedure.

My apologies this is so long. Please understand, I am not criticizing any RNs or LPNs. There are many at this facility that honestly care about their patients. I also understand the pressures many psych nurses must face; even my family member was prone to angry outbursts that must have been difficult to handle.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I seriously doubt that the administrator or any employees of this facility would ever admit to giving drugs "under the table" to a patient. These people seem too savvy to set themselves up while on the record. You can feel free to discuss your concerns with management, but I have the sneaking suspicion that you're going to run into a solid brick wall regarding this issue.

Good luck to you, and I hope your family member recuperates fully.

[jojotoo, RN]

This sounds so bizarre. What would be the motive of a nurse to "slip" a patient Ativan to take home? Could the patient have gotten the Ativan from another patient and is now trying to get the nurse (that was rude and condescending) in trouble?

[namaste_71]

This sounds so bizarre. What would be the motive of a nurse to "slip" a patient Ativan to take home? Could the patient have gotten the Ativan from another patient and is now trying to get the nurse (that was rude and condescending) in trouble?

It was Xanax. And, no, she was "on watch" most of the time she was at the facility -- as was her roommate. A CNA was with her 24-hours a day and someone would have seen that happen. Also, the other patient would have had to hoard meds for 2-3 days.

It was not to get the nurse in trouble.

I have personally witnessed very disturbing behavior on the part of all levels of staff at this facility. Sadly, this does not surprise me.

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

I worked at a facility where a housekeeper (they wore scrubs at the time) brought in some illegally obtained Rx drugs and shared them with a pt.

Policies were ammended to try and prevent this from happening again.

Maybe what occured with the op's family member is something similar.

[namaste_71]

I seriously doubt that the administrator or any employees of this facility would ever admit to giving drugs "under the table" to a patient. These people seem too savvy to set themselves up while on the record. You can feel free to discuss your concerns with management, but I have the sneaking suspicion that you're going to run into a solid brick wall regarding this issue.

Good luck to you, and I hope your family member recuperates fully.

Thanks ... she's now in a better facility that can help her.

[everthesame, LPN, LVN]

Maybe you could report this to the Board of Health? After all, she somehow left that facility with controlled meds she shouldn't have had. That in and of itself needs to be investigated regardless of how she got the pills.

[MaryPush]

.... Also, per her medical records and physician's orders, this medication was never prescribed for her during her stay.

Out of curiosity, how do you know this?

[namaste_71]

Out of curiosity, how do you know this?

This is actually my spouse. A release form was signed upon admission allowing me to ask for information and speak with physicians and nurses. I was given a verbal review of all medications prescribed throughout the entire stay -- either regularly or PRN, continued and discontinued. This was the morning of discharge. I also was told these were the only medications the physician had ordered or authorized ... Xanax was not among them.

Also, we obtained a copy of the medical records from the hospital records department a few days after discharge.

I should note, it is entirely possible the person who passed the medication was not an LPN or RN. Everyone on the unit wears scrubs and -- except for housekeeping -- white lab coats.

[EmmaG, RN]

I attempted to contact the facility directly, but the administrator will not return the phone call and the nurse in charge said "none of our nurses would do that." To get medication, the med nurse has to scan the patient, scan the med and then has access to the prescribed drugs. I know, however, that there are always ways around this procedure.

Yes, and it's also possible that the med was this person's personal prescription that they decided to share.

Since the administrator has chosen to ignore your concerns, take it higher. As in the BON and state licensing board that oversees these facilities.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

It's also possible-and IMHO highly probable-that your spouse is not telling you the truth. No offense meant.When I was married to my ex-husband I had a number of checks bounce.Had to be a mistake on the banks part,right? I went down there really upset-ranting and raving...Then they showed me the ATM withdrawals that my then husband was making without telling me...

[everthesame, LPN, LVN]

It's also possible-and IMHO highly probable-that your spouse is not telling you the truth. No offense meant.When I was married to my ex-husband I had a number of checks bounce.Had to be a mistake on the banks part,right? I went down there really upset-ranting and raving...Then they showed me the ATM withdrawals that my then husband was making without telling me...

I don't understand how your ex-husband's past behavior makes it highly probable that the OP's husband is not telling the truth.

Whether the patient was actually ordered to have Xanax in the hospital or not, she somehow left the hospital with a stash of Xanax and for the safety of future patients at that facility someone needs to know how she was able to obtain that stash of pills.