It’s completely normal to feel a sense of panic and urgency when you realize that medication has gone missing, especially if the drug in question is a controlled substance. Your first instinct may be to retrace your steps or worry that someone will blame you. While those reactions make sense, they won’t help solve the problem.
How you respond to missing prescription medication can set the tone for what follows. The following overview will educate you on what to do when medication is unaccounted for and when you should consider hiring a nursing license defense team.
Stay Calm and Confirm That the Medication Is Actually Missing
Before you conclude that the medication has disappeared, it’s important first to verify that a discrepancy actually exists.
Review the medication administration record (MAR) and automated dispensing cabinet transactions. Also, check the physician’s orders for the patient in question to see whether another nurse administered the medication or someone documented it under a different time.
Once you’ve done that, try to confirm the following facts:
- The correct patient received the medication
- The medication is in the dispensing cabinet or med cart
- Another nurse removed the medication for administration
- The pharmacy restocked the medication recently
Modern medication-dispensing systems prevent many accidental medication-misplacement issues, but they aren’t perfect. Mistakes can still happen, especially in a busy hospital environment.
Notify the Appropriate Supervisor Immediately
If you can’t account for the medication after going through the previous steps, let your supervisor know immediately. Reporting the issue promptly speaks to your professionalism and integrity. Your supervisor can then help you look into the incident while the matter is still fresh.
Most healthcare organizations have written policies explaining whom to notify and how to document medication discrepancies. Make sure to follow these procedures carefully.
Early reporting also helps protect patients in the event that the medication was given to the wrong person. If that’s what happened, you can take corrective action to assist the patient who received the medication and the patient who missed their scheduled dose.
Review Your Documentation Carefully
Take time to look over your charting and the patient’s MAR. Additionally, check your workstation to see if you administered the medication but simply forgot to scan the label. During busy periods, such as when coding a patient, it’s not uncommon for medications to be administered and then back-charted later.
You’re looking for simple mistakes here. If you discover one, inform your supervisor and take corrective action in accordance with organizational policy.
Participate Willingly in the Ensuing Investigation
Your employer may ask questions about the missing medication. Answer them honestly, but resist the urge to speculate or fill in details that are lacking. If you can’t recall something specific, simply respond with “I don’t remember.”
If the incident warrants a formal investigation, the organization may review the following:
- Dispensing cabinet records
- Surveillance footage
- Your charting
- Medication counts
- Patient statements
Being the subject of this kind of investigatory process can be incredibly stressful. If you’re concerned that the incident may result in disciplinary action or a referral to the board of nursing, it’s wise to consult a qualified nursing license defense lawyer.
Avoid Jumping to Drug Theft or Diversion Accusations
Medication can and does go missing without drug theft or diversion being behind it. There are several legitimate situations that can lead to medication being unaccounted for, such as someone failing to chart an administered dose or a medication simply being misplaced.
With that in mind, it’s important to resist the urge to begin suspecting fellow caregivers without knowing all the information. Jumping to conclusions about your coworkers can create friction in the workplace and damage your relationships with them.
Understand How Missing Medication Could Affect Your Nursing License
Criminal charges aren’t always part of the equation when medication goes missing. However, even if they aren’t, your license could be at stake, especially if the organization escalates the matter to the state board of nursing.
The licensing board will look at whether you followed professional standards and exercised appropriate judgment. Depending on the circumstances, the investigation could lead to any of the following outcomes:
- A request for written statements
- A formal hearing
- Continuing education requirements imposed on your license
- License suspension or revocation
The board could also place your license on a probationary status, which could be detrimental to your short- and long-term career goals. Seeking nursing license defense support early on can help you understand your rights and risks before you respond to the board.
Know When to Contact an Attorney to Avoid Legal Issues
Don’t wait until you receive an official notice from the board of nursing to seek legal guidance. Instead, hire a license defense lawyer as soon as you think your nursing license may be under scrutiny.
You should speak to an attorney if any of the following occurs:
- Your employer accuses you of diversion or having stolen medication
- You receive notice of an internal investigation
- You’re contacted by law enforcement
- The nursing board opens an investigation
- Your employer asks for a written statement
- You’re placed on administrative leave
An attorney who focuses on nursing license defense can review the allegations against you, explain what to expect next, and help you avoid doing anything that could hurt your case.
Focus on Medication Security and Documentation Moving Forward
In the months after medication goes missing on your shift, it’s important to work on building better habits that will reduce the risk of future incidents. Here are some best practices to focus on:
- Adhering to the rights of medication administration
- Documenting medications immediately after administering them
- Completing waste documentation as soon as possible
- Performing careful narcotics counts when pulling regulated meds
A little diligence can go a long way toward protecting your nursing license and reducing the risk of allegations that could impact your employment.
Safeguard Your Future With Unlock Legal
When medication goes missing, it casts a shadow over the entire shift. How you respond will determine the outcome of the incident and affect how people view you as a professional.
If questions arise about your conduct as a nurse, don’t wait for the issue to resolve itself. Unlock Legal offers skilled professional license defense services, and our team is ready to support you. Contact us today to schedule a nursing license defense consultation.