You are a Nurse and you work at Hospital A, Nursing Home B, Home Health Agency C, Physican Office D, etc. You are contacted by a State Nursing Board investigator who tells you that he/she would like to meet with you to discuss MAR discrepancies or prescription refill discrepancies. You say no problem.
You appear for this meeting at a public place and you are greeted by not only the State Nursing Board investigator but also a State Pharmacy Board investigator/compliance agent or the State Nursing Board investigator and a police detective from a county drug diversion task force.
What do you do? The majority of nurses (90% or better) proceed with the interview, answer questions, agreed to be recorded, provide a written statement, etc. Then after the meeting/interrogation has concluded, the nurse will contact an attorney. What's up with this particular sequence of events?
I have heard a variation of this scenario 3 times already this month (and its only the second week in a new year and a new month). Here are a few thoughts. This isn't legal advice and I am not telling anyone what to do or not to do but just giving you something to consider:
1. If you are contacted by a State Nursing Board investigator or compliance agent either by phone or mail, this more than likely means a complaint has been filed against your license. What does this mean for you, your license, and your career? Take a moment to reflect on this.
2. If you are asked to meet with a State Nursing Board investigator or compliance agent, this more than likely means a complaint has been filed against your license. What does this mean for you, your license, and your career? Take a moment to reflect on this.
3. Although you work with controlled substances daily, its a big deal to administer and document your handling of these drugs in accordance with policy and the acceptable standards of practice. Don't let anyone tell you its not a big deal. The failure to administer and document can lead to a suspicion that you diverted drugs, you are addicted to drugs, and you may be practicing impaired. These are serious accusations with criminal implications. What does this mean for you, your license, and your career? Take a moment to reflect on this.
4. You arrive for a meeting with a State Nursing Board investigator or compliance agent and there is also an agent there from the State Pharmacy Board or a detective with a county or city drug diversion task force. What does this mean for you, your license, and your career. Take a moment to reflect on this.
Law & Order is one of my favorite TV shows. This blog is called Nursing Law & Order. But guess what despite what you see on the sexy legal dramas and TV shows about the law, this is real life and its your life, your license, and your career. Its complicated to say the least.
Its not fantasy, fiction, make believe or a 60 minute TV show where everything will be resolved from the beginning to the end (plot, confession, adjudication, and beers for everyone afterwards) in an hour including commercials.
For a nurse its the beginning of a State Nursing Board investigation and a criminal investigation and possible charge or indictment for drug theft or illegal processing of drug documents. Instead of 60 minutes from beginning to end, think 60 months.
Its Nurse Reality and Nurse Actuality TV and you are the Star. Are you trying to have your Law & Order moment? Please advise....
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