Witnessed an RN stealing medication

[OzBound]

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?

[Katnip, RN]

You can still report suspicous activity to the BON. Then they will take it from there and investigate. That's where proving comes in. Allegations need to be checked out, particularly if there have been problems in the past.

[mscsrjhm]

I think I would let this one go- not because you cannot be sure of what was in the envelope- but because of who you would be up against. The contracted medical company for the state DOC in my state is terrible. If your DOC is anything like it...

You will obviously end up without a reference for another job, and they may actually slam you by making up a misconduct issue. Pretty frequent in DOC nursing.

Good luck

[morte, LPN, LVN]

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?

specifically inre to the last line, and since you havent been back to comment....is this a homework assignment?

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

You can still report suspicous activity to the BON. Then they will take it from there and investigate. That's where proving comes in. Allegations need to be checked out, particularly if there have been problems in the past.

My only issue with that is the OP needs more proof than just a suspicion, and if it is that easy to even be investigated based on a suspicion, we'd all probably be contacted by the BON. I'd rather that it be initiated internally to be absolutely sure before involving outside agencies that can strip a possibly innocent person of their means of living. This would mean really discovering patterns and behavior of the collagues.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I think I would let this one go- not because you cannot be sure of what was in the envelope- but because of who you would be up against. The contracted medical company for the state DOC in my state is terrible. If your DOC is anything like it...

You will obviously end up without a reference for another job, and they may actually slam you by making up a misconduct issue. Pretty frequent in DOC nursing.

Good luck

With all of the corruption going on, that is why I say that the OP had better be darned sure that she/he has absolute proof, not suspicion. If you have to risk your career, and as you said, I know what she would be up against (including slapping a silly misconduct issue, or set up for something really, really bad-like saying SHE was the one that was dipping in the medications for personal use), she had BETTER be SURE.

[OzBound]

Thanet, you seem mighty defensive where there is no need to be. Advising me to get a good lawyer is silly and your post was borderline aggressive. It was a simple question.

Yes, I have battled with myself back and forth over this for a few months now. How did I know this was flexeril? I was there when she was putting it in the envelope. I was also there when she said she was taking it down to the parking lot. I was there when she handed it to the person and I asked how she was able to do this.

I even joked on how this felt like she was doing a parking lot drug deal. However she assured me this was not a big deal.

Now, for those who seem almost angry in some of your posts, let me inform you that I was told that the former administrator would allow her staff to get their personal medications from the pharmacy should they forget them at home on a particular day. From what I gathered, she didn't want them to make it a habit, but once in a while was okay.

Not being an RN myself, I don't know all the rules which is why I was asking ( Thanet ) I thought this was a place where we could converse and get information. I really don't think I need legal advice Thanet, but I sure appreciate the thought.

[OzBound]

specifically inre to the last line, and since you havent been back to comment....is this a homework assignment?

I have a toddler, a family and work 40 plus hours a week. I am not able to spend all day and night online. I'm not exactly sure about the homework assignment question other than an attempt at sarcasm.

[OzBound]

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!

Thank you very much for being so understaning, helpful and kind.

[Thanet]

Thanet, you seem mighty defensive where there is no need to be. Advising me to get a good lawyer is silly and your post was borderline aggressive. It was a simple question.

Yes, I have battled with myself back and forth over this for a few months now. How did I know this was flexeril? I was there when she was putting it in the envelope. I was also there when she said she was taking it down to the parking lot. I was there when she handed it to the person and I asked how she was able to do this.

I even joked on how this felt like she was doing a parking lot drug deal. However she assured me this was not a big deal.

Now, for those who seem almost angry in some of your posts, let me inform you that I was told that the former administrator would allow her staff to get their personal medications from the pharmacy should they forget them at home on a particular day. From what I gathered, she didn't want them to make it a habit, but once in a while was okay.

Not being an RN myself, I don't know all the rules which is why I was asking ( Thanet ) I thought this was a place where we could converse and get information. I really don't think I need legal advice Thanet, but I sure appreciate the thought.

I am sorry that my post annoyed you and I do appologise.

I hope you are able to come to some conclusion that will resolve this dilemma for you.

[chenoaspirit, ASN, RN]

Well, my advice to you is to report it. That is stealing drugs and it is wrong. If they would steal Flexeril, who is to say they wont steal narcotics if given the chance. I know you dont want to rock the boat with your boss, but it is your responsibility to report such behavior of coworkers. It is a hard thing to do, I know. Good luck to you.

[Jolie, BSN]

I don't understand what good it would do to report it now, even if the OP was certain of what she saw. It would have been difficult to prove anything at the time, when the trail was fresh. It will be virtually impossible now.

This reminds me of a thread not long ago where the OP was asking whether she should report cheating that she believed she witnessed several days prior during a final exam.

Again, my question is this: Why didn't you speak up at the time, when something could have been proven or disproven?

[chenoaspirit, ASN, RN]

It wont do any good NOW to catch THAT particular incident, but it will put them on the "lookout" for any future incidents.