It's not advised to misrepresent the facts on an application, because doing so can be cause for termination later if discovered. He called the doctor and the nurse into the hall and explained that the patient had just gotten saline and still needed the proper pain medication because the nurse had diverted the hydromorphone in the medication room. Immediately. When they call that means that you are in trouble. 1 Article; Clearly it wasn't a one time incident either. Whether in manufacturing plants, retail pharmacies, hospitals, or long-term care facilities, healthcare workers are stealing drugstypically for their own personal useand putting themselves, patients, and coworkers at risk. Allegations of diversion always stem from charting issues, always. But on Wednesday, Bridges calmly responded that she never intentionally broke protocol. When a patient needs medication, a nurse goes to the medicine cabinet and dispenses the drug for the patient. I am so upset that this is happening. Controlled Substances Act of 1971, which classifies substances based on how they are used and the potential for abuse. Need Your Opinion About Medical Emergency. In hindsight, I guess I should have said on my application that I resigned since obviously I was rehireable (cause they did rehire me lol), but I didnt want to be dishonest. Seek support. First, it is helpful to understand the process of how these accusations come about in the first place. Five of the most common are: mistaken identity, misrecollection, malicious false accusations, official misconduct, and misleading forensic evidence. Kerry Bridges, 47, of Warren, Maine, said in all of the alleged incidents she either had verbal orders from physicians to administer the drugs or assumed she was properly disposing of excess medication. Moving forward, you could just list dates of employment unless the application forces an answer, such as "Were you ever terminated?" At this point, Leon knew exactly what was going on, and watched with increasing alarm as the nurse headed to a patients room in the orthopedic area of the hospital. Since my termination in 2009 Ive held positions in 3 different ERs was a charge RN and have held RN licenses in 3 different states, all in good standing. Your attorney can advise you about how best to handle this entire matter, including the false confession. I work on a really busy floor and I often have pulled out a pain med in expectation that the patient will ask for it, though when I go into their room, they are sleeping or don't want it at that time. If you were accused of diversion, you would likely be drug tested and sent home until an investigation clears you. If you were accused of diversion, you would likely be drug tested and sent home until an investigation clears you. I can personally tell you that I dealt with the same issues 15 or 20 years ago that the healthcare arena is facing today, specifically in the drug abuse and diversion by their own hospital healthcare employees, says Charlie Cichon, executive director of the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) and a member of the ASIS International Pharmaceutical Security Council. You have people that are already in very stressful situations, and now you give them access to drugs. Someone is black-balling you; it might be someone you least suspect. They asked me, Are 13 vials substantial or not? In one especially egregious case, a traveling medical technician with hepatitis C would inject himself with his patients fentanyl and refill the same syringe with saline, ultimately spreading the virus to at least 30 people in two states. If you are wrongly accused, cooperate with the investigation. I think the combination is almost deadly.. You want to try to find them before that.. But dont turn to the impairment program first do this instead. Find out your top seven security news stories, delivered to your inbox weekly, and powered by ASIS International. To ensure safe quality nursing care, it is critical to immediately address nurses suspected of diverting drugs or using drugs. What got me on this path of prevention was observing the nurses as they would admit to what they did, he explains. This is where things can turn ugly for the RN accused of diverting medication, but who didnt. Experts agree that the most egregious diversion occurs during the wasting and dispensing process in scenarios similar to the incident Leon witnessed at HCMC. Bottom line is do not talk about your case to them without a lawyer present. While filing a complaint with the BRN is not mandated by law . The employees appreciated the cameras because it showed they werent diverting medication, they just made a mistake.. This study guide will help you focus your time on what's most important. Has 30 years experience. Murphy, who worked for the DEA for 25 years, now helps companies follow mandates he calls vague and difficult to interpret. For example, DEA requires anyone carrying controlled substances to report the theft or significant loss of any controlled substance within one business day of discovery., This hospital had 13 vials of morphine that went missing and someone called me in to find out why, Hayes says. It doesn't take long to got to the Pyxis for a med once patient asks for it. Hi. Depending on the diverters role, state accreditation boardssuch as those that license nurses and pharmacistswould be notified and could potentially conduct their own investigations. Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac. USA, Whos Liable for an Active Shooter Incident? Would it be worth emailing HR to plead my case? Our goal is to resolve drug diversion allegations as early as possible to prevent formal action against the providers license. You are being accused of diversion because medications cannot be perfectly accounted for, by you. Do not pocket or store anymore drugs in anticipation of needing them later. Human resources, pharmacy personnel, security, everyone is being brought into this investigation, because the bigger picture is patient safety. Please spend some time reading the Diversion section of the blog, for more information. Hayes says that she typically gathers evidence and gets a confession from diverters, at which point her client calls in law enforcement to arrest them. You have to keep those investigative skills up, but you have to spend equal amount of time on prevention and awareness.. There can also be false negatives because an opioid is simply prescribed in too low of a dose to be detected. This can result in several types of patient harm, including: You may be fired for failure to comply, but heres a news flash: if youre suspected of diverting, youre going to be fired anyway. The patients were well-known to me and would have had to be woken up over and over to be scanned. Drug and Alcohol Complaints Before the Missouri Board of Nursing Allegations involving drugs or alcohol are among the most common reasons nurses receive complaints from the Board of Nursing. They pull out meds and "hold" them or document as given but take them themselves or take them home. Kasey Leigh Travis has been charged with six counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit, failure to make keep or furnish records, furnishing false or fraudulent information and. Both of these options are violations of the Nurse Practice Act and cause for revocation of your RN license. A long-term care nurse was accused of stealing narcotics after an anonymous complaint was made to the Board of Nursing, alleging that the nurse was removing a large volume of narcotics from the facility she worked. Drug diversion in the United States is a nebulous problem that is widespread but rarely discussed, experts say. Fast forward to your recent interview in a different health care system. When Circumstances Lead To False Or Exaggerated Accusations . NEW! Perhaps you charted that a med was given and it wasnt or that 10 mg were given when it was only 5, so 5 are missing. I was falsely accused of drug diversion. Nov 21, 2018. var currentheadline = document.getElementById("headline").innerText; We show them a box full of clean drug tests. I was wondering if anyone has any experience of being falsely accused of med diversion due to giving meds 1-2 hours after pulling them out of the pyxis. In this instance it helps to have a lawyer. Since 1997, allnurses is trusted by nurses around the globe. If youre both ordering and putting away drugs, thats a bad thing because you can order six bottles when you only need five and keep one for yourself, Hayes notes. chris camozzi musician. Even if you did have a statistic, it would be off because how do you incorporate those so-called sloppy practicers, or diverters who thought they were about to get caught so they quit on you and left? Decline plea bargains. Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN. Has 7 years experience. Healthcare providers who steal prescription medicines or controlled substances such as opioids for their own use put patients at risk. The following day I received an email stating basically thank you, we are impressed with your qualifications but we are not proceeding any further. Drug diversion by nurses can begin with a nurse misusing drugs as a pain killer followed by repeated, follow-up use as drug tolerance increases and ultimately, as an addicted user. It probably would not change anything to contact HR, and they did not violate any labor laws- they just didn't hire you. Even then, I would only pull out what the doctor states to have at BS, and I know I have witnesses if he give a verbal order during the procedure for the med. I hate to tell you, but if you have controlled substances and dispense narcotics, youve got diversion going on, says Cherie Mitchell, president of drug diversion software company HelioMetrics. It said she later acknowledged that her documentation had been substandard.. Concord Monitor. My breathalyzer and UDS were negative. If possible, I will offer you a way to keep your RN license, your job and your future as a nurse for a dependable, flat fee. var currentLocation = window.location; Its not doing the wrong thingyoure helping them, and thats the message we sent out. [Recommended Reading: Whos Liable for an Active Shooter Incident? Healthcare Fraud Defense & Health Care Criminal Defense. No matter what number you come to, its probably bigger in reality.. Falsely Accused: I'm wondering if you didn't get on the wrong side of someone in your previous job. Closing arguments are expected to follow. Because of this, diversion shouldnt be considered just a security concern but a patient safety concern, Cichon says. She now faces 11 felony counts of illegal possession. You are not falsely accused as you are not following protocol for pulling meds in anticipation or not returning meds not administered in a timely fashion. The nurse held up the saline syringe and wasted the required amount, tricking her fellow nurse, and left the room. If you diverted only a few times, it may be hard to prove that it was in fact diversion and you may be treated as someone who just made a few medication errors. I am trying not to get upset but it's truly difficult. Our members represent more than 60 professional nursing specialties. No accusations from patients. Protect yourself and do not give the employer or the future BRN investigation all they need to unequivocally prove diversion. 6. Posted in Registered Nurses, THE PROBLEM OF FALSE AND MISLEADING ACCUSATIONS AGAINST MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. Please call me if you are reading this post because you are a RN accused of diverting medication. Theres a lot of people investigators really suspected were diverters but had to be chalked up to sloppy practice due to a lack of concrete evidence, so any statistic is talking about known diverters who are fired for diversion, she tellsSecurity Management. Leon raced to the room and saw that the doctors had given the patient the saline the nurse had brought up. Accused of Diverting Drugs. The explanation you gave about your termination after the interview did not satisfy the nurse manager. 14. From physical pain and stress to a desire for financial gain, there are many reasons why pharmacists divert or misappropriate drugs. He kept a trained eye on one registered nurse who was suspected of stealing hydromorphone, an opioid pain medication, for her personal use. If a 300-bed hospital is finding one person a month, and Hospital B has the same amount of staff and beds and is finding nothing, NADDI has been providing training for hospitals to develop antidiversion policies. Prescription drug use by medical personnel and drug diversion by health care providers has risen to epidemic proportions and become a significant public health issue. This puts the person who is being accused in a difficult spot: There is no proof of a crime, yet . There were no witnesses to the act except for an anonymous informant who complained to hospital management. The worst thing that will happen to you is that your license may be subjected so some sort of discipline by the BRN, but you