Advice needed re: narcotic addicted coworker...

[erikajk34]

Hello all, I am new here! I have been a nurse at the same nursing home for over 2 years. I am currently in school to become a RN...

Here is my dilemia. I have a coworker that has worked at this nursing home for over 9 years. She has a narcotic theft/addiction. I have not actually ever seen her swallow the medication, but I have seen her steal it. I reported her to the DON/ADON several times. Over the past couple years I have heard the DON make "jokes" about this nurse taking the narcotics, and even had an older nurse tell me she knew for a fact that she was stealing them and the office did nothing about it. (At this time, I was too naive to really see it, I was 21 and a brand new nurse). Anyway after I complained several times, they sat her down and had a "talk" with her about suspicion of her diverting narcotics. She ended up bawling and couldn't "believe" someone would say such lies about her. She has every symptom of a drug addicted nurse!!!! She gives out excessive amts of narcotics, somehow everytime she works someone's duragesic patch "falls off" or she'll sign out that she gave a med, but then you ask a resident that is completely with it, why they needed 4 darvocet in an 8-hour shift they deny ever getting any. It's ridiculous and makes me sick. So after I was known as the big tattle-tailed ***** around the NH for a few months things blew over. I continually see her punch out Lortab and slip it into her pocket.

Now a whole card of Tramadol has came up missing and the ADON didn't know whether or not she should report it to the DON. HELLO?!?!? Seriously?

I love my residents so much, it makes me SICK that people can get away with this crap. I told my ADON the other day I was done telling on her. She said that there was "more to the investigation than you know." Yet she's still stealing drugs and working 80 hours a week? I find it really hard to believe.

I am going for an interview at the hospital I go to school at. I know deep down it'd be best to get out of there, but I am afraid for my residents and what they will do without me. Please someone who knows how I feel...HELP!

[Katnip, RN]

You need to document everything very carefully. Dates, times, counts, when you reported to the ADON. Then you need to call your BON and report this yourself. Will people get into trouble? Yes. You friend will probably be suspended and have to fulfill requirements before she can be a nurse again. Your administration will have some answering to do. But you will be protecting innocent patients who are at risk being under the care of an impaired nurse.

[Ms.RN]

hello all, i am new here! i have been a nurse at the same nursing home for over 2 years. i am currently in school to become a rn...

here is my dilemia. i have a coworker that has worked at this nursing home for over 9 years. she has a narcotic theft/addiction. i have not actually ever seen her swallow the medication, but i have seen her steal it. i reported her to the don/adon several times. over the past couple years i have heard the don make "jokes" about this nurse taking the narcotics, and even had an older nurse tell me she knew for a fact that she was stealing them and the office did nothing about it. (at this time, i was too naive to really see it, i was 21 and a brand new nurse). anyway after i complained several times, they sat her down and had a "talk" with her about suspicion of her diverting narcotics. she ended up bawling and couldn't "believe" someone would say such lies about her. she has every symptom of a drug addicted nurse!!!! she gives out excessive amts of narcotics, somehow everytime she works someone's duragesic patch "falls off" or she'll sign out that she gave a med, but then you ask a resident that is completely with it, why they needed 4 darvocet in an 8-hour shift they deny ever getting any. it's ridiculous and makes me sick. so after i was known as the big tattle-tailed ***** around the nh for a few months things blew over. i continually see her punch out lortab and slip it into her pocket.

now a whole card of tramadol has came up missing and the adon didn't know whether or not she should report it to the don. hello?!?!? seriously?

i love my residents so much, it makes me sick that people can get away with this crap. i told my adon the other day i was done telling on her. she said that there was "more to the investigation than you know." yet she's still stealing drugs and working 80 hours a week? i find it really hard to believe.

i am going for an interview at the hospital i go to school at. i know deep down it'd be best to get out of there, but i am afraid for my residents and what they will do without me. please someone who knows how i feel...help!

you are obligated to report this to the board of nursing. since don is not doing anything about this, i would call the corporate or the ombudsmen and report this also.

[diane227, LPN, RN]

Document everything you see and report it to the board and to the state department of health. They will investigate.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Yes, it has to be reported. You can't continue to work there without your reputation coming into question if you don't report it. Unfortunately there will be repercussions. Have you thought about taking a leave, or a vacation, recently?

If you don't report it your reputation will suffer when it comes out. They may have a deal about selling the meds, or they may both be in on it as users. They are definitely both criminals.

[rngolfer53]

As others have said, document everything and report it.

Then start looking for another job. The place you're at likely has other dangerous practices besides the drug diversion.

[WalkieTalkie, RN]

Now a whole card of Tramadol has came up missing and the ADON didn't know whether or not she should report it to the DON. HELLO?!?!? Seriously?

I'm not saying that this chick doesn't have a problem, but tramadol? Most drug seekers I know hate tramadol because it's not a narcotic... LOL