Nurses Who Are Drug Addicts

Back at ya! Thanks for the idea of using the sobriety date for passwords. I like that even though I don't work in a hospital right now, I will keep that tip in mind.

I too love knowing and living sobriety first. For putting that first then means I can be a better wife, daughter, friend, and nurse to my pt's. There's nothing better than waking up each morning clean. Ok. ok except for the caffeine...

im not a nurse, nor am i a student...however, my mother was. she got her degree as an RN while raising 3 children, graduating with a 3.9! i swear, she was born to be an RN. she had all the qualities an ideal nurse should possess, and she has also been featured in a reknown medical journal, although i cant remember the name of it. point is, she was great at what she did, and as young as i was and as infrequent as i saw her because of all the hours she was working, i still could sense her compassion. not only did she love the job, but the job loved her. the relationship she had with nursing was like an exciting, passionate love affair that gradually turned into a self destructive relationship of push and pull.

the hours wore her down, and being a sufferer of depression and adult add with a history of drug abuse, she began taking medication from the hospital she worked at. now i dont know specifics; i dont like to ask much because i know how ashamed of herself she is and i dont want to remind her. but the pattern went like this - shed steal meds, get caught, and because she was so good at her job and such a valued asset of the hospital, theyd send her to rehab without pressing charges. eventually she ended up getting transferred or resigned (once again, who knows) and went from hospital to hospital to hospital, the last of which being a small detox center downtown. whatever happened, one of the hospitals she worked at decided to press charges after she got out of rehab and had already moved on. from what i remember, they waited out their 2 year grace period and at the last minute decided to press charges.

my mother was 40 when she was sentenced to jail. she was locked up for about a year - i was just 13 years old. when she came back, her condition was worse, her addictions more severe. i didnt know who she was anymore, and what i thought was a reaction from some traumatic experience while serving time turned out to be the result of a severe addiction to a different narcotic. anyways, she has since cleaned up but her destructive behavior from her addiction was a catalyst to the end of a 20 some year marriage between my parents.

she now lives by herself in a tiny apartment - her oldest son is 26 and in prison, her other son, whos 21 and lives at home with my dad, has yet to successfully complete a semester at community college with an IQ of 160, and finally her youngest child of 19 years, myself, is her only source of encouragement and companionship and the only person she trusts, but goes to college two hours away. to top off her loneliness, her struggle with drugs has resulted in the revocation of her nursing license - a piece of paper that defined what was both the greatest love of her life and the most destructive.

the lost license limited her ability to practice ever again, but it's the felony and drug charges that have proven to be the most inhibiting as far as jobs are concerned. she is prohibited from working in schools, any branch of gvt, hospitals, etc, because apparently DRUG FELONY isn't enough to scare employers off. shes been working as a medical transcriptionist in her home, but the pay amounts to little after factoring out bills, rent, food, and lawyer and court fees with the divorce, my half brothers indictment, and with an old lawsuit both my parents fought against the builders of our home. not to mention trying to give anything she can to help out her kids. she has fallen into a serious depression - divorced, not much family, ashamed of her mistakes, guilty and self-loathing for the damage shes done to all of us, and unable to practice nursing after working so hard to get that piece of paper.

has anyone been in or know of anyone in this situation? she feels that her options are so limited because of her past; shes lost a couple jobs without warning due to their random backround checks. the government provides programs to help those who have been released from serious crimes, but there doesn't seem to be much that deals with my mom's situation, a situation which i tell her time and time again is so common. any suggestions?

In TN, we have a program called TNPAP...Tennessee Professional Assistance Program. If you suspect your colleague may be addicted, you can contact TNPAP anonymoulsy, requesting help from them. Then TNPAP will contact that nurse and request an evaluation. If they feel that treatment is needed, then the nurse can either consent or deny. If the nurse successfully completes the program (I think it's 3-5 yrs) then the BON won't hear anything about the addiction.
I don't know if these same rules apply in all states or not though.

