Witnessed an RN stealing medication

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Until last week I have been working for the Department of Corrections and I quit due to so many horrible things taking place at the jail I worked for. Non documented medication errors ( an order was written for trazadone and the inmate was given thorazine for 4 days until they saw the error but still never documented it ) back dating physical exams that were over 14 days and so on.

However, the one that concerns me the most is when I first started there I was with one of the RN's and the director of nursing called her on the phone and when we left for the day, the director of nursing, who happened to be off that day drove up. The RN handed her an envelope full of flexeril in the parking lot that she had stolen from the stock medication in the pharmacy at work.

Any thoughts?

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

If you were certain of what you saw, why did you not report it at the time?

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Specializes in Peds, OB-GYN, CCU, ER, Corrections.

Uh, yeah. If that crap is really happening, and you know it and don't say anything, then it's your fault too. Report it.

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

Agree with the other posters -- be a whistleblower.

I live in the city where there was recently many many clinics closed down due to doctors and nurses reusing syringes. Those nurses that knew this was going on and did not report it are just as guilty in my eyes.

Not to be harsh, but this is stuff that NEEDS to be reported if it is really happening.

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I totally agree that this needs to be reported.

otessa

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
until last week i have been working for the department of corrections and i quit due to so many horrible things taking place at the jail i worked for. non documented medication errors ( an order was written for trazadone and the inmate was given thorazine for 4 days until they saw the error but still never documented it ) back dating physical exams that were over 14 days and so on.

however, the one that concerns me the most is when i first started there i was with one of the rn's and the director of nursing called her on the phone and when we left for the day, the director of nursing, who happened to be off that day drove up. the rn handed her an envelope full of flexeril in the parking lot that she had stolen from the stock medication in the pharmacy at work.

any thoughts?

are you sure? did you actually see the rn take flexeril from the stock medication and give it to the don? or, did the rn tell you outright what she was planning to do? if there is absolute proof that this happened, then, i say that you would have to report it. suspicions are not enough without actual proof that this was done. i know it is exceptionally hard to report your boss, and it was safer to leave, anyhow, but all i say is know for sure what is happening and be able to back it up in case the poo hits the fan.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.
The RN handed her an envelope full of flexeril in the parking lot that she had stolen from the stock medication in the pharmacy at work.

Any thoughts?

How did you know that the envelope was full of Flexeril? Were you close enough to see writing on the envelope that said 'Flexeril enclosed'? How are you so sure that this RN STOLE stock medication? To say you witnessed stealing is a hefty accusation to make. Personally, I would have tended to believe you more if you had put some 'I feel' 'I think' 'I believe' 'it appears' kind of statements in your post.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
How did you know that the envelope was full of Flexeril? Were you close enough to see writing on the envelope that said 'Flexeril enclosed'? How are you so sure that this RN STOLE stock medication? To say you witnessed stealing is a hefty accusation to make. Personally, I would have tended to believe you more if you had put some 'I feel' 'I think' 'I believe' 'it appears' kind of statements in your post.

That is the point I am saying as well...that is a serious accusation. One can say that they strongly suspect, based on behavior, but if there is no absolute proof, those nurses are going to come out slinging (I would, also, because that is a no-no for me-stealing any medications is not worth placing my license at risk).

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

I wouldn't say anything unless I was 100% positive. Careers can and have been ruined by false accusations.

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Until last week I have been working for the Department of Corrections and I quit due to so many horrible things taking place at the jail I worked for. Non documented medication errors ( an order was written for trazadone and the inmate was given thorazine for 4 days until they saw the error but still never documented it ) back dating physical exams that were over 14 days and so on.

However, the one that concerns me the most is when I first started there I was with one of the RN's and the director of nursing called her on the phone and when we left for the day, the director of nursing, who happened to be off that day drove up. The RN handed her an envelope full of flexeril in the parking lot that she had stolen from the stock medication in the pharmacy at work.

Any thoughts?

I'd report it right away if I was certain! I am sorry for you. This must be REALLY HARD!!! Hang in there and do the right thing!

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Until last week I have been working for the Department of Corrections and I quit due to so many horrible things taking place at the jail I worked for. Non documented medication errors ( an order was written for trazadone and the inmate was given thorazine for 4 days until they saw the error but still never documented it ) back dating physical exams that were over 14 days and so on.

However, the one that concerns me the most is when I first started there I was with one of the RN's and the director of nursing called her on the phone and when we left for the day, the director of nursing, who happened to be off that day drove up. The RN handed her an envelope full of flexeril in the parking lot that she had stolen from the stock medication in the pharmacy at work.

Any thoughts?

Out of curiousity: are you an RN?

What do you think is the ethically right thing to do?

If you are an RN, how do you think your patients would feel about you and your actions, planned actions, or lack of action?

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Specializes in Mental Health.
Until last week I have been working for the Department of Corrections and I quit due to so many horrible things taking place at the jail I worked for. Non documented medication errors ( an order was written for trazadone and the inmate was given thorazine for 4 days until they saw the error but still never documented it ) back dating physical exams that were over 14 days and so on.

However, the one that concerns me the most is when I first started there I was with one of the RN's and the director of nursing called her on the phone and when we left for the day, the director of nursing, who happened to be off that day drove up. The RN handed her an envelope full of flexeril in the parking lot that she had stolen from the stock medication in the pharmacy at work.

Any thoughts?

Without proof there is no case to answer is my immediate thought.

And this happened when you FIRST started? When was that?

I can think of 100s of reasons a RN (or anyone else) would hand an envelope to someone else in a parking lot.

An envelope 'full' of ANY drug would have been noticed to have gone missing by the pharmacist issuing the drugs if no one else.

I think you need to take care of what you accuse people of without proof... or you will have a serious case of slander on your hands.

I hope you have a good lawyer.

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