There was a poster recently that lost their job and were reported to the BoN & authorities for mishandling controlled & prescription only substances by pulling & "holding" onto narcotics & Benadryl "just in case" in a pocket. Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN. Has 4 years experience. When they call that means that you are in trouble. He also notes the importance of following up internally on each diversion case and figuring out what went wrong, and adjusting procedures to address any lapses. Completion of the Diversion Program is the only way at that this matter will remain confidential. Your license is the single most valuable thing you have in your life. Do NOT call them back without researching first and thoroughly and do NOT call them back if you are NOT going to enroll. If you are a registered nurse and have been recently accused of diverting medication, there are only 2 scenarios: 1.) This study guide will help you focus your time on what's most important. They asked me, Are 13 vials substantial or not? Hi. I was falsely accused of drug diversion. I was brought to a conference room after a night shift in 2009. 1,509 Posts. 1-612-816-8773. allnurses Copyright allnurses.com LLC. The nurse had found it impossible to find employment as a nurse with an unresolved felony arrest on her record. If you were accused of diversion, you would likely be drug tested and sent home until an investigation clears you. The diverting healthcare worker typically isnt one whos going to be selling or diverting his or her drugs on the street, but they are abusing the drugs while they are working., Leon worked hard on diversion prevention at HCMC after discovering a surprising pattern: almost all of the diverters he investigated wanted to be caught. Benefit of Using Chapman Law Group:The nurseretained us to 1) overturn the suspension of her nursing license, and 2) dismiss the administrative complaint for alleged drug diversion. Choosing a specialty can be a daunting task and we made it easier. 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. We found out through the course of investigations that if someone resigns and was not sanctioned it may not be a reportable action, he says. 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. A traveling nurse accused of diverting drugs from Concord Hospital took the stand Wednesday on the penultimate day of her criminal trial, emphatically contesting the claims and suggesting she is . 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. Can nurses visibly see you pocketing these meds, or even a patient you think is sleeping? I almost immediately received a call from the nurse manager who then asked why I was terminated from my job all those years ago. //LBtag_id.innerHTML = ' Buy this Image'; Being condemned as guilty evoked the shame of being falsely accused, disrespected, and bad. A facility that identifies a diversion problem might bring in any combination of players, from private investigators and local law enforcement to state accreditation boards or the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Do not pocket or store anymore drugs in anticipation of needing them later. 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. We get a glowing testimonial from your new supervisor. Our goal is to resolve drug diversion allegations as early as possible to prevent formal action against the providers license. Case Study 2: A Radford, Virginia, nurse was convicted of siphoning off liquid morphine intended for nursing home patients. you diverted 2.) NOTHING else. Controlled Substances Act of 1971, which classifies substances based on how they are used and the potential for abuse. Remain positive and don't give your accuser, or anyone else reason to suggest that you're guilty. If the diverter has a license from one of those state agencies, usually its required that they be reported, and then its up to the board how they proceed with the personal license of the individual, he says. I can only think of one situation where I would pull out a narc in anticipation of pain, and that would be a procedure (for example, moderate sedation/joint reduction). So, calendar your case and appear in court. notice of intent to sell property; what kind of gun will kill a grizzly bear Has 13 years experience. There are also some behavioral complaints with some exaggerated reporting from nursing staff. There were no witnesses to the act except for an anonymous informant who complained to hospital management. Phillip Jensen, 61, was arrested Monday on eight counts of drug diversion, eight counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, one count of tampering with consumer products, and three . var photocredit = photocredit.toUpperCase(); , ASIS International This is a horrible catch 22 in which to find yourself because you are faced with only 2 outcomes as the BRN sees it: 1.) 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. You are not accused of med diversion, you have not followed policy. Leon observed the nurse dispense a syringe of hydromorphone from the medicine cabinet, and, while a fellow nurse was signing off on the withdrawal, she placed the syringe in her pocket and pulled out an identical syringe, which Leon later learned contained saline. People who are falsely accused tend to get angry --which makes others believe that they are indeed guilty. Drugs are most likely to be diverted during those times when they are in transit or exchanging hands, outside of the closed loop. Rather than return the med immediately, I hold onto it until they need it so I am prepared for the next time. We were successful in achieving both of these goals. Secondly, no matter how friendly, understanding or honest they may seem to be THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS AND THEY ARE NOT ON YOUR SIDE! Hayes details the path of drugs through a hospital: a pharmacy technician orders the medication from a wholesaler, who will deliver them to the hospital pharmacy. There is no overarching agency or organization that records every instance of drug diversion in the United States. Depending on the frequency or significance of these or similar forms, the DEA may open an investigation, Murphy explains. Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN. Its just a question of whether you know it or not.. What Happens If a Healthcare Provider Fails a Pre-Employment Drug Test or Random Employment Drug Test? In fact, up to 15 percent of healthcare workers are addicted to drugs or alcohol, compared to 8 percent of the general population, according to the Mayo Clinic. Mitchell points to algorithmic software that can identify a potential diverter long before their peers could. The process of investigation and charges can be lengthy and in the overwhelming majority of cases, what starts with a bang ends with a whimper. Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro. Author, "Your Last Nursing Class: How to Land Your First Nursing Job"and your next! Take the extra 5 minutes to pull med school per policy. If your employer believes that you were stealing medication especially if it was pharmaceutical meds, of course you can be fired for that - or any lawful reason. Virtually every healthcare practitioner has seen a colleague fired or disciplined after being accused of diverting drugs or misusing their prescription pad. allnurses is a Nursing Career & Support site for Nurses and Students. I agree that she needs to stop doing what she got flagged for. Clearly it wasn't a one time incident either. Remember that if they have something on you, nothing you can say will get you out of it. Another ASIS International Pharmaceutical Council memberMatthew Murphy, president of Pharma Compliance Group and former DEA special agentdescribes this as the closed loop of distribution. Phillip Jensen, 61, was arrested Monday on eight counts of drug diversion, eight counts of obtaining a . Listen to what they have to say and then please hang up. My breathalyzer and UDS were negative. Would it be worth emailing HR to plead my case? When Circumstances Lead To False Or Exaggerated Accusations . Expectations Are Changing, Introducing the New Executive Protection Certificate. Specializes in Pediatrics, Rehab, Trauma. Moving forward, you could just list dates of employment unless the application forces an answer, such as "Were you ever terminated?" It is a charge that should be taken very seriously. In one alleged incident, Bridges said she withdrew 100 micrograms of fentanyl, went to the bathroom, then administered half of the drug and disposed of the rest, sending a paper copy of the disposal to a separate department. I promise, you wont need a 2nd on your home and your 401k can stay put until you retire from NURSING because we will keep your career as a RN safe. They told me to cut it out, and I did. The information provided has not been reviewed or approved by the StateBar. But dont turn to the impairment program first do this instead. If a facility loses its DEA registration, it cannot dispense controlled substances. The opioid addiction in America has lit my practice on fire, she says. For more on investigations, click here. 1441 W Long Lake RoadSuite 310Troy, MI 48098T. 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. I know thats the standard practice, and thats what we strive to do, she told prosecutor Brooke Belanger, but as youve heard others testify, that doesnt always happen., Bridgess attorney, Jim Moir, criticized the hospital and state investigators for never reaching out to Bridges for explanations before arresting her in Maine and labeling her a fugitive from justice.. Want to Read. Case Study 1: A licensed nurse in Providence, R.I., was convicted of stealing oxycodone pills from a nursing home where she worked and attempting to conceal the theft by replacing the medication with other medications. 1 Article; We give them a notebook full of performance evaluations and letters of recommendation. I worked in an ER as an LPN from 2000-2007, graduated RN and began my RN career at the same ER in 2007 until I was terminated in 2009. I have been beyond frustrated with the work environment and now I am being falsely accused of this. Hospital staff called the pattern unusual. Nevertheless, hospitals and licensing boards will proceed on false or misleading accusations and fire, suspend and even revoke a medical professional's license to practice on those very same thinly supported accusations. It has to be pretty egregious for them to get involved to seek a revocation or fine., Thats where people like Hayes come in. He kept a trained eye on one registered nurse who was suspected of stealing hydromorphone, an opioid pain medication, for her personal use. So I moved on and applied for another ER position in a nearby town (in the same health system as the one in my town) and again received an email saying that they were not interested (I did not even get an interview). If its a verbal directive, they can document it themselves, but will need the doctor who gave it to sign off at some point during their shift. You may be fired for failure to comply, but heres a news flash: if youre suspected of diverting, youre going to be fired anyway. And one should not rely on a union rep to come to the rescue. 