Appears nurse is diverting narcs

[bluegeegoo2]

Backstory: We have a pt that is on quite a bit of a particularly strong/addictive narcotic that is an injectible. On the nights this nurse works with this pt, the pt receives the injectible at every possible opportunity, which is q2hrs. The nurse charts "severe pain" for this pt. Fine and dandy, except for no one else, (including myself) ever has to give this med to this pt at that frequency, on any shift. The routine order covers the pts discomfort well, as I assess for pain frequently, and the res is A&O and can tell me if pain relief is effective or not. It has come to light that action has been taken, including suspension of this nurses' license, for diverting the very same drug at another facility. Her license, including actions taken, are posted on the BON website. I can't prove anything, which brings me to, what do I do? I have been told this nurse will "disappear" for awhile and come back in a completely different mood, and has even showed the bruises on her hip to someone. That's all rumor, but I worry my pt is getting NS injections instead of the pain control she desperately needs, or at least less of what is ordered for her. Is there anything I can do? FYI: We drug test on site.

[southernbeegirl, BSN, RN]

Report report report!!!!

I completed a three year contract a year ago tomorrow with my states peer assistance program. it took 12 years before someone finally reported me.

think of it this way...say you only have "suspicion" but you knowthatyouknowthatyouknow she's diverting. report it to the board. they will do an investigation. if she's innocent then thats as far as it goes, no harm. if not, and you are right and she is diverting...you could have just saved someone's life.

i could have killed someone. I truly believe the only reason i didnt was God watching over my patients. not watching over me but my patients. you owe it to your patients and her future patients.

it's easy to report. it's confidential if you are a coworker. do it please.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Thanks for you candor and continued success in your recovery.

[southernbeegirl, BSN, RN]

Thanks for you candor and continued success in your recovery.

thank you so much CCM. I have read your posts for years.

i have to share my recovery. if i can just reach one nurse or save one patient's life then i will always tell my story. i tell it as much for the nurses that are working with other diverting nurses as i do for the nurse trying to recover. i tell them all the many, many ways i diverted. i tell them the signs to watch for. i'm here as a walking, talking miracle. but i have to protect the patients of the nurses that are still out there.

thats why i say, if there is a suspicion, please report it. so many people didnt report me because they "liked me" or thought i was a "great nurse or great manager". so i just went job to job for years and years until finally someone reported me.

nurses that are using have no business practicing as active users. ultimately, we are patient advocates, not nurse advocates. by not reporting someone we know is using...are we prepared to face ourselves when someone dies?

i'm very opinionated as yall can tell, lol. getting clean and living in recovery has changed my life! I love every single second of life now. I'd love to share that joy, happiness and hope with others still using. but in the mean time...i have to protect my patients and i hope that yall will too.

thanks so much for letting me share!

[bluegeegoo2, LPN]

Thank you, southernbeegirl. And the very best to you.

[NurseWannabe1129]

As a point of information. I recently got the form for my license renewal. Under the STANDARDS OF CONDUCT section....."A significant new standard of conduct requires any nurse to report three serious violations directly to the Board. Each nurse has a duty to report when he or she directly observes: 1)another nurse's impaired practice; 2) another nurse abusing a patient; and 3) another nurse's diversion of controlled substances. The new regulations are found at 244 CMR 7.00 amd 9.00"

In other words, your obligation is NOT satisfied if you tell someone else. You must report directly to the Board. The language is quite clear.

I'm not saying that the OP should not report her suspicions. (She most certainly SHOULD!) But I just needed to point out that this new standard of conduct states that if the nurse "directly observes." That means she saw it. Although if I were suspicious, I would still report.