Narcotics ..so I got put on unpaid administrative leave today

Today is May 10. On April 8, while working a night shift, I signed for a delivery of narcotics and put them in the pyxis, like I do all the time. Except this time. There should have been 4 vicodin in the little ziploc bag. I found 3 and put them in, didn't check the number in the bag against the invoice.
Today I get a call. From my Unit Manager; she's worried about where is the fourth vicodin?? Can I remember? Well, no..of course I can't. Just do whatever needs to be done.
Come in to work tonite, ushered into the office. I am on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of their investigation.
Has anyone experienced this? I don't know what I should do...
When you sign for delivery of narcotics you are signing that the numbers match what's being delivered, I guess I'm not sure what you were expecting would happen.

I am so sorry.....narcs are a big deal. Mistakes are not allowed. Do you remember what happened or do you remember there only being 3 not 4. We cannot offer legal advice ......but if you have malpractice insurance call them and talk to them tell them what happened....as them for advice. Every nurse needds to carry their own liability insurance. Talk to no one and I would not discuss details on social media.This can turn into a big deal....what I am confused about....did no one give any Vicodin since April 8th? If there was even one Vicodin given .....was the count off then as well? and if not why do they assume it was when you signed them in.I wish you the best.

The count was fine. The mistake was found when the company that supplies our drugs conducted an audit. Their invoices showed that we should have ( for example) received 4 vicodin that day. When the pyxis was counted by them a month later,they discovered that I had only put 3 vicodin in the pyxis that day. I honestly can't remember anything odd happening...if there were 3 in the bag, I put 3 in the machine. At my facility, totes with meds, including narcotics, are left sitting on the counter,open. If you sign for a tote, you are supposed to put it away...but that doesn't happen. I have put away meds ( including narcotics) that have been sitting open for hours, sometimes more than 24 hrs. At any time, meds could be removed and unaccounted for. Yes, it is my fault for not triple checking the invoice vs the count printed on the bag vs the number of meds actually present.

Quote from jbecerraThe count was fine. The mistake was found when the company that supplies our drugs conducted an audit. Their invoices showed that we should have ( for example) received 4 vicodin that day. When the pyxis was counted by them a month later,they discovered that I had only put 3 vicodin in the pyxis that day. I honestly can't remember anything odd happening...if there were 3 in the bag, I put 3 in the machine. At my facility, totes with meds, including narcotics, are left sitting on the counter,open. If you sign for a tote, you are supposed to put it away...but that doesn't happen. I have put away meds ( including narcotics) that have been sitting open for hours, sometimes more than 24 hrs. At any time, meds could be removed and unaccounted for. Yes, it is my fault for not triple checking the invoice vs the count printed on the bag vs the number of meds actually present.

Quote from jbecerraThe count was fine. The mistake was found when the company that supplies our drugs conducted an audit. Their invoices showed that we should have ( for example) received 4 vicodin that day. When the pyxis was counted by them a month later,they discovered that I had only put 3 vicodin in the pyxis that day. I honestly can't remember anything odd happening...if there were 3 in the bag, I put 3 in the machine. At my facility, totes with meds, including narcotics, are left sitting on the counter,open. If you sign for a tote, you are supposed to put it away...but that doesn't happen. I have put away meds ( including narcotics) that have been sitting open for hours, sometimes more than 24 hrs. At any time, meds could be removed and unaccounted for. Yes, it is my fault for not triple checking the invoice vs the count printed on the bag vs the number of meds actually present.

Quote from jbecerraThe count was fine. The mistake was found when the company that supplies our drugs conducted an audit. Their invoices showed that we should have ( for example) received 4 vicodin that day. When the pyxis was counted by them a month later,they discovered that I had only put 3 vicodin in the pyxis that day. I honestly can't remember anything odd happening...if there were 3 in the bag, I put 3 in the machine. At my facility, totes with meds, including narcotics, are left sitting on the counter,open. If you sign for a tote, you are supposed to put it away...but that doesn't happen. I have put away meds ( including narcotics) that have been sitting open for hours, sometimes more than 24 hrs. At any time, meds could be removed and unaccounted for. Yes, it is my fault for not triple checking the invoice vs the count printed on the bag vs the number of meds actually present.

Quote from Esme12Just because "everyone does is or does it that way" will not help you in the long run.....like I said I completely believe you your innocence and this was found during an audit.....If you have malpractice insurance call them as ask for advice.

Quote from CodeteamBThis sounds like a risky process for the staff, and it definitely sounds like it would promote inventory shrink. For example, at my workplace, a pharmacy tech comes up to the unit with the narcotic drop. She then modifies the count sheet to reflect the new totals eg 10 Vicodin plus 4 Vicodin, now there is 14 Vicodin. Then she grabs a nurse who is available who opens the cupboard and together we count the existing stock and the new stock ensuring the count is correct. Only after this is completed does the RN sign off on the narcotic count and the delivery sheet. Every place I have ever worked has had a similar procedure, it covers everyone's bums.I'm sorry this happened to you. Perhaps once you get your legal troubles settled this could be the impetus for a policy change, sounds like it is needed.

Well, the corrective action was a one day suspension without pay. When i returned to work, my supervisor told me that if a narcotic delivery arrives and I didn't have time to put it away immediately, I should lock it in my cart until it could be put in the proper place. It's going to be a VERY LONG TIME before I sign for any narcotics again. I am hoping that this doesn't adversely affect my license. I did not offer a urine test or tox screen; the meds came up missing over a month ago. Not that I think it would matter one way or the other. I learned a valuable lesson.....double and triple check from now on. Thanks to everyone for the helpful comments and input...

Just a reminder to everyone to CYA no matter what. I'm glad nothing more came of this.

Lessons learned....((HUGS))