Can any RNs tell me if this is true

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I am currently a nurse aide at a nursing home waiting to attend nursing school. The other night the RN supervisor made me go home because I am takeing vicodin (prescribed by my doctor) for my back. She said her license could be pulled because she is letting me work on a narcotic. Is this really true, also are RNs allowed to work on narcotics?? Because I know she has taking pain meds before at work. Thanks

Specializes in NICU.
Thank you for the response but I feel like you are all making me out as a drug addict or something. My god I take 500 mgs of vicodin every 6 hrs or as needed I have tried everything else to ease the pain from other meds to physical therapy. I don't even take it all the time only IF my back hurts it. I don't take it if I don't need it and the vicodin is prescibed by my family doctor. I even asked him if I could work on it and he said as long as it dosen't make me drowsy or impair my judgement. Which it dosen't even effect me but it does take my pain away. Please don't think I am trying to lash out or start with anyone I just want you all to be clear that I am not a drug addict.

Thanks

skittles, I haven't replied bc I'm not a nurse yet so I don't know about the legal issues you're facing - but I'm also a person who takes medication that some might consider impairing, and I feel you. It sucks to have to go through both the pain and then the skepticism of those who doubt you. (((hugs)))

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Thank you for the response but I feel like you are all making me out as a drug addict or something. My god I take 500 mgs of vicodin every 6 hrs or as needed I have tried everything else to ease the pain from other meds to physical therapy. I don't even take it all the time only IF my back hurts it. I don't take it if I don't need it and the vicodin is prescibed by my family doctor. I even asked him if I could work on it and he said as long as it dosen't make me drowsy or impair my judgement. Which it dosen't even effect me but it does take my pain away. Please don't think I am trying to lash out or start with anyone I just want you all to be clear that I am not a drug addict.

Thanks

Interesting that you feel the need to protest that you're not a drug addict when not one response mentioned anything about substance abuse.

My personal opinion only (I don't know what your state board of nursing allows): You should not be working on Vicodin prn. And there are a lot better pain medications for chronic pain management if you need to take medication on a daily basis.

I think there is an increased chance of some of the side effects of opiates when used prn: drowsiness for instance. You might want to consider a consult with a pain management doc if no other therapy helps your back pain (see above).

I also think you have an increased chance of injuring or re-injuring your back when your're masking your pain on a prn basis with Vicodin.

Nursing is actually a very dangerous job when it comes to back injuries - check this site out for more info: http://www.premierinc.com/all/safety/resources/back_injury/

Good luck.

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Lets face it folks, we all work with people who have medical conditions and are taking meds that may or may not impair their preformance. In most cases they just keep mum about it. This person is not saying how managment discovered this. Was there a drug screen? If there is then you would be forced to reveal you are taking a perscription medication. Other than that I would not mention it.

Some boards of nursing require that you notify them when you're taking certain medications or you have the possibility of losing your license.

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Specializes in NICU.
Interesting that you feel the need to protest that you're not a drug addict when not one response mentioned anything about substance abuse.

Please. :rolleyes: People on opiods, benzos, and so many other meds are looked at like drug addicts at such a constant that we (and sorry if I'm speaking out of turn, gemini, feel free to smack me down) mumble it practically like a mantra. If people had a better understanding of the mechanism of tolerance vs addiction maybe we wouldn't get so defensive when others start challenging our ability to function. It's the word "impaired". Don't look all sideways just because gemini anticipated what is usually the accusation.

note again - I'm not speaking to the licensure issues here.

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Some boards of nursing require that you notify them when you're taking certain medications or you have the possibility of losing your license.
If they do have that requirement they better have a full time person on board just to take all the phone calls. It might have been reasonable to have a rule like that 50 years ago but times have changed. I take 8 perscription drugs at the moment, my perscription meds are being adjusted all the time by my attending and the consulting physicians she sends me to see. I would have to spend half my days talking to this person at the board who does not exist anyway and by the time they got back to me to say OK or NO I would not be on the medication that I had originally informed them about. Calling the board would just draw attention to yourself and you don't want the attention of the ivory tower types that sit on the board. Now I am aware that you made that post just to give that info and that is fine. However, I fear it will lead certain people who try to be compliant to call the BON. This would bring the BON down on their necks about a medication they are taking when half the people they work with are on the same thing and wise enough not to mention it. I offer no appologies for living in the real world. The rules vary so much from state to state and in most cases they are outdated. In an era when most nurses are currently around 50 I can tell you that most are on medications and the BON does not have time or resources to deal with the phone calls.
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I want to thank everyone for there posts even though I may not agree with them all everyone is entitled to there own opinion. I did relize I do need to go to my doctor and find something non narcotic because I plan on attending nursing school and I don't want anything to mess it up. But thank you all for the info!!! :)

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If you are taking the med for a chronic back problem, perhaps you could look into providing services which don't cause stress on your back. I know looking for another line of work was not your question, but if something does happen and someone is on narcotics, the law can twist things around incredibly, whether or not you are impaired.

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Nursing is not for someone who has bad enough back problems they need narcotic pain meds. I'm not trying to tear anyone down, we get along in life the best way we know how, and I understand the OP is there because she needs a job. On the other hand, I wouldn't knowingly allow a cargiver to care for me or my loved one under the influence of medication.

CNA is such a low paying job...it would seem there would be something else the OP could get into. If I was a CNA and had a bad back and wanted to go to school, I'd check into a medical assistant program. The pay there is not that great but at least it would not be as hard on the back.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

sorry. double post. :)

To the op, I'm sorry. But I agree with your nurse. Please don't work while on narcotics. I feel for you and understand your need to work and I hope it all works out for you.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Unless I'm mistaken, here in Florida one can not work as a nurse while taking narcotics. The fact they are prescriped is not the issue. The fact that a person can function in a normal capacity, in their own and others opinions, while on narcotics isn't the issue either.

If someone's pain is so severe that it necessitates taking narcotics, nursing and taking care of peoples lives and well being, should not be happening. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION.

I had a narc script after removal of a tumor under my tongue. I didn't miss a days work, but took motrin in the morning and percocet at night. I promised myself if the pain was so bad I needed percocets, then I wouldn't go to work.

They don't recommend driving while on narcs, why nursing when people's lives are in your hands?

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I am not addressing the licensing issue, just the fact that many nurses take all types of medications for health problems. It may not be right but they take the meds and report to work. Not many that are working have the ability to take time off for illness on a regular basis. Yes, I know, look for another job/profession is always suggested. Realistically, not that many can afford to do that. Nurses are human with human issues. Just rambling thoughts.

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Specializes in jack of all trades, master of none.

Nurse with chronic pain issues typing now. I am on Vicodin, after a back injury. I don't have a choice for another med b/c of allergies. However, I don't usually take anything before going to work. IF my pain is severe enough, I will take 1/4 of what is ordered by my doctor. Then take 1/2 of ordered dose when I get home. It's just enough for me to be somewhat comfortable. I have finally accepted that I will never again be pain free, but I still have to work to pay bills, feed the kids, etc, etc. Most of us in chronic pain, given the option would choose the pain free, medication free route, but we don't have that option. If there is something to help us continue working & being productive members of society, then we do it. I do agree, that nurses should not work if they are mentally impaired. When I FIRST started taking the Vicodin, it did make me sleepy & kind of spacey. Fortunately, I was on leave at the time. Now, it just takes the edge off of my pain. Other than that, lots of nurses still don't understand pain or pain management & probably never will.

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