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. Every entity that has a DEA program should have diversion protocols in place because if they dont they are playing Russian roulette with theft and loss and their DEA registration, Murphy says. Has 10 years experience. It is the only way that the BRN will not file a public Accusation against you, and once a nurse is publicly accused of proven diversion, it makes it incredibly difficult to get hired as a RN in the future. Expectations Are Changing]. If you were only warned, it sounds like your manager is trying to give you a gentle warning nudge to change your practice. They pull out meds and "hold" them or document as given but take them themselves or take them home. Often they are bamboozled by reports misrepresenting chart and Pyxis information. Illinois dentist accused of diverting patients' anesthesia drug for personal use Phillip Jensen, 61, was arrested Monday on eight counts of drug diversion, eight counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, one count of tampering with consumer products, and three counts of false statements related to health care matters. HR continues to harras me and even mention that my director could have given me a heads up 2 hours before I was to report in for a meeting in which I knew nothing about. Nov 21, 2018. That's where all the bogus charges came from. CONCORD, N.H. A group accused of displaying Keep New England White banners from an overpass in New Hampshire faces state Civil Rights Act A judge on Tuesday rejected a lawsuit against New Hampshires largest city to prevent the planned eviction of homeless people at an encampment. 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. The people they are finding now are the people that have the needle in their arm or somebody has reported them. who 'always' asks for the PRN right at the moment it is due, I would not pull it out. and three counts of false statements related to health care matters. There can also be false negatives because an opioid is simply prescribed in too low of a dose to be detected. I am so upset that this is happening. THE PROBLEM OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST NURSES on Tuesday, 04 August 2015. (NICK REID / Monitor staff) Prosecutors will continue cross-examine Bridges today. Healthcare providers are in very stressful jobs, Hayes says. (NICK REID / Monitor staff), Support the You could lose it, you could accidentally take it home, someone could see you pocket it and report it, etc, etc. The administrator. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. 1 Article; allnurses, LLC, 175 Pearl St Ste 355, Brooklyn NY 11201 Carrying it around in your pocket is just asking for trouble. Nurses at Concord Hospital are prohibited from withdrawing medication without an order from a supervising physician. This includes accusations of drug or alcohol impairment, unlawful possession of drugs, drug diversion, and criminal drug charges. Mostly, they are obedient lap dogs to the administration and will play the violin for you as you pick up your last check. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Markus Rashad Tull, 28, was arrested at a Morgan County Walmart on Saturday after he was accused of "skip scanning" items in the self- checkout lane. I hired a lawyer, and went through all the steps to have this . Our mission is to Empower, Unite, and Advance every nurse, student, and educator. So, at 11 p.m. on a Friday, Leon settled in for a night of observation at the Level I trauma center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Perhaps you failed to properly waste a med. The Investigation is where the BRN finds the proof that you diverted. Has 8 years experience. Problem solved. Department of Justice investigator Mark Myrdek (left) sits on the stand. Mitchell explains that all hospitals have different wasting proceduressome require nurses to waste the medication immediately, before they even leave the medication rooms, while others may have a 20-minute window. Chairperson of White Collar Defense & Government Investigations, Michigan Office1441 W. Long Lake Road, Suite 310Troy, MI 48098Phone:(248) 644-6326. She now faces 11 felony counts of illegal possession. 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. I needed help, didnt know how to ask for it, and I was hoping somebody would stop me. Thats pretty powerful when youre sitting there listening to this on a consistent basis., Leon implemented mandatory annual training for everyone in the hospitalfrom food service workers to surgeonsto recognize the warning signs of drug diversion. They MUST! Drug/alcohol abuse; Gross negligence/incompetence, resulting in patient endangerment; Patient abuse and neglect; Sexual, violent, or abusive offenses; . The reason I said at the beginning that being a RN accused of diverting medication doesnt turn out so great for the nurse is because in order to properly defend yourself and save your license from being revoked, you are going to have to shell out some money. you did it, 2.) Think real hard about the names you put down for references. Since 1997, allnurses is trusted by nurses around the globe. Decline plea bargains. You may even offer to do a drug test, many nurses in your situation have, and more often than not, the employer will decline. Agreedand the DEA won't care how busy your floor is. The success of our program at HCMC was the fact that we paid more attention to educating rather than investigating, Leon says. Through the use of aggressive cross-examinations and strategic motions practice, we were able to dismantle the states case of alleged drug diversion and prove that our client was not diverting narcotics, but was in fact falsely accused of drug diversion. Registration, it can not dispense controlled substances transit or exchanging hands, of. Unresolved felony arrest on her record open an investigation clears you them home these meds, even! 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Not call them back if you were only warned, it sounds like your manager is trying to you..., Virginia, nurse was convicted of siphoning off liquid morphine intended for Nursing home patients, you... You as you pick up your Last Nursing Class: how to ask for it, educator. Mostly, they are in trouble BRN finds the proof that you are not of... Provided has not been reviewed or approved by the StateBar or store anymore drugs in anticipation of needing later. Came from in too low of a dose to be diverted during times... Am being falsely accused tend to get angry -- which makes others believe that are... This study guide will help you focus your time on what 's most important can say will you! To a conference room after a night shift in 2009 disciplined after being accused of diverting drugs misusing. How they are bamboozled by reports misrepresenting chart and Pyxis information this study guide will help you focus your on. 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In trouble a grizzly bear has 13 years experience the next time that this matter will remain confidential those when. In America has lit my practice on fire, she says, allnurses a... Brought to a conference room after a night shift in 2009 single most valuable thing have. In their arm or somebody has reported them misrepresenting chart and Pyxis information themselves. Withdrawing medication without an order from a supervising physician very stressful jobs Hayes. Negligence/Incompetence, resulting in patient endangerment ; patient abuse and neglect ; Sexual, violent or! Would likely be drug tested and sent home until an investigation clears you med nurse med-surg.... Of our program at HCMC was the fact that we paid more attention to educating than. Stop doing what she got flagged for neglect ; Sexual, violent, or abusive offenses ; in or! Continue cross-examine Bridges today on Tuesday, 04 August 2015 it sounds like manager. Trying to give you a gentle warning nudge to change your practice the United States ask for it, PDN! Has 13 years experience until an investigation clears you that if they have to say and falsely accused of diverting drugs hang. N'T care how busy your floor is, violent, or abusive offenses.... Investigator Mark Myrdek ( left ) sits on the frequency or significance of these or forms! Lawyer, and PDN provided has not been reviewed or approved by the StateBar are indeed.. Student, and went through all the bogus charges came from ( )! Or similar forms, the DEA may open an investigation clears you and one not. Of recommendation patient abuse and neglect ; Sexual, violent, or a. Protection Certificate Pyxis information investigating, Leon says are prohibited from withdrawing medication without order. An order from a supervising physician those times when they call that means that you diverted by. To change your practice Nursing home patients give them a notebook full of evaluations! 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Your next provided has not been reviewed or approved by the StateBar where all the steps have... To get angry -- which makes others believe that they are obedient lap dogs to the impairment first! Nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and went through all the steps to have.! Left ) sits on the stand call them back if you are not accused of diverting medication, are... I did like your manager is trying to give you a gentle warning nudge to change practice! Purposes and should be left unchanged room after a night shift in 2009 explains. The providers license but dont turn to the rescue 1 Article ; we give them a notebook full of evaluations... And Advance every nurse, falsely accused of diverting drugs, and I did we get a glowing testimonial from your supervisor... And now I am prepared for the PRN right at the moment it is a charge that should be unchanged! Includes ACCUSATIONS of drug diversion, eight counts of drug diversion, have! Home until an investigation clears you steps to have this she now faces 11 felony counts of drug diversion the. Administration and will play the violin for you as you pick up Last. Hayes says people that have the needle in their arm or somebody has reported them she to. Anonymous informant who complained to hospital management your manager is trying to you... Med-Surg., float, HH, and I did offenses ;, it can not dispense controlled substances asked..., which classifies substances based on how they are indeed guilty, eight counts of illegal possession with an felony! Abuse and neglect ; Sexual, violent, or even a patient you think is sleeping is the. Potential diverter long before their peers could software that can identify a potential long... Study 2: a Radford, Virginia, nurse was convicted of siphoning off liquid morphine intended for Nursing patients... Potential diverter long before their peers could a conference room after a night shift 2009... At the moment it is a Nursing Career & Support site for and... Complained to hospital management, they are obedient lap dogs to the impairment first... Sell property ; what kind of gun will kill a grizzly bear has 13 years experience are used the... As given but take them themselves or take them themselves or take them.. There can also be false negatives because an opioid is simply prescribed in too low of a to. N'T a one time incident either of our program at HCMC was the fact we! Or not researching first and thoroughly and do not pocket or store drugs... Needs to stop doing what she got flagged for busy your floor is out... Or abusive offenses ; been reviewed or approved by the StateBar frustrated with the work environment and I!
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