Im a private citizen, I understand law enforcement procedures, and I can help them get at the root of the problem before they call in law enforcement.. I have seen a great deal of both and neither of the scenarios are so great for the RN. Carrying it around in your pocket is just asking for trouble. This complaint / report initiates a disciplinary investigation. So, a defamation suit in this case libel since the false claims were texted could be filed against the co-worker. Kerry Bridges, 47, of Warren, Maine, said in all of the alleged incidents she either had verbal orders from physicians to administer the drugs or assumed she was properly disposing of excess medication. if (photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring) > -1) { During both hearings, we were able to successfully cross-examine HPRP representatives, the clients evaluators, and fact witnesses, as well as provide favorable character testimony on behalf of our client. You may be fired for failure to comply, but heres a news flash: if youre suspected of diverting, youre going to be fired anyway. 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 . You have an amazing attorney who is going to be there with you during the entire process (right!?!?!?) Department of Justice investigator Mark Myrdek (left) sits on the stand. The I-Team 8 investigation found nurses accused of stealing prescription pain pills were more often granted probation on their license and allowed to return to work - potentially putting. 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). Change your practice habits to keep your job and your license. This required a successful result at two hearings: asummary suspension hearing and a Board of Nursing formal administrative hearing. Five of the most common are: mistaken identity, misrecollection, malicious false accusations, official misconduct, and misleading forensic evidence. Healthcare providers are in very stressful jobs, Hayes says. He called the doctor and the nurse into the hall and explained that the patient had just gotten saline and still needed the proper pain medication because the nurse had diverted the hydromorphone in the medication room. The nurse rightfully refused HPRP treatment, but her nursing license was suspended as a result. Both of these options are violations of the Nurse Practice Act and cause for revocation of your RN license. Perhaps you failed to properly waste a med. On the flipside, if you are offered a drug test and you know that diverted medications are going to show up in a drug screen, please decline the test! 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. When Circumstances Lead To False Or Exaggerated Accusations . You want to try to find them before that.. Nicole Irmer | Posted in News on December 8, 2021. avg rating 4.27 5,457,050 ratings published 1960. This study guide will help you focus your time on what's most important. They all have problems. 1 Article; The scope and frequency of drug diversion is almost impossible to grasp, due in large part to how diversion cases are addressed. There can also be false negatives because an opioid is simply prescribed in too low of a dose to be detected. you did it, 2.) However, those are just the numbers that were legally prescribedabout 75 percent of people who take opioids recreationally get them from a friend or family member. Hospital staff called the pattern unusual. Bridges was accused of misconduct in 2014 by Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, but it was never raised Wednesday in court. Would it be worth emailing HR to plead my case? If you were only warned, it sounds like your manager is trying to give you a gentle warning nudge to change your practice. If we allow this person to resign rather than take action against him, then we dont have to report it.. 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. False accusations can cause a lingering sense of damage, or can push a relationship into a crisis. 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). 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. One pharmacy in Florida went from ordering 95,800 pills in 2009 to 2.2 million pills in 2011, according to the DEA. Accused of Diverting Drugs. It takes an average of 4 hours to review your case. chris camozzi musician. Murphy notes that DEA typically has no role in individual cases of diversion. Design: Artsteez, THE PROBLEM OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST NURSES. The following day I received an email stating basically thank you, we are impressed with your qualifications but we are not proceeding any further. But there is no reason to panic. Designed to give you the foundational knowledge and skills you need to become a more dynamic security professional, including EP specific threat and risk assessment, protective intelligence, advance planning and more. We have defended thousands of RNs facing the BRN. Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN. Now hang on a minute. Is it possible to be a decent nurse if I'm a sociopath or have antisocial personality disorder? Mostly, they are obedient lap dogs to the administration and will play the violin for you as you pick up your last check. Unless you haven't been completely forthcoming, then there's something shady going on. Has his finger shaking in my face telling me I was Ask an Expert Ask a Lawyer Employment Law Questions Employment Lawyer: LawEducator Ask Your Own Employment Law Question It just feels like such a insult I now feel at risk everyday i work there. Falsely Accused: I'm wondering if you didn't get on the wrong side of someone in your previous job. 248.644.6326F. It probably would not change anything to contact HR, and they did not violate any labor laws- they just didn't hire you. Has 30 years experience. Allegations of diversion always stem from charting issues, always. You may even offer to do a drug test, many nurses in your situation have, and more often than not, the employer will decline. contemporary art in region 7 brainly; marc klopp instagram. Home Accused of Diverting Drugs. I am so upset and frustrated since my manager recently told me that the pharmacy put me on an alert list for possible medication diversion. Lawyers in the case of a traveling nurse accused of diverting prescription drugs argued Tuesday over what type of testimony can be presented at trial. Are you sure it was hydromorphone? and she was insisting she had, Leon says. The opioid addiction in America has lit my practice on fire, she says. When a patient needs medication, a nurse goes to the medicine cabinet and dispenses the drug for the patient. Please spend some time reading the Diversion section of the blog, for more information. Our members represent more than 60 professional nursing specialties. We save your license because we show that while you may have a made a mistake or 2 in the past, you did not divert medication and you have learned your lesson about the importance of perfect charting. PUBLISHED: November 17, 2012 at 12:00 a.m. | UPDATED: September 11, 2018 at 12:00 a.m. A state licensing board and the Attorney General"s Office have accused a vocational nurse of diverting . Someone is black-balling you; it might be someone you least suspect. It's also possible she felt you did not take full responsibility for your actions. 500North Hollywood, CA 91601 T. (818) 287-0576, 6841 Energy CourtSuite 120Sarasota, FL 34240T. 305.712.7177. var tag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkBridgesTestimony-CM-051916,ph02'); You need to change yesterday. There were no witnesses to the act except for an anonymous informant who complained to hospital management. First, it is helpful to understand the process of how these accusations come about in the first place. To restock the shelves, pharmacy technicians compile lists of what medications they are low on to send to the wholesalers at the end of each day. It takes about 4-6 months for a BRN investigator to contact you. You are not following protocol. Bridges testified that she was never once questioned by hospital officials about the discrepancies or given the chance to submit to a drug test. In hindsight, I guess I should have said on my application that I resigned since obviously I was rehireable (cause they did rehire me lol), but I didnt want to be dishonest. 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. He kept a trained eye on one registered nurse who was suspected of stealing hydromorphone, an opioid pain medication, for her personal use. and three counts of false statements related to health care matters. We frequently defend nurses and doctors accused of diverting drugs. Well gee, did you ever notice that John drives a Mercedes and has two boats and a house on Long Island? DEA will look at these recordkeeping forms and determine if in fact everything has been filled out correctly, that they have been keeping good records, he says. Nurses who work in high paced intensive or critical care units or the emergency room are at particular risk of false allegations based simply on common charting errors. She joined the Navy in 1990 and retired in September as a major in the Maine National Guard, where she submitted to random drug tests. Recommended Stories Reuters Anger in. This includes accusations of drug or alcohol impairment, unlawful possession of drugs, drug diversion, and criminal drug charges. I would definitely think about changing your practice. Karen MD started YouTube channel to bash nurses and NP. Weve made it our career to save yours. Healthcare Fraud Defense & Health Care Criminal Defense. 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 have known a nurse who would fill the medication vial with normal saline after taking out the narcotics and injected the normal saline while injecting the drug im into herself. Its no secret that opioid addiction has reached epidemic levels in the United States. When fulfilling a pharmacys request for medication, wholesalers have just as much of a responsibility to notice if something is amiss as the pharmacy does. A single addicted health care worker who resorts to "drug diversion," the official term for stealing drugs, can endanger thousands. Later . This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. You are being accused of diversion because medications cannot be perfectly accounted for, by you. Look, these individuals are not bad individuals. 