shift counts to have real-time double-checks in place. That prevents
the uncomfortable situation of having to decide who's telling the truth
— a manager who subsequently questions the accuracy of the count
performed by a staff member working alone or the solo staff member
who claims the count was correct.
Don't worry about staff pushing back on your efforts to make sure
counts are correct; opioid security is always more important than hurt
feelings. "Most nurses I work with welcome the additional oversight,"
says Ms. New. "They feel having somebody double check them is in
their best benefit because if a drug is missing, they could be accused
of stealing it."
4. Proper wasting
Make sure staff mem-
bers work together to
waste medications left
over after cases. One
team member should
dispose of the medica-
tions under the direct
observation of the
other, and both
staffers must docu-
ment the amount of
discarded drugs, and
that the process was
done properly and
completely. Also con-
sider adding drug dis-
posal units that deac-
J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 5 1
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