Would You Report Me for This?

[cupquake]

Hello fellow nurses. I have something to get off my chest, and I cannot discuss this with coworkers so I sought out all of your opinions. FYI: I am a new grad RN, currently working in LTC for about 7 months.

A few months ago, during a med pass at 5 pm (supper), I left a pill in the pill cup next to a resident who normally will take the pill, if not, the aide will help her take it (it was senokot). When I left it there, I acknowledged to the resident that I am leaving a pill beside her and would like her to take it. A family member of another resident sitting at the same table, saw this and commented "She won't remember to take that," in a very rude manner. In response to her hostile personality, I was firm and told her "She usually does take the pill, if she does not, I will follow up and be back to make sure she does". I left saying this and administered pills to the other residents at this time. I came back to the same table while giving a pill to another resident sitting on the same table as this family member and the original person I left the pill beside, I asked the aide "did A.I. take the pill?". The aide responded and said yes. I then proceeded to administer the crushed pills to another resident while waiting for her to finish IN FRONT OF this family member.

This family member then went to my director and reported me for inappropriate medication administration. I was written up for something that did not even result in harm or distress for a resident. I was disciplined for "leaving a medication beside a resident that has dementia," instead of waiting 5 minutes to help her take it, I proceeded to admin meds to the other 30 residents before time runs out.

I honestly feel like this is unfair. Also, my director was very strict and had a look of no mercy when telling me that this is just "unacceptable practice". Also, the family member who reported me has a history of issues with many co-workers, and the management team knows that.

So, tell me, give me your honest feedback. Would you write me up for this? I feel a sense of indignation towards my director.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Anayo, how is any comment on this thread any meaner than what you just wrote yourself?

I think this thread has run its course.

Exactly. No one has been mean but provided exactly what the OP asked for.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I work in ltc, too - and still think it's a very dangerous move, I don't care how many residents you pass meds to. (Night shift here - my load is 58). I'm more likely to label the med and stash it, and catch the resident on my way back down the hall (technically "pre-pouring).

One of the things experience teaches you is which rules you can break.

Especially since the family member in question had problems with so many caregivers. I'd dot my "i"s and cross my "t"s when that particular family member was around. I, too, would stash the medication and try to catch the resident on my way back down the hall.

The problem I have with the whole situation is that you don't seem to have learned anything from it -- you're bringing it here the hope we'll all tell you it's OK. It isn't.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Especially since the family member in question had problems with so many caregivers. I'd dot my "i"s and cross my "t"s when that particular family member was around. I, too, would stash the medication and try to catch the resident on my way back down the hall.

The problem I have with the whole situation is that you don't seem to have learned anything from it -- you're bringing it here the hope we'll all tell you it's OK. It isn't.

Agreed.

No one has said it was ok (even nursingaround1!). I'm also starting to wonder if the OP will come back after every poster dissented.

[LaneyB]

I think a verbal warning would have sufficed.

On a floor I worked on we had a nurse allowing the patient to wait to take her meds later. She would just leave the meds at the bedside. One day when the aide was changing the sheets they found all the meds for that day stuffed in the corner of the sheets. So they had to do an incident report and look back to see all the days that nurse took care of that patient. It had to be reported to the doctors. The nurse was a really good nurse and was so embarrassed. She was not written up, just counseled. We all learned a valuable lesson about leaving meds.

[AcuteHD]

...I honestly feel like this is unfair...

Still think so? Not to be mean, just curious.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Still think so? Not to be mean, just curious.

I think her absence is her response.

[OCNRN63, RN]

What's done is done. I would have pulled you aside, told you not to do this anymore, and moved on. THEN, had you ever done this ever again, THEN I would have written the incident up. That's just me. We all make mistakes. LEARNING from those mistakes is what I feel is important. Leaving senokot is not a big issue, as far as I am concerned. Had it been a narcotic, a heart med, etc then it would have been a bigger offense.

It doesn't matter what the drug was. What matters is that there was a lack of critical thinking.

[californiahwy1]

Cupcake - I understand how frustrating you must've felt when you were written up for leaving medication at a patient's bedside. However, you'll look back on this situation someday and realize (hopefully) it probably made you a better person & a better nurse. Also, getting written up once is not that big of a deal...it's when you become resentful and let the matter affect you negatively that really matters in the long run.

If I were you, I'd use the magic response with your director, "Thank you, it will never happen again" and take it like a grown adult. A good attitude after a mistake makes a great impression on leadership. However, if you start to deteriorate and go on a downward spiral of negativity and defensiveness, you may give a negative impression to those around you.

As far as family member's are concerned, always deal with them in a professional & polite manner.

My last recommendation - don't leave medications at a patient's bedside.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

As a DON, I usually presumed that matters such as this called for education rather than a write-up. I documented the discussion just in case the employee did it again or committed another infraction, but the first verbal warning didn't go in their personnel file.

That being said, I consider leaving meds at bedside a terrible practice and hope the OP never does it again.

[anayo, DNP, APRN, NP]

Read all the comments from everyone then talk OrganizedChaos. Some of them I feel is unnecessary. Just give the facts -hostile comments excluded. Im not sayin to sugar coat it either.From her initial question comment it appears she is a new nurse.Honestly, this is why our profession is not recieving the respect it deserves and young nurses are quitting bedside within 2-4 yrs to pursue APN or different career path. I dont blame the poor girl/or boy from disappearing from this tread. Its because of this nonsense.

[AcuteHD]

So, tell me, give me your honest feedback. Would you write me up for this? I feel a sense of indignation towards my director.

OP, it seems, feels that she was blameless and the director was just being mean. The vast majority (if not all) disagreed with that assessment and gave her the honest feedback she asked for. What is the issue?

[anayo, DNP, APRN, NP]

It depends on what it is whether they're going to die.

Look - she clearly isn't following standard of care, but let's not get overly dramatic about.

My point exactly. Some people are getting over dramatic, if not almost attacking the OP.