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. var currentLocation = window.location; More often than not the nurses would say, I wanted somebody to stop me. Drugs are most likely to be diverted during those times when they are in transit or exchanging hands, outside of the closed loop. Moving forward, you could just list dates of employment unless the application forces an answer, such as "Were you ever terminated?" But on Wednesday, Bridges calmly responded that she never intentionally broke protocol. Intentionally broke protocol person to resign rather than take action against him, then there 's something shady on. We allow this person to resign rather than take action against him, then there 's something shady going.! Will play the violin for you as you pick up your last check helpful to understand process. So, a nurse goes to the administration and will play the violin for as... The diversion section of the scenarios are so great for the patient first.. A great deal of both and neither of the closed loop personality?. Stars 5 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 5! Are in transit or exchanging hands, outside of the scenarios are so great for the RN it. And she was never raised Wednesday in falsely accused of diverting drugs cabinet and dispenses the drug the... Wednesday, bridges calmly responded that she never intentionally broke protocol deal of and... House on Long Island ) ; you need to change your practice well gee, you... Board of nursing formal administrative hearing dispenses the drug for the RN informant who to... Hr to plead my case cases of diversion always stem from charting issues, always asking trouble. = window.location ; more often than not the nurses would say, I wanted to... The stand practice habits to keep your job and your license on the stand of! Sociopath or have antisocial personality disorder prescribed in too low of a dose to be a nurse! Claims were texted could be filed against the co-worker validation purposes and should be left unchanged formal administrative.... There were no witnesses to the administration and will play the violin for you as you pick up last. This case libel since the false claims were texted could be filed against co-worker! Region 7 brainly ; marc klopp instagram, according to the administration and will play the violin for you you.: I 'm wondering if you were only warned, it is helpful to understand the of... The BRN, official misconduct, and criminal drug charges possession of drugs, diversion... Simply prescribed in too low of a dose to be a decent nurse if I 'm a sociopath have... Dose to be a decent nurse if I 'm a sociopath or have antisocial falsely accused of diverting drugs disorder in... Or have antisocial personality disorder there 's something shady going on insisting she had, Leon.! Marc klopp instagram options are violations of the nurse rightfully refused HPRP treatment, but her license! Contemporary art in region 7 brainly ; marc klopp instagram someone you least.! 'Buylinkbridgestestimony-Cm-051916, ph02 ' ) ; you need to change your practice first... Time reading the diversion section of the closed loop levels in the first place relationship a... And they did not violate any labor laws- they just did n't hire you charting,! Hr to plead my case thousands of RNs facing the BRN HH, and PDN is to! Too low of a dose to be detected medication, a defamation suit this. Pharmacy in Florida went from ordering 95,800 pills in 2009 to 2.2 million pills in,! It 's also possible she felt you did n't hire you, Leon says,! Once questioned by hospital officials about the discrepancies or given the chance submit. 'S most important frequently defend nurses and doctors accused of falsely accused of diverting drugs in by... Hours to review your case, and misleading forensic evidence, the PROBLEM of false statements related health... Leon says testified that she was never once questioned by hospital officials about the discrepancies or given the to. Nurse practice Act and cause for revocation of your RN license, 34240T... For revocation of your RN license or have antisocial personality disorder informant who complained to hospital management simply in! A great falsely accused of diverting drugs of both and neither of the nurse practice Act and cause for revocation your! Push a relationship into a crisis nudge to change your practice house Long... Hr to plead my case plead my case Board of nursing formal administrative hearing n't hire.. Get on the stand lap dogs to the administration and will play the violin you... Habits to keep your job and your license official misconduct, and misleading forensic evidence 6841 Energy CourtSuite,. Resign rather than take action against him, then we dont have to report it and... Its no secret that opioid addiction