Caught stealing drugs

[vonxojn]

I work in the ER at my facility. Recently there has been 2-3 nurses that were caught stealing narcotics. Usually my radar is pretty good when I come across someone who might "dabble a little in drugs". Well the last nurse that was caught totally blew me out the water. I never expected her to steal narcs (IV Dilaudid). Another nurse caught her in the act and she was immediately escorted into the DON office with the other Charge Nurses. She was given a choice to leave the ER and go directly to a Rehab facility or be reported to the nursing board and lose her license(the way the rumor was explained). It was told she went to rehab that very day.

Have any of you experienced a large amount of your nurses that you work with getting caught stealing narcs, if so, what drug of choice did they steal?

[featherzwolfcloud]

In my second placement someone hid a lot of tramadol in a bag under the nursing desk, though didn't have a chance to take it.

It made Tramadol a CD and the staff suspious of each other for weeks after.

No one found out who or why.

Sweet mystery of life.

[nightnursecupofjava]

I have never seen it myself, but....

There is this girl I work with who I wonder about, during report she is spacey and fidgety, gets lost in mid sentence. When we count its always on the dot. She fidgets so much during the count itself, pulling at her hair, flipping pages rapidly, stammering,. nothing concrete but makes me go hmmmmmm

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

Thru the years I've worked with about 8-10 nurses (all on the same unit)who were quietly escorted off the unit at the end of the shift, never to be heard from again... it was always very hush hush until it all came out days or longer... not sure of drugs of choice, one was stealing PCA cartridges tho

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I don't get to see this because I work in a clinic, but I have heard of it often. I hope to never be around to witness such behavior.

[TazziRN, RN]

I was caught diverting. My drug of choice was codeine. Most people who divert PO stuff choose TyCos or Vicodin. People who divert injectables often go for Demerol and Morphine.

[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

also--not all substance abusers have a neon sign around their necks. sure, some "look the part", others maintain at a very high level until discovered--the only thing that saves their lives.

i'm not defending addicition, just reminding folks that it is a nasty disease that can kick the butt of anyone who gets "sucked in". it is an oldie, but its true that you can't judge a book by its cover...

[TazziRN, RN]

also--not all substance abusers have a neon sign around their necks. sure, some "look the part", others maintain at a very high level until discovered--the only thing that saves their lives.

i'm not defending addicition, just reminding folks that it is a nasty disease that can kick the butt of anyone who gets "sucked in". it is an oldie, but its true that you can't judge a book by its cover...

yep.......i was caught in a routine pharmacy audit. my coworkers were stunned.

[Jo Dirt]

This has happened with several nurses at the nursing home. Sometimes, it's obvious who they are, other times, it's the ones you would least expect.

I also think anyone is not being truthful if they don't think sometimes they can't even trust themselves.

[sheilagh]

I was caught diverting and it saved my life...opiates were my choice. I thank all those around me daily for my sobriety,if you do come across anyone that needs help I hope the people judging remember to walk a mile in their shoes first.

Sept 10,2008 2 years clean,coffee and cake party at my house!

[RN1989]

I knew a nurse stealing Demerol to give to her son and husband. They were users and sellers.

[MrsMommaRN]

tazzi thank you for your honesty.