[rn/writer]

I would much rather work with a recovering nurse who has intense supervision and accountability than someone who has a substance abuse problem of lesser intensity who still thinks she can control her situation. The former has many checks and balances to give her a fairly constant reality check. The latter is just about compelled to rationalize and play head games with herself and others.

Besides the addiction itself, there is the addictive thinking that led to it in the first place. Actual substance withdrawal is small potatoes compared to the struggle to root out the toxic and twisted thinking. Some manage to do one without doing the other. They are prime candidates for relapse.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by lpn2rnstudent

I would say that a 12 year old left in a vegetative state due to the actions of an impaired physician is absolutely relevant to the discussion of addiction. When discussing the addiction of practicing nurses, patient safety is probably what all of us are concerned about. This unfortunate incident is proof of what can happen when people are working in an impaired condition. Vicky was called a few unpleasant things because she is on the other side of the spectrum from the nurses here who are battling addiction. While some of the nurses here have spoken of how difficult it is to live with addiction, Vicky has spoken of how difficult it is to pick up the pieces from the unsafe practice of the impaired. Both are important sides of the discussion in my opinion..

I was taking issue with the accusation of lack of empathy by the posters on this thread. I agree that it's important to talk about all sides of the issue. But because many of us on this thread are focusing on the nurses doesn't mean we lack empathy to our patients.

Originally Posted by lpn2rnstudent

I also believe that addicts can become productive members of society. I also believe that addicts can become productive members of the nursing community with some restrictions. I think treatment is key, but taking an addicts license away or restricting it has more to do with providing safe care than punishing the addict.

Treatment of addiction is not fail proof. Relapse can and does occur. I guess it is my opinion that we must take into account the safety of patients before anything else. Being an addict, especially in health care is probably a very difficult thing. I respect all the nurses who have posted here for their honesty and hard work maintaining their sobriety and health.

I agree with you here.


I favor a heavy handed approach and this is because of my concerns for patient safety. Just because I favor treatment for the nurse, doesn't mean there is no concern for patient safety.

I am 100% for removing an addict from practice, revoking their license immeidately. However, I am 100%for offering them treatment and an opportunity to become productive nurses again..........under strict guidelines (treamtment, urine testing for drugs and ETOH for several years, limited narcotic priviledges, etc.)

[Cattitude]

Originally Posted by lpn2rnstudent

I would say that a 12 year old left in a vegetative state due to the actions of an impaired physician is absolutely relevant to the discussion of addiction. When discussing the addiction of practicing nurses, patient safety is probably what all of us are concerned about. This unfortunate incident is proof of what can happen when people are working in an impaired condition. Vicky was called a few unpleasant things because she is on the other side of the spectrum from the nurses here who are battling addiction. While some of the nurses here have spoken of how difficult it is to live with addiction, Vicky has spoken of how difficult it is to pick up the pieces from the unsafe practice of the impaired. Both are important sides of the discussion in my opinion.






I also believe that addicts can become productive members of society. I also believe that addicts can become productive members of the nursing community with some restrictions. I think treatment is key, but taking an addicts license away or restricting it has more to do with providing safe care than punishing the addict.

Treatment of addiction is not fail proof. Relapse can and does occur. I guess it is my opinion that we must take into account the safety of patients before anything else. Being an addict, especially in health care is probably a very difficult thing. I respect all the nurses who have posted here for their honesty and hard work maintaining their sobriety and health.

So many thing to comment on . First, I really don't think there was an intended lack of empathy for the 12 yr old. Rather as was stated, it's not the MAIN focus of this discussion. Are we addicts , especially those that have hurt patients full of remorse? Yes, I would say so.

We could have an entire thread discussing patients that have been hurt at the hands of addicted nurses. We could discuss how awful the nurses feel and then the non-addicts could flame the addicts. But we addicts have beaten ourselves up enough for years to come, believe me! We DO have empathy for patients, why do you think we fight to stay in nursing?

But again, it's not the focus of the discussion. Certainly there are probably TEN times as many patients that have been hurt by NON addicted health care professionals, nurses included. Just take a look at the thread in the general forum now re: worst mistakes or whatever it's called.

