Question by jclockson: Anyone know the California or federal law regarding storage and access to narcotics in a hospital?
I happen to know of a nurse that openly admits she gives the keys to the medication room to unlicensed staff so that they may get ‘other’ items stored in the med-room. I know this is against a few hundred corporate policies, but I need to see if there is a specific law stating that unlicensed staff cannot have unsupervised access to where narcotics are kept.
This is a problem that could potentially cost us our jobs on an upcoming inspection….
Best answer:
Answer by michr
law is not the issue policy is. the nurse is legally responsible for the meds if the nurse gives keys to anyone and something is missing that nurse will be held accountable. report the nurse to the nursing supervisor. this nurse is putting her license at risk as well as her job and could possibly effect the job of others he/she works with. the nurse must inventory and sign for all narcotics under their control at every shift change.
if this nurse did happen to have a “drug problem” and was stealing or failing to properly dispense meds this is an easy way to try and blame someone else. the nurse can now claim she let someone in med room for some other supply and hey stole narcotics. the company would most likely still terminate the nurses employment for failing to follow policy but the nurse just might be able to keep their license.
report the nurse now!!!
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