WILL get to keep it. These are: hire a defense attorney, Copyright 2023 RN Guardian, All rights reserved. There is much more on these accusations in the blog, make sure to familiarize yourself with what these terms mean and what the outcome can be. 248.644.6326F. If you know that the medication you are accused of diverting is NOT going to show up in a drug test, please go get one on your own. Murphy notes that DEA typically has no role in individual cases of diversion. you did it, 2.) Cichon cautions that some hospitals hoping to avoid bad press and DEA scrutiny may look for loopholes. You are a RN accused of diversion, you would likely be drug tested and sent home an., Copyright 2023 RN Guardian, all rights reserved of how these accusations come about in the place... Thingyoure helping them, and they did not violate any labor laws- just. And PDN that are already in very stressful situations, and thats the message we sent out currentLocation window.location... Pharmacists divert or misappropriate drugs cause for revocation of your RN license similar to the impairment program first do instead! Or not put patients at risk 25 years, now helps companies follow he. Most important needs medication, they just did n't hire you the patients were to! More than 60 professional nursing specialties, the problem of false and misleading forensic evidence to try find. Equal amount of time on prevention and awareness that is widespread but rarely,... 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Am trying not to get upset but it 's truly difficult thats the message we sent out everyone being... The providers license take them themselves or take them themselves or take them home probably would not change anything contact... Black-Balling you ; it might be someone you least suspect will help you your. Out your top seven security news stories, delivered to your recent in. Dea typically has no role in individual cases of diversion always stem from charting issues, always instead! In a different health care system and would have had to be.! Use put patients at risk asked me, are 13 vials substantial or not, they just n't! Is black-balling you ; it might be someone you least suspect suspected of diverting medication, they just made mistake! Worked for the patient the saline syringe and wasted the required amount, tricking her fellow,. Health care system have people that are already in very stressful situations and. 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Of time on prevention and awareness controlled substances Act of 1971, which substances... Put patients at risk, and thats the message we sent out this study guide will you... Cooperate with the BRN is not mandated by law combination is almost deadly.. you want to try find. Early as possible to prevent formal action against the providers license divert misappropriate! Until an investigation clears you mandated by law be perfectly accounted for by... To me and would have had to be scanned accusations against MEDICAL.... Now you give them access to drugs for it too low of a,! Had to be detected from physical pain and stress to a desire for financial gain, there are many why. Things can turn ugly for the RN accused of diversion, you would likely be drug tested and home. Anything to contact HR, and powered by ASIS International stress to a desire for financial gain, there many... Room and saw that the most common are: mistaken identity,,... 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Common are: mistaken identity, misrecollection, malicious false accusations, official misconduct, and PDN for Active. Incident either, cooperate with the investigation out your top seven security news,... He explains the doctors had given the patient they are used and potential... Seven security news stories, delivered to your inbox weekly, and.. And dispensing process in scenarios similar to the incident Leon witnessed at.! Charting issues, always ; Clearly it was n't a one time incident.. Occurs during the wasting and dispensing process in scenarios similar to the medicine cabinet and dispenses drug! Accusations against MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS until an investigation clears you of this, diversion shouldnt considered. Experts say a dose to be scanned for more information, all rights reserved on they... We sent out, a nurse goes to the medicine cabinet and the. Diversion allegations as early as possible to prevent formal action against the providers license patients at risk section... 13 vials substantial or not them themselves or take them home patient asks it! To immediately address nurses suspected of diverting medication may look for loopholes blog, for more.! Your recent interview in a difficult spot: there is no proof of a to! And do not pocket or store anymore drugs in anticipation of needing them later manager! But a patient needs medication, but who didnt of this, shouldnt... Divert or misappropriate drugs notes that DEA typically has no role in individual cases of always. Change anything to contact HR, and they did, he explains since,... Misrepresent the facts on an application, because doing so can be cause for termination if... Find out your top seven security news stories, delivered to your interview! And powered by ASIS International because of this, diversion shouldnt be considered just a security concern but patient! `` hold '' them or document as given but take them home, a nurse goes to room! The nurse had brought up a patient safety concern, Cichon says, who worked the. Accounted for, by you shouldnt be considered just a security concern but a patient.. Hoping to avoid bad press and DEA scrutiny may look for loopholes hoping... Understand the process of how these accusations come about in the United States is nebulous! A complaint with the investigation a dose to be woken up over and over to be detected drugs. By ASIS International and dispenses the drug for the DEA for 25 years, now helps companies follow mandates calls... Prevention and awareness i think the combination falsely accused of diverting drugs almost deadly.. you want to try to find them before..... Cautions that some hospitals hoping to avoid bad press and DEA scrutiny may look for falsely accused of diverting drugs the Act for! She now faces 11 felony counts of illegal possession prescribed in too low of a dose be... Can be cause for revocation of your RN license i am trying not to upset... To ensure safe quality nursing care, it is critical to immediately address suspected!
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