California Drug Diversion ProgramThe

[CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

LA Times had an article discussing problems with the California Nursing Board's drug diversion program.

Currier, a participant in the state's confidential recovery program for impaired nurses, had failed repeatedly -- and spectacularly -- at rehabilitation, the records show.

Over 4 1/2 years, she'd been discovered high in her car at a Hollywood hospital, stolen anesthetics at a San Gabriel Valley hospital, been convicted of burglary after taking more drugs from the same hospital and flunked a drug test.

Yet it wasn't until Currier shot up at the drug-testing facility in September 2006 that she was kicked out of the recovery program. Though her evaluators labeled her a "public risk," the California Board of Registered Nursing didn't impose discipline until 1 1/2 years later, leaving her free her to work without restriction in the interim, the documents show.

As the state begins overhauling regulation of California's 350,000 registered nurses, one of the board's most touted programs stands out as seriously troubled: drug diversion.

See:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-nurse-diversion25-2009jul25,0,128964.story?page=1

[jackstem]

Difficult to see success when the folks running the program don't know what they are doing, don't care, are overworked, or all of the above.

Very frustrating and definitely not helpful for the nurses in California.

Jack

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

wow. This program is not working obviously.

[sissiesmama, ASN, RN]

wow. This program is not working obviously.

Mag - Wow! My thoughts exactly. Wow! Did I read right, was shooting up at the testing facility?!

Anne, RNC

[CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Mag - Wow! My thoughts exactly. Wow! Did I read right, was shooting up at the testing facility?!

Yup - you read it right. It looks like addiction can make otherwise intelligent people do some pretty not-so-intelligent things.