And to address the issue of "us" understanding how all of "you" feel when you have to work with "us". Of course we understand! I think at least I have made it clear that we do get it. We just want a chance to try and prove ourselves. You don't have to like us or smile, be nice to or even supportive. Just asking that you don't go out of your way to be cruel or disrespectful (you meaning general you).

I know that some feel we should be stripped of our licenses and never work in health care again. I don't agree with that but I respect that they have an opinion. I only feel that maybe a part of that opinion does come from lack of knowledge about addiction. I too was ignorant until it happened to me.

I think for the most part the dialogue here has been mature and respectful. Vickinurse speaks from hurt and those reacting do so as well. I understand both sides. Not every recovering nurse is the one that hurt Vicki however. We're strong, happy, and continually working on ourselves.
I know I feel emotionally healthier than I've ever felt in my entire life.

Okay, enough rambling....

[earle58]

i think our intellects and emotions are at odds w/ea other.

our intellects understand that all of us are infallible, vulnerable and imperfect.
while acknowledging that addiction is a disease and deserves treatment, we want everyone (including our pts) to take responsibility for ourselves in order to heal.
that's what the intellect states.

our emotions are much grayer.
we 'feel' the consequences and repercussions of an unresolved disease process.
even knowing that the addict is a pt in the healthcare system, bystanders are human and so, still feel disappointment, distrust, anger and judgement on those who wronged their pts.

i am very familiar with the addiction process.
i have seen the journey these people take in trying to rise above their disease.
it is never just a matter of stopping drugs/etoh.
it takes alot of reflection, insight, confrontation, strength and determination to rise above the need to use.
and it doesn't happen overnight.
again, it's a journey.

i applaud anyone who takes the necessary steps to lead a more productive life.
i don't have as much patience for those who remain in denial and that don't understand the necessity of walking the walk.

my philosophy does not pertain to only addicts, but to all in mankind.

honestly, i remain ambivalent about whether 2nd chances are merited.
but admittedly, i do feel harsher towards those that actually inflicted harm on their pts than those who didn't.

i realize that if i want to welcome my addicted sisters/brothers back into the workplace, that i need to take my own journey.

it's a growing process for all involved.

leslie

[subee]

Originally Posted by earle58

i think our intellects and emotions are at odds w/ea other.

our intellects understand that all of us are infallible, vulnerable and imperfect.
while acknowledging that addiction is a disease and deserves treatment, we want everyone (including our pts) to take responsibility for ourselves in order to heal.
that's what the intellect states.

our emotions are much grayer.
we 'feel' the consequences and repercussions of an unresolved disease process.
even knowing that the addict is a pt in the healthcare system, bystanders are human and so, still feel disappointment, distrust, anger and judgement on those who wronged their pts.

i am very familiar with the addiction process.
i have seen the journey these people take in trying to rise above their disease.
it is never just a matter of stopping drugs/etoh.
it takes alot of reflection, insight, confrontation, strength and determination to rise above the need to use.
and it doesn't happen overnight.
again, it's a journey.

i applaud anyone who takes the necessary steps to lead a more productive life.
i don't have as much patience for those who remain in denial and that don't understand the necessity of walking the walk.

my philosophy does not pertain to only addicts, but to all in mankind.

honestly, i remain ambivalent about whether 2nd chances are merited.
but admittedly, i do feel harsher towards those that actually inflicted harm on their pts than those who didn't.

i realize that if i want to welcome my addicted sisters/brothers back into the workplace, that i need to take my own journey.

it's a growing process for all involved.

leslie

Nurses who cause harm to a patient secondary to their addition do not quality for
diversion programs per the state boards. That is an immediate disqualifier for non-punitive treatment by the state. Nurses who do relapse are picked up quickly since their behavior is being scrutinized; unlike nurses who use and have no record who tend to work much longer before being picked up. People who relapse (who have caused no harm!) should be allowed to work but with newer, stricter provisions on their license - no agency, no access to narcotics, day shifts, frequent urines, etc. These are generally jobs that pay much less and they have to pay for all their own urines - recovery is never cheap.

