If you are a nurse and you want to be investigated by the State Nursing Board or State Attorney General's office (in some states AG's office investigates complaints), this is one surefire way that will lead to an investigation.
Alot of my current cases involve the administration, documentation, handling, and wasting of controlled substances. Alot of the phone calls I receive from nurses seeking attorney representation involve the same.
Slow down, take your time, and document. You can't practice and document "willy nilly" with controlled substances. You just can't do it anymore. Why? Chemical dependency is an issue with healthcare workers. 2. Rise in drug diversion (using a drug in manner for which is was not intended) 3. Rise in Drug Theft with healthcare workers. If you are chemically dependent or impaired, you need to speak with someone.
When the shit hits the fan and it will, your employer (nursing management and human resources) will not support you. You most likely will be terminated ( 9 times out of 10), reported to the Nursing Board and/or Pharmacy Board (depending on the state), and law enforcement will be notified (depending on the state and circumstances involved).
I have worked exclusively with nursing licensure defense for 7 years and I have yet to receive a call from a nurse who remarks that his or her employer is "in my corner" in these cases. Actually, I find when employers attempt to counsel and advise nurses in these situations (you don't need to be an attorney to give a nurse advice anyway do you?) its wrong and based on inappropriate assumptions.
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