Caught stealing drugs

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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?

Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

Hey finn - I have been in recovery since 1999, and the best thing we can get from other non addict nurses is a chance. So many staff members once they find out about us being addicts either act like we are contagious, or think they may be considered "guilty by association". It makes me want to tell them "You can't catch it, there's no immunization for it."

Thant's all I ask for from co workers. I have my sponsor, peers at meetings, other nurse addicts that are in our professionals.

Sounds stupid, huh?!

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in ICU,HOME HEALTH, HOSPICE, HEALTH ED.
Hey finn - I have been in recovery since 1999, and the best thing we can get from other non addict nurses is a chance. So many staff members once they find out about us being addicts either act like we are contagious, or think they may be considered "guilty by association". It makes me want to tell them "You can't catch it, there's no immunization for it."

Thant's all I ask for from co workers. I have my sponsor, peers at meetings, other nurse addicts that are in our professionals.

Sounds stupid, huh?!

Anne, RNC

Thanks Anne, It is just that the nursing culture doesn't support any of us out there well.

"I am not I.

I am this one

walking beside me whom I do not see,

Whom at times I manage to visit,

And whom at other times I forget;

The one who remains silent when I talk,

The one who forgives, sweet, when I hate'

The one takes a walk where I am not,

The one who will remain standing when I die."

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Thanks Anne, It is just that the nursing culture doesn't support any of us out there well.

"I am not I.

I am this one

walking beside me whom I do not see,

Whom at times I manage to visit,

And whom at other times I forget;

The one who remains silent when I talk,

The one who forgives, sweet, when I hate'

The one takes a walk where I am not,

The one who will remain standing when I die."

finn - You are right!!! In the perfect world, maybe one day, some more of the nursing culture will understand "us" and maybe even understand some of what we are about. (Ha!ha!)

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

We had someone on another floor who put a saline lock in her own ankle to get the IV pain meds she'd pulled for a terminal cancer patient. I must be warped because while I grew up around addiction (thanks to a doc with no problems prescribing Valium like it was water for my grandmother), I got a all over body shiver at the notion of someone putting a saline lock in their own flesh. Yeow. Thanks to grandma, I'm absolutely paranoid about narcotics.

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

nerdtonurse - I had worked with a nurse at our charity hospital that did that, and it just gives me the willies just the thought of doing that to myself. She wore socks that covered it, and she was friends with the house supervisor. She talked the sup. into peeing for her UDS on many occasions. I still don't know how she got away with that.

So, she finally got busted, and both nurses, including the sup. got put into the state boards RNP.

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in Med-Tele, Internal Med PCU.
In Mankato MN a nurse was discovered stealing fentanyl for ????.

Addiction is a horrible illness that harms millions of people worldwide each year. Thanks to everyone who are taking the steps each day to defeat the monster in themself and others.

I remember reading about this. She was truely evil, she'd refill the bottles with NS and put them back in pyxis. So the staff thought they were administering way too much Fentanyl when they were only giving NS. Mean while the pt is still in pain.

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Specializes in ICU,HOME HEALTH, HOSPICE, HEALTH ED.

Another thought---we just had a member of our case management team fired for a 2nd offense diverting. We are all stunned, saddened by the loss, the betrayal to the team and also by the rather cold way it was handled....The nurse disappeared, then after a 2-3 week period, there was an all staff announcement--mind you--"____will no longer be working for us. That's it! ---I guess, if one turns one's self in, then they can get recovery help and possibly (I am not sure if the qualifiers) retain a job... I think if there were acknowlegement and respect in an understanding that the whole team suffers when one has gone through this, then healing for all could happen. All could receive appropriate support and process to work through the pieces that may linger and then interfere with a rehabed nurse getting a fair shake and being trusted to continue nursing clean.

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so did you get caught? If so how did you handle it and what happened? I am a new nurse and don't know much about this stuff.

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Thanks you all for sharing...I am also so glad to see the support others are giving each other and not judging on this thread!! I wish this could be said about every thread!!

All though I have never abused prescription drugs while working... I did have a bout with street drugs...

I was so poor I had no money for food or gas, let alone the ability to apply for aide with no internet phone or transportation!!

My so called angel came to me as a drug dealer who offered to feed me and fuel my car in exchange for towing him to his drug deals... I was desperate and agreed. During the 4 day period I was exposed and became heavily addicted to meth...I was taking large quantities every day for 4 days...

Well I had the common sense to call my dad when a deal didn't go smoothly...I explained the situation to him and he really rescued me!!

He was an ex cop and had dealt with high people... He go me out of there and into his house...I spent three weeks there struggling with the monkey on my back!!

Long story short...I got back on my feet!! Yet during the first 6 months I had boughts were I craved it!! I am so thankful to have been pulled out of that situation... I realized I could have lost my life!!

Now, I can't even stand to get buzzed drunk!! I guess my point is I am very glad and thankful that I learned my lesson without consequences that follow me the rest of my life!!

I am also proud of you who have also faced your addictions and deal with the judgements directed at you!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
People keep calling it diverting, is this nursing PC for stealing? Not being snarky but not sure why it's not just called stealing.

I'm sure there are times when medical professional steal drugs to sell them, they may not always be abusing them.

Diverting is the legal term the administrators use it could mean for their own use or taking them out of the facility to sell. Diversion of drug from patient it was legally prescribed for. Not Nursing PC as you call it...Sorry, struck a nerve...

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Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.
Is addiction more common among nurses? Is it an issue of stress plus accessibility?

Actually yes to both questions

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
actually yes to both questions

"drugs of choice while nurses' abuse of drugs and alcohol is roughly equivalent to the general population's, dunn's study said, dependence on prescription-type medication use is higher for nurses, and addiction to street drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, is much lower than the population. the most frequently abused substance is alcohol, followed by amphetamines, opiates (such as fentanyl), sedatives, tranquilizers, and inhalants, according to the ana. "

taken from: http://rn.modernmedicine.com/rnweb/article/articledetail.jsp?id=592623&sk=&date=&pageid=2

interesting article to read in it's entirety.

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