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?

[ThatPoshGirl]

Now I get a headache every few weeks and usually try water, rest, visualisation or food before reaching for... paracetamol or asprin.

.

I noticed that you didn't mention anti-histamine. My mom gets headaches and I always have to nag her to try her allergy meds before she reaches for the vicoden or percocet. It usually helps. I just wanted to mention it in case you haven't given it a try.

[alcrab01]

I worked with one RN who was caught digging through the sharps container to get bottles of Fentanyl that people had not thoroughly wasted.

Another RN I worked with followed a friend of mine into the med room and distracted her so that my friend forgot to log out on the Pyxis. This RN then divereted 10 syringes of dilaudid out. My friend was initially blamed for the diversion and it really made her life hell until the diverting RN was caught stealing a bag of PCA dilaudid. I don't judge people with addiction problems, but this particular RN never apologized to my friend for all the trouble she went through which I think is unforgiveable. Now I worked with her at another facility and I always makes sure to watch my back around her.

[suespets]

re; the" stealing "word, yes,it's stealing,but diverting is in this case, all-inclusive;not only are you stealing, but you are taking it from someone who should be receiving it, at one time or another, or you are saying you gave it to a pt,but only gave it to your self,so diverting covers it all, imo sue

[suanna]

Diverting Ativan-I've heard of it, as well as Valium, Diprovan, Librium... I just can't imaging taking benzos for the fun of it. If I want to get sleepy all I have to do is offer to pick up an extra shift on nights on the med/surg units. I get to be sleepy and get paid overtime! Now narcotics- that I can understand. Pain relief is a strong motivator of behavior. I've never taken a patients narcs but I can at least understand the rationale.

[finn11707]

:yeah:

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!

[finn11707]

I have worked with a few nurses over the years who have a problem with stealing drugs from the patients. Quite frankly, I liked and trusted each of them. However, I now work in an agency that has 2 former 'rehabilitated diverters' and one or two nurses likely struggling with drug use. One was recently found out and confessed. It was his 2nd time caught. The other, one still hiding out among us...

In our department, we have easy access to heavy drugs. It is unnerving to share the same patients with a nurse who has 'signs' or history. And what about the loss of trust among team peers, patients, community? My license is in jeopardy when I follow a nurse in question - as she opens to services a patient with a dispensed high volume of pain meds. Some now missing...

[finn11707]

I have worked with several nurses who have stolen pain medication from their patients. To be honest, I liked and trusted all of them. Where I work currently, we have 2 rehabilitated diverters I know of---one who was recently caught and confessed to relapse. Also, we have another nurse who appears to be loaded on the job a lot. I know I am wary when she sees a patient of mine, then the patient ends up short on meds. It is a hard call. Bottom line is, I know my license, my trust and my respect is also in jeparody when one of my peers is stealing patient meds.

[nursemartin76]

what is diverting??

[embarrasingfield]

Things like this are exactly why the normal, average nurse who is trying her/his best is treated like garbage.

[RNBelle]

stats - 1 in 8 nurses are chemically dependent, that came from a lecture attended last yr in GA. Scary isnt it?

[sissiesmama, ASN, RN]

it takes what it takes!

we live in a well lubricated society.

today im grateful for all that my disease (addiction) put me through. it is only after having my ass kicked enough did i began to learn anything about living.

life is good.

randy - hey - you are right!! i have learned so much in the years after getting clean and sober in 1999. i don't ask people that have not walked where we have walked for sympathy. i don't make stupid excuses for the things i did. i think what most of us in the "recovering" population in the health care field want is just a chance to prove that, as nurses, as long as we remain in recovery we can still be great nurses, and care for our patients just like any other nurse. we can also be an excellent source of help to nurses going through this disease process. just my .02

anne, rnc :paw::paw::paw: :saint:

[finn11707]

What do nurses need from fellow nurses to help keep them clean? Often, it seems we only find out about a history of drug use and diversion as it happens again. I don't think lightly of reporting suspected problems about a fellow nurse. I also don't want the distraction, with an already heavy workload, monitoring a peer's behavior or actions. Any suggestions?