[easttexasnurse31]

I just wanted to share with you all a quote from a newsletter from TPAPN (Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses), that is Texas' program for recovering nurses. There are some suprising statistics, and I quote:

"At press time 679 nurses were either enrolled or pending enrollment in TPAPN. Each of our five case managers received on average 3 new cases daialy. Monday through Friday. During the Board of Nurses Examiner's 2006 fiscal year, a total of 133 RNs and LVNs successfully completed TPAPN. We congratulate every nurse participating, and those who have already graduated, for it takes tremendous sacrifice and discipline to maintain recovery and to succeed in TPAPN."

Now, if you do the math... that means that wayyyy more nurses are being referred and in the program than are graduating. So, it is a VERY strict program to follow. These nurses are not given the easy way out, by far.

I would just like to hear everyone's comments on this.

[ilovemypuppies]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Good response. I tend to agree that 2nd chances should be offered, but with a heavy hand. Chronic relapsers should be removed from practice permanently.

Hey, Tweety! As usual, you offered some great insight and responses! And you are right, that we don't need to lose sight of the fact that something horrible did happen to that young person and the family. My husband and I are both nurses, but also in recovery. We are also parents of two children, 15 years old and 9 years old.

As recovering addicts, it is a line that must be diligently watched at all times. What may trigger for 1 addict may do nothing for another. One of the girls that was in our aftercare meeting was an MD, well she was a resident in our city teaching facility and we exited rehab at the same time. Later, she told us that this was her 3rd offence, that she had been removed from work right after passing boards from Pharmacy school, and charged with medicaid fraud, the whole nine yards. I wasn't sure how she didn't end up in jail. Anyway, I heard she had gotten married, and we hadn't seen her in a while. We had heard that she had moved out of town with new hubbie.

About 1 week or so, I was reading the newspaper and her obit was the first one I saw! Horrible for her husbanbd, her 2 young children and everyone else in her life. And please dont think I am the pot calling the kettle anything because I have NO reason to talk being an addict in the first place, but she was one we are talking about that should not have gotten a third chance, or fourth, ect. When she started using bad the last time not long before getting married (to an ICU nurse)that the dean at school maybe she should take care of animals and try vet school. (And this is horrible but she wouldn't have taken care of my sweet baby "Sam", my 15 year old cocker spaniel/g. retriever mix. He ended up paralyzed from the waist back almost overnight.

Anyway, thanks Tweety for the support of the addicts who are clean and trying to earn back some of the trust we have lost, and also helping us keep in mind of the poor young adult that will never have the life she or her family had planned.

Best wishes! Anne, RNC

[Cattitude]

Originally Posted by earle58

honestly, i remain ambivalent about whether 2nd chances are merited.
but admittedly, i do feel harsher towards those that actually inflicted harm on their pts than those who didn't.

i realize that if i want to welcome my addicted sisters/brothers back into the workplace, that i need to take my own journey.

it's a growing process for all involved.

leslie

Ok you remain ambivalent but at least your mind seems open to the idea. You know what addiction and recovery are all about and knowledge is key. Thank you for that knowledge and understanding.
It's when people respond JUST based purely on emotion that's tough to deal with.

[teeituptom]

Originally Posted by jill48

I work with a nurse who I suspect is using drugs, and I think she is stealing them from the facility. Of those of you that have encountered this problem, what were the signs and symptoms? Thanks.

If you think she is abusing drugs she needs to be turned in immediately.

If she is stealing the Police need to be called, as theft of drugs is still a crime. Thus what that nurse is doing is a criminal act. No matter how you paint it. Its against the law.

[zoo4uRN]

Hi-

This is a really important topic, and I'm happy to see the open discussion! This is what ANA has to say:

"Addiction in the nursing profession has been identified as an Occupational Hazard by the American Nurses' Association and The National Council of State Boards of Nursing."

Here's the link for the reference
http://www.recoveringnurses.org/aware_project.html

If you know a nurse that needs help, or you're a nurse in recovery, or work with nurse's in recovery, this is a great resource-just follow the links at the top of the page.

http://www.recoveringnurses.org/home/

Debbie