[LoriAlabamaRN]

Originally Posted by Zoey65

Gianna, Good Luck. I hope you are able to stay with your children. I think a lot of us have the potential to become addicts, and have no idea how we keep from it. I had the experience when I was weekend supervisor at a LTC facility of a nurse coming to me to tell me that she was sick and had taken one of the pts phenergen. I don't know if she was wanting help? I felt bad for her (she was a good nurse and a nice person), but I had to tell someone. I gave her the opportunity and she turned herself in and was allowed to just quit her job. I don't know what happened after that. I hope she was able to get straightened out.

This surprises me... when we have staff who are vomiting, we routinely give phenergan (of course, we have a standing order from the doctor that applies specifically to staff members).

[Marie_LPN]

(of course, we have a standing order from the doctor that applies specifically to staff members).

I don't understand how that's legal.

[LoriAlabamaRN]

Originally Posted by Marie_LPN

I don't understand how that's legal.

When they sign onto our insurance, our primary doctor becomes theirs if they choose. Then we have a signed statement from them accepting the care of him. That way we can give Tylenol, MOM, or Phenergan, but no narcs or anything. The Phenergan is only in drastic cases and when the employee signs. The doc signs it next time he comes through.

[Really An Actress]

Good luck to you, Gianni. Your problems caused by drugs are not the sum of the person you are. You'll get throught this and life will be good again.

My hat is off to the nurses who recognize their problem and turn themselves in. I haven't never had a problem with drugs, but I know it could be any one us.

I'm all for giving people a second chance in life. I think the rehabilitation program is a perfect example of how a compassionate profession should work. Of course there will be those who don't follow the program, but all health care professionals should be given the opportunity to prove themselves again.

Thanks to all who shared their story.

[jmillerphn]

to Steelcityrn


Please remember the mind is like a parachute, it works better when opened.....Dali Lama

[southern_rn_brat]

I was one of those nurses that Lori is talking about. The one that everyone knew was stealing drugs but nobody said anything. At one job it was because they didnt want to work short, at my other jobs it was because they liked me.

Guys, if you even think a nurse is diverting drugs, be your patient's advocate and report them to your state peer program!!!!!!! I cant yell this loud enough.

It can be done with an anonymous phone call. You just call them and tell them what you suspect. They will take it from there. If it is true, then you may have saved both the life of the nurse and the life of a patient. If it isnt true, then no harm is done. Even if you report them to the BON, if it isnt true, then nothing will happen. They will simply do an investigation. I cant stress this enough.

No, I dont think that if someone had turned me in earlier it would have made me stop taking drugs. You dont stop until YOU are ready and even the BON cant make you if you arent ready to stop. What it would have done though, would have been that it got me out of the clinical setting where I couldnt do any more damage. So what if I didnt kill anyone....enough people suffered needless pain by my actions. I stole drugs and I worked impaired. I was so high that I would fall asleep sitting straight up at times or would throw up. I am an RN for God's sake. I had NO business on the job.

Sure, I'll be honest and say that I am glad noone turned me in and I didnt go to jail or I didnt hurt anyone. But now that I am clear headed all I can do is thank the Good Lord above He was watching over me and my patients.

It is hard to say this to you guys. I feel I have to say it. Dont feel guilty if you suspect someone of doing drugs and you turn them in. You are legally bound to turn them in. Dont feel guilty.

What if you do turn them in and it saves their life like it saved mine?

I am now married to the man of my dreams, have the greatest job ever and I tell yall....if life were any better, I'd have to be twins!!

[Blackcat99]

southern rn brat. I am really happy that you turned your life around. Would you be so kind as to give us some insider "tips" on how to spot nurses who are taking the patient's meds? Thanks

[krisssy]

Southern RN Brat,

I think it may help a lot of people suffering with this disease right now to hear from you about your recovery. For example, what kind of services did you go to for help, how did you find them, what helped the most etc. Some people just don't know where to turn or how to start the process of recovery. Thank you. You give everyone afflicted with this disease so much hope for a better life. Thank you for sharing. Krisssy

[krisssy]

Southern RN Brat,

I think it may help a lot of people suffering with this disease right now to hear from you about your recovery. For example, what kind of services did you go to for help, how did you find them, what helped the most etc. Some people just don't know where to turn or how to start the process of recovery. Thank you. You give everyone afflicted with this disease so much hope for a better life. Thank you for sharing. Krisssy

[geekgolightly]

Originally Posted by Blackcat99

I think it's great that nurses go into recovery programs and overcome their drug addiction. However, I feel if I had a drug addiction problem I would not ever want to work around narcotics again. It would be too easy to relapse because of the easy access to narcotics. I would try to find a nursing job where I wouldn't be around narcotics period.

I was a heroin addict from 1992 to 1994. I work around narc every day and I don't have the desire to steal them or get high under any circumstances. Some people grow out of it truly. I had to take a darvocet recently for pain and I stopped it after one pill because I could not stand the feeling it gave me. It made me feel out of control and I couldn't think properly.

I am also pretty hard on other addicts. Addicts in the health field? Zero Tolerance. If I ever found out someone was diverting I would not hesitate confronting them, and if I felt that they were the slightest bit resistant to getting help I would turn them in at the drop of a hat.