I am just curious what others would do, as this happened a couple weeks ago so what was done about it is done.
I want to know what would you do in this scenario:
You arrive at work to take over for the last shift, everyone is acting normal, and they head home. This isn't necessarily in a hospital, but I don't want to give out the exact location or work type of place. You head into the bathroom to use the facilities and go number 2 (i know it's gross, but I have to include it), as you turn around to wipe you notice something yellow in the toilet. You move the TP out of the way and realize its a 25 g needle, which is obviously a bit strange and suspicious to find in a toilet. In the trash is the wrapper and cap to it, a vial cover, and an empty flush wrapper, no syringes though. You call a couple of people who you know have chronic medical issues and they deny that they gave themselves any prescribed medication using a needle.
Would you say something to management?
So, pretend you said no to the above, but there were some red flags with regards to narcotics over the last month or two, would that change your mind about notifying management?
AND NO this is not homework, this actually happened!
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.
I have chronic medical issues (cancer and complications from it). If I'd been working where you work and had you call me at home to interrogate me as to whether I'd been diverting, we would have had a "Come to Jesus" meeting with the nurse manager and HR.
It is not your place to play Nancy Drew.
I am not sure where in my post I said I called people to interrogate them about DIVERTING?!
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I have chronic medical issues (cancer and complications from it). If I'd been working where you work and had you call me at home to interrogate me as to whether I'd been diverting, we would have had a "Come to Jesus" meeting with the nurse manager and HR.
You extrapolated some weird stuff from her post. I didn't see anyone talk about calling people and interrogating them.
Does your cancer and complications thereof mean that you're leaving used syringes in the toilet? Surely you have enough common sense to dispose of them properly, yes?
I have seen more than one person caught either on camera or with needles et narcs in hand after several episodes just as you explained. I would mention it to my manager and let them decide what to do with the information.
What would I have done? I would have done nothing you said you did, starting with playing in the toilet. And interrogating coworkers about their personal medications or conditions was probably worse.
If there are "red flags" as you called them (but for some reason don't explain them) that need to be addressed, go ahead and address them, but please, try to stay out of the toilet.
I am not sure where in my post I said I called people to interrogate them about DIVERTING?!
Annie
You said this: "You call a couple of people who you know have chronic medical issues and they deny that they gave themselves any prescribed medication using a needle. "
This is interrogating your coworkers. Hope that clears it up for you.
I don't know if I would use the word "interrogating", but I do agree that calling coworkers to question them about their personal health issues is crossing the line.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
You said this: "You call a couple of people who you know have chronic medical issues and they deny that they gave themselves any prescribed medication using a needle. "
This is interrogating your coworkers. Hope that clears it up for you.
Specializes in Healthcare risk management and liability.
I would have reported it to management as a safety concern. Speaking as the person to whom this sort of stuff is reported to, I may be aware of other findings and reports that the person reporting is not, so every piece of data is helpful in looking at issues. This may be a 'one-off' occurrence, and as such is of little significance, but if there have been similar reports or issues, then perhaps we need to look more closely at what is going on.
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.
You said this: "You call a couple of people who you know have chronic medical issues and they deny that they gave themselves any prescribed medication using a needle. "
This is interrogating your coworkers. Hope that clears it up for you.
If you read the post that I was referring to (obviously you didn't), the person said that I called the people and interrogated them about DIVERTING, not about using prescribed medication. I hope that clears it up for you!
Calling a couple of co-workers and simply asking if they used a needle and threw it in the toilet, with an emphasis on use related to a medical problem and prescribed medication was to emphasize the fact that I was NOT calling to accuse them of diverting, and that is NOT interrogation! It was an attempt to AVOID management involvement; had they said yes, I would have simply asked them to put it in a appropriate sharps container next time!
AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P
2,610 Posts
FINE... you win this one! :Radioactive: