Caught stealing drugs

Published

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 LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

Several months ago, I did one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I reported my nurse manager, who I also considered a friend (we had spent time together outside of work and our children had overnight stays with each other) , for suspicion of diverting narcotics . I had proof of at least illegal documentation. She had "wasted" many, many narcotics and given regularly the max amount of prn narcotics to several of our residents that I rarely gave these meds too. When she "wasted" these meds, nobody else signed for them. I'm talking more than 10 0r 15 times over a couple of months. She was best friends with our then DON. She did not get disciplined. Instead, the DON told her that I reported her. My life was a living hell for several weeks until my NM decided to "forgive me." I thought about quitting many times, but fortunately for me, a new DON and NM are now in place and I know that if I were to have to do the same thing, it would be an entirely different story.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Several months ago, I did one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I reported my nurse manager, who I also considered a friend (we had spent time together outside of work and our children had overnight stays with each other) , for suspicion of diverting narcotics . I had proof of at least illegal documentation. She had "wasted" many, many narcotics and given regularly the max amount of prn narcotics to several of our residents that I rarely gave these meds too. When she "wasted" these meds, nobody else signed for them. I'm talking more than 10 0r 15 times over a couple of months. She was best friends with our then DON. She did not get disciplined. Instead, the DON told her that I reported her. My life was a living hell for several weeks until my NM decided to "forgive me." I thought about quitting many times, but fortunately for me, a new DON and NM are now in place and I know that if I were to have to do the same thing, it would be an entirely different story.

Well, Lisa - I am proud of you. It takes a great deal of intestinal fortitude to step up and do what you did. You probably saved the nurses life, and poss patients. Kudos to you!!!

Anne, RNC:bowingpur

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical.

Lisa - that must have been such a hard decision to make, and for it to turn against you...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.

You all here are inspiring with your strength and fortatude. Not that I wouldn't turn someone in but I think that I normally don't see this problem when its in front of my face. Like others have said, I've had a couple of co-workers who were either terminated or asked to resign due to diversion and I never saw it coming. Maybe I'm just overworked and don't pay attention or am overly optamistic and think the best of people when I shouldn't.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

we found a big baggie of pot on the floor behind the nurses station a few years ago....We wanted to put it in the lost and found-anyone dumb enough to carry a baggie that big in their pocket AT WORK would have been dumb enough to claim it..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.
Thanks for clarifying that. You mean patients who need pain medication aren't getting it? That sounds horrible. It is amazing what addiction can drive someone to do.

It doesn't always mean the pt's were not getting their meds. A lot of times you have "waste" (leftover amounts) and that can be easy to divert.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have not seen it but there has been some discussion that theft of drugs may be in the rise due to economy- ie their hubby has lost job,ect. These drugs have a street value....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nice.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.
Well, Lisa - I am proud of you. It takes a great deal of intestinal fortitude to step up and do what you did. You probably saved the nurses life, and poss patients. Kudos to you!!!

Anne, RNC:bowingpur

Thank you very much. This means a lot to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.
Lisa - that must have been such a hard decision to make, and for it to turn against you...

Thank you for understanding. It was a very lonely, low point in my life professionally. I'm very glad it's over. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, MED SURG.

For anyone who has lived through addiction, it is not as easy as it would seem. Not to be making excuses (because in reality, there are none), my problem startes with insomnia. I would medicate to try to sleep. I was working nights in ICU, and was simply unable to turn my brain off to get some sleep. I have now been sober for five years, and I wish that I had never got myself into this situation. This is a widespread problems with widespread reasons. Nothing validates this behavior, but please try to have a little compassion!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
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.

What? That is truly bizarre! I've never heard of anyone using tramadol to get 'high'. It's mood-altering characteristics are similar to that of a Flintstone's vitamin. Honestly, a doctor prescribed tramadol for a dislocated shoulder I had a while back and I ended up throwing the majority of them in the trash! IMHO, it does very little to reduce pain and nothing to alter mood. LOL, my dog has a bottle of tramadol in our cupboard for arthritic hip pain. I don't see it helping him much, either. Maybe this nurse thought they were getting something else?

BTW, we just lost a nurse a short while back for stealing vicodin and fentanyl. Sad story, new nurse, too. She was removing fentanyl patches off patients and CHEWING ON THEM! Addiction sure is an ugly beast!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion