Patient: “Dear, could you please give me my bag? I need to get something.”
Me: “Sure.”
Patient: *Looking for something in her bag. Took out a FULL BOTTLE of her own pills.”
Me: “Oh, what is that?”
Patient: “Oh its my pills, I need it every night.”
Me: *Looked at the pills* “Oh its Lorazepam. We have it here because your doctor re-ordered every pill you take at home. So if you need it the ni—.”
Patient: “Oh come on! I’m not a baby and I’m not an idiot! I know you’re thinking that I will overdose but I won’t. My doctor said I need it every night and I will take it every single night I’m here. I won’t overdose I promise.”
Me: “….”
Patient: “Oh here’s my codeine too” *Puts it on her table* “Oh and my heart pill.”
Me: “Oh, I gave you that one already earlier, so you don’t have to take it and the nurse will give it to you tomorrow morning as well.”
Patient: “Oh okay. I’ll put it back. But I’m going to keep my Lorazepam and Codeine pills.” *Puts the pills in her bag beside her*
Me: “Okay, but I have to tell your primary nurse about it.”
Patient: “Please, don’t. Don’t say anything and I won’t say anything too. I know my rights and you’re not supposed to say anything ‘coz I asked you not to.”
Me: “Okay. I will see you later. I just have to do something for my other patients.”
Patient: “Alright. Thank you dear. Remember our secret okay?”
Me: “Yup.”
After leaving the room. I was stuck. I have never been so frustrated in my life. Do I say anything to my preceptor or let my patient take her own pills? She was right too, I’m not supposed to say anything coz I should respect my patient’s wishes. But not today. We were taught that if you feel that your patient can harm his/herself, you should do something about it and I did. I told my preceptor about our conversation and she said that I did the right thing. She then spoke to the patient and asked her if she had any pills that is REACHABLE to her and of course, the patient said NO. I documented our conversation and told the night nurse about it. Why do I think my patient can harm herself? She’s too depressed and she might take her own pills and ask the night nurse for more and who knows what will happen?