I'm replying to bluesquare's post above....

You sound like a very devoted daughter, and like someone who is determined to keep to the good path despite the self-destruction around you. Keep it up!

I feel for your mom. There is a lot going on-- money pressure, self-image and self-esteem issues, regret over the past, feelings of responsibility for her sons going astray. But, as a fellow addict/alcoholic, I can tell you that the only important issue is whether or not your mom picks up today. And for that, most of us need help. I would encourage her to go to AA and to NA (AA has the rep of having better/longer sobriety). And I would really encourage you to go to Al-Anon (same deal-- better rep than Nar-Anon). Go to at least 6 meetings before you decide if it's for you.

Believe it or not, yes, I have heard stories in AA of people, including in the medical professions, who have been in your mom's straits and regained their standing and in one case, a professional license. It takes a lot of time and change. If your mom goes to enough different meetings and actually talks to people and tries to do as they suggest, she will surely meet someone who has been where she has been and can show her the way out.

Sometimes I feel like I sound like I am over-simplifying. But I think that's the result of knowing that:
Sobriety is the most important thing in my life today. The most important decision I ever made was the decision to give up drinking. I am convinced my entire life depends on not picking up the first drink (or drug).

(That's part of what I pray every morning....from the literature-- Hazelden not AA approved--and very true. But counter-intuitive to someone still feeling the heat).

So in short: Go to Al-Anon (at least 6 meetings). Encourage your mom to go to AA and to NA. And that's all you can do-- but it's enough.

Hugs

Hi, there are a couple of nurses in my support groups with felonies, one who just got her license back. She did have to work very hard and it took a while.

So yes it's possible to rise up from this situation. Each state is different and then each employer looks at it differently as well.
Again as the poster before me stated, the most important thing is she not pick up today. As long as that happens, she can then make it all happen.

Mom sounds like she's on the right path and believe me, sometimes getting caught and even jail has saved lives, kind of a blessing in disguise. I know she feels like she's lost herself but she did not! Being a nurse is only a part of who we are.
Staying clean is top priority.

I had a DON who was stealing narcotics. I could best say that her symptoms were her frequent outbursts of temper and grandiosity. Since these are indicative of a strong personality as well as other bona fide mental illness, I could not have suspected that she was diverting. I found out because a nurse who was supplying her off the cart (no pyxis at this facility) made the statement to me. She admitted being the "supplier". Otherwise, her tantrums and erratic behavior were just that to me, tantrums and erratic behavior. I reported what happened to the authorities. Nothing was done. It was years later, that I was informed that nothing was done about my report. Instead, I was "investigated" as no one in their right mind accuses another person of doing drugs without a nefarious reason!! Of course, I learned my lesson the hard way. But as far as I was concerned, I had done what I had to do. Would I report such a situation again? I doubt it.

what do you do if you think someone is using drugs or giving to many prn narcotics and you can't report due to the nm is thier friend and the one over her is her friend. then what can you do.

Unless you know for fact then keep it to yourself. It's one thing highly suspecting your co-worker is under the influence at work and reporting compared to just "suspicion" based on giving too many prn meds. Many nurses have varying opinions related to pain control/management. What you may think is excessive but is within the documented order is no reason to automatically suspect someone is diverting. Many lives have been ruined unjustly based on suspicions.

I'm pretty much torn on this one. On the one hand I think hmmmm, nurses who are recovering addicts working in a position of easy access to narcs...probably not a good idea. On the other hand everyone deserves a second chance and people can change. People like cattitude who have the power to admit a problem and will find a job that is in their field but restricts them access are great...good work to you cattitude.
Incidently...I don't believe addiction is a disease. Although it may seem like one in the end, it starts as a choice and progresses from there. It also ends with a choice. Do I have a disease because I smoke tobacco? Personally, I don't think so, I think I just made an incredibly bad choice. I know the DSM lists it as a disease now and it is widely accepted that it is, I just disagree...but I have strong opinions on many things.