Nursing Student with a Drug Addiction - Page 4

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  1. Apr 26, '11 by
    He should be drug tested when admitted into the program. So, I would think that would be enough right there and no reason for you to have to get involved. Good Luck!
  2. Apr 26, '11 by
    Quote from tiffe88
    He should be drug tested when admitted into the program. So, I would think that would be enough right there and no reason for you to have to get involved. Good Luck!
    Not all nursing schools require drug testing. Mine didn't, and OP has stated she went to the same nursing school that this person is about to enter, and doesn't remember ever being drug tested. If she knew this nursing school did drug testing, I doubt she would have started this thread in the first place.
  3. Apr 26, '11 by
    I think you should anonymosly (sp?) report him. I mean what if he graduates and continues to use and then really have access to a bunch of narcotics. As nurses we are supposed to advocate for our patients and I feel that patients can really suffer if he steals their pain meds!
    neverbethesame, ChristineN, happy2learn, and 1 other like this.
  4. Apr 26, '11 by
    OK, well thank you to everyone for your responses. I just had a long talk with my dad about this, and remembering back to nursing school....it took awhile before we were able to pass meds, and even then, the instructor was with us. And it is not as if you have a patient's life completely in your hands when you start clinicals (or even in your last semester of clinicals)...there is always someone watching over you to some extent. As far gone in his addiction J is (and yes, he is, despite all of you saying that I have no idea what he is doing), the people who are saying he probably won't even make it to class/clinicals are more than likely right. So I am done thinking about J or this situation. I am not going to say anything to the school. Even if he miraculously makes it through nursing school, I don't see how he can get, or keep, a job. At least I always can in the future say something if for some reason I can't get this off my conscience. Again, thanks for your polite, well-worded and thought-out opinions!
    happy2learn, leslie :-D, and Turd Ferguson like this.
  5. Apr 26, '11 by
    Oh, and as a response to the anonymous suggestion that I previously thought was a good idea...anonymous accusations would not be taken very seriously in my opinion, and would be a waste of time. But again, as I said, that can always be an option in the future if need be.
  6. Apr 26, '11 by
    Quote from VanessaLee13
    OK, well thank you to everyone for your responses. I just had a long talk with my dad about this, and remembering back to nursing school....it took awhile before we were able to pass meds, and even then, the instructor was with us. And it is not as if you have a patient's life completely in your hands when you start clinicals (or even in your last semester of clinicals)...there is always someone watching over you to some extent. As far gone in his addiction J is (and yes, he is, despite all of you saying that I have no idea what he is doing), the people who are saying he probably won't even make it to class/clinicals are more than likely right. So I am done thinking about J or this situation. I am not going to say anything to the school. Even if he miraculously makes it through nursing school, I don't see how he can get, or keep, a job. At least I always can in the future say something if for some reason I can't get this off my conscience. Again, thanks for your polite, well-worded and thought-out opinions!
    Hopefully he will be clean and sober by then and maybe he can get a job advocating against drugs and be a community nurse and aid in helping others to get clean.
  7. Apr 26, '11 by
    Quote from Butterfliesnroses
    As nurses we are supposed to advocate for our patients and I feel that patients can really suffer if he steals their pain meds!
    shame on you, butterflies!
    don't you know that we are supposed to mind our own business, regardless of the risk for detriment involved?
    it's the american way.

    i do agree that most situations do not warrant intervention.
    this is one that i wouldn't know what to do, with all of this info i was sitting on.

    i like the op's idea of anonymous reporting, and having all drug-tested (not revealing anyone's identity).
    somehow, i'd like to see this randomized, so no one sees it coming.

    yes, we share the same concerns.

    more than anything, i pray for j's enlightenment and healing.

    leslie
    DebblesRN and happy2learn like this.
  8. Apr 26, '11 by
    Quote from MekBlizz
    Hopefully he will be clean and sober by then and maybe he can get a job advocating against drugs and be a community nurse and aid in helping others to get clean.
    One can only hope. My husband works in a drug rehab now, and is an AA sponsor. It is definitely amazing how someone can turn their life around and begin to help others when previously, they could not even help themselves.
    DebblesRN and happy2learn like this.
  9. Apr 26, '11 by
    Quote from leslie :-D
    shame on you, butterflies!
    don't you know that we are supposed to mind our own business, regardless of the risk for detriment involved?
    it's the american way.

    leslie
    Hahaha...exactly! That was my one view...I didn't want to be the "Oh, who cares? It doesn't affect me in any way, so I am not gonna get involved" person.
    neverbethesame likes this.
  10. Apr 26, '11 by
    Quote from VanessaLee13
    One can only hope. My husband works in a drug rehab now, and is an AA sponsor. It is definitely amazing how someone can turn their life around and begin to help others when previously, they could not even help themselves.
    Lets hope for the best, your husband overcame it and we know its possible. Addiction is a terrible disease. Good Luck to all!