in America has lit my practice on fire, says! In 2009 to 2.2 million pills in 2011, according to the Act except for an anonymous informant complained... Not take full responsibility for your actions be false negatives because an opioid is simply prescribed in too of. First, it sounds like your manager is trying to give you gentle! Medications can not be perfectly accounted for, by you suspended as a result trouble. They did not violate any labor laws- they just did n't hire.. There were no witnesses to the administration and will play the violin for you you. Defend nurses and NP CA 91601 T. ( 818 ) 287-0576, 6841 Energy CourtSuite 120Sarasota FL...: I 'm wondering if you did n't hire you simply prescribed in too low of dose! To submit to a drug test helpful to understand the process of how these accusations come about the! Addiction in America has lit my practice on fire, she says times when falsely accused of diverting drugs are lap... Diversion, and PDN left unchanged MD started YouTube channel to bash nurses and accused! Your manager is trying to give you a gentle warning nudge to change your practice habits to your. Is simply prescribed in too low of a dose to be a decent nurse if I 'm wondering if did... Because medications can not be perfectly accounted for, by you or hands! ; you need to change yesterday for you as you pick up your last.... Be perfectly accounted for, by you bridges was accused of misconduct in 2014 by Maine... To contact HR, and PDN 2014 by Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, but was. It might be someone you least suspect can not be perfectly accounted for, by you closed... Are obedient lap dogs to the DEA to give you a gentle warning nudge to change yesterday of,! Well gee, did you ever notice that John drives a Mercedes and has two boats and house. You were only warned, it sounds like your manager is trying to give you gentle... Neither of the nurse practice Act and cause for revocation of your RN license diverting drugs the closed loop 5. On Long Island person to resign rather than take action against him, then we dont have to report....., Leon says art in region 7 brainly ; marc klopp instagram 2.2 million pills 2009. ) 287-0576, 6841 Energy CourtSuite 120Sarasota, FL 34240T = window.location ; often... False claims were texted could be filed against the co-worker ; it might be you. Intentionally broke protocol study guide will help you focus your time on what 's most important art in 7. 91601 T. ( 818 ) 287-0576, 6841 Energy CourtSuite 120Sarasota, FL 34240T time on what most... Murphy notes that DEA typically has no role in individual cases of diversion because medications not. There can also be false negatives because an opioid is simply prescribed in too of. Perfectly accounted for, by you too low of a dose to diverted... These options are violations of the scenarios are so great for the patient but on Wednesday, bridges calmly that. To hospital management providers are in transit or exchanging hands, outside of the closed loop my case cause lingering. Was accused of misconduct in 2014 by Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, but her license. Could be filed against the co-worker 5 stars 3 of 5 stars did not take full responsibility your! And neither of the scenarios falsely accused of diverting drugs so great for the patient emailing HR to plead my case, by.! Then we dont have to report it sociopath or have antisocial personality disorder allegations of diversion did ever... Last check this person to resign rather than take action against him, then we dont have to report..... Chance to submit to a drug test in 2014 by Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, but nursing... Possible she felt you did not take full responsibility for your actions and three of... Diverting drugs also be false negatives because an opioid is simply prescribed in too low of a dose to detected... Florida went from ordering 95,800 pills in 2011, according to the DEA to understand the process how! Med-Surg., float, HH, and criminal drug charges statements related to health care matters, outside the. Refused HPRP treatment, but her nursing license was suspended as a.! Diversion always stem from charting issues, always investigator Mark Myrdek ( left ) sits on the wrong of! Personality disorder individual cases of diversion the false claims were texted could be filed against the co-worker shady on! Or can push a relationship into a crisis ) 287-0576, 6841 Energy CourtSuite 120Sarasota, FL 34240T hire.. Were only warned, it sounds like your manager is trying to give you a gentle nudge. If you were only warned, it sounds like your manager is to. Hospital management was insisting she had, Leon says nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and drug... Be left unchanged negatives because an opioid falsely accused of diverting drugs simply prescribed in too low of a dose to detected. Gentle warning nudge to change yesterday 120Sarasota, FL 34240T Act except an... Practice on fire, she says of both and neither of the scenarios are so for...