Teacher offering Ativan scripts....?

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I am in second year of nursing school and during our orientation a teacher (he happens to be an N.P.) offered his help in providing anti-anxiety medication for testing purposes. He mentioned something along the lines of "It has worked tremendously well for other students... amazing turn around". He can teach very well, but I can't stand how he/the program itself, have decided to handle certain issues 'at hand'. Right now, I feel like I have been pushed around and I'm not sure who to go to (other than a lawyer). I am going to post another topic that is related to what I have had to deal with in previous semesters, but I wanted to really address this ativan issue. Is this more than weird? As in.. illegal? Seems the position of power and the sense of 'showing off' is rather obvious.. to me anyway. I'm looking for other opinions that can see it from the outside in (as I'm already biased)!

Specializes in critical care.
Here is the thing.... He even told me I would have done better if I had better "med/psych" help and I "should have aced his class". Seriously... I don't know what to think. I would hope he was joking but... I don't really think he was and I don't think it's something to even joke about.

Have you stopped to consider if maybe he was actually right, though? I apologize humbly if I am out of line for suggesting it. I would be offended if someone said it as well. What if he's right, though? What if he is advocating for you to get help because he thinks with a little bit of help, you might be even better at what you are attempting to do?

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Here is the thing.... He even told me I would have done better if I had better "med/psych" help and I "should have aced his class".

This seems to happen a lot on AN. Someone tells their side of the story. Nurses here tell that person something the don't want to hear. The OP comes along and adds a big piece of information that wasn't there in the beginning.

In your first post, just over a week ago, you said that in orientation the instructor offered to write rxs. for anxiety meds to help students.

People gave you various suggestions for how to proceed. It seems you really don't think those suggestions. All the sudden he approached you (individually it seems) saying that you should have taken him up on his offer.

The vast differences between these two stories indicates to me that there is much more to the situation.

I say, either you report this to the dean or you do nothing about it. I cannot see any help in getting a lawyer. Why would you pay an attorney who can do nothing to improve your standing in this?

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I think it was kind of a nice offer IF you were having test anxiety tot he point that it was harming your chances of passing. Was that the case? I am having a hard time telling................

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I think for someone with prescriptive authority (MD, NP) to OFFER drugs (particularly drugs which have a certain 'street value') WITHOUT provocation (i.e. - a patient approaching the prescriber) raises a huge red flag.

If it was a joke- it was a terribly unprofessional joke.

But I find an NP just blanket offering to write prescriptions for controlled substances to persons who are NOT their patients to be extremely hinky.

I have.... and this is why I'm posting the issue. In my past I have other issue with this teacher, I'm trying very hard to not overlap problems and hear different takes.

Actually, the two are reversed. He told me that way before the orientation deal. What I'm trying to ask is if offering help to students is concerning to you. That's it.

Since when should teachers be part of your health care? Seriously.... that is insane and putting people in a very vulnerable position and the provider also being in a position of power is disgusting choice of practice. There is a reason for HIPAA and FERPA.

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Since when should teachers be part of your health care? Seriously.... that is insane and putting people in a very vulnerable position and the provider also being in a position of power is disgusting choice of practice. There is a reason for HIPAA and FERPA.

So if he offers you medication, just say "no" (the "thank you" is optional). The only way you will be vulnerable is if you make yourself vulnerable.

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
What I'm trying to ask is if offering help to students is concerning to you. That's it.

Nothing is more repulsive than a teacher trying to help a student!

Ya know.. I'm going to go with professional boundaries are crossed on this one.

Specializes in critical care.
Since when should teachers be part of your health care? Seriously.... that is insane and putting people in a very vulnerable position and the provider also being in a position of power is disgusting choice of practice. There is a reason for HIPAA and FERPA.

Offering a person help is a compassionate thing to do. I'm not sure where the break down in communication exists here but by all you've said, this teacher is employing an extraordinary measure to help you. If you find that inappropriate then it is in your power to say so. This has clearly deeply upset you and it sounds like it does need to be addressed with them. I believe he is trying to help you, though. You will stop feeling like a victim here when you decide to take control of it in a constructive way.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I think for someone with prescriptive authority (MD, NP) to OFFER drugs (particularly drugs which have a certain 'street value') WITHOUT provocation (i.e. - a patient approaching the prescriber) raises a huge red flag.

If it was a joke- it was a terribly unprofessional joke.

But I find an NP just blanket offering to write prescriptions for controlled substances to persons who are NOT their patients to be extremely hinky.

Yeah, it is. It seems as though there is an underplaying of the significance of prescribing benzos on a mass scale without taking the time one normally would to do a thorough history.

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