Published Aug 20, 2008
Jo Dirt
3,270 Posts
There is a CNA at the nursing home where I work who has been there a very long time. I've always gone out of my way to be friendly to the people I work with but I now understand why it is not a good idea for a supervisor to become too chummy with the people they supervise.
This CNA has started asking if I can get her some "hydros." She told me to not dare tell anyone about our conversations and I assured her I would not. Today, when she saw me, she asked have you been thinking about me? I said sure, then laughed as if I just then understood what she meant (though I knew full well what she meant by asking that) and told her I couldn't get her any "pills" and walked away.
The whole deal has made me feel like I stepped in a huge pile of you-know-what. I'm not about to start slipping "hydros" or anything else to this person, but that she would start even asking me has me feeling very uncomfortable. It kind of scares me, too. Who knows if she would have a couple of thugs find out where I live and try to scare me into getting drugs for her? I don't like this whole deal.
If she asks me again I'm going to tell her to go see her doctor. I won't tell on her for this but I don't know what to do about getting her to stop asking me to do something like that.
Have you ever had such a situation? I do understand now why supervisors do not fraternize with underlings. I'm keeping my distance now.
para82frame
19 Posts
Report here to the person in charge, don't mess around with conversations like that.
nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN
1 Article; 2,043 Posts
Okay, run, don't walk to your supervisor. Repeat what you were asked, because the next step this person may take is stealing from the medcart -- distract you during the med pass, help herself, and then you're the one explaining missing drugs. Also, if she's asked you, who else has she asked, and maybe some poor soul at the NH who needed narcs got an aspirin instead.
Near where my sister lives, they had a lot of hospice patients in the main NH in town who were suddenly not responding well to their pain patches -- the NAs were cutting them open, taking the jell out, and then putting the empty and therefore useless patch back on the patient.
Druggies will find a way to get drugs, and if it's hurting the patients OR you to do it, they won't stop. Talk to your boss now, and tell her you waited because you were in such shock you couldn't believe she was serious.
widi96
276 Posts
Report her NOW. It's probably a safe bet that if she can't get what she wants from you, she will go elsewhere. This is not an example of someone you shouldn't be friends with just because you are there supervisor - this is someone you should not have contact with because of their personality.
icyounurse, BSN, RN
385 Posts
I agree with the other posters and would take this up the chain of command. It will come back to bite you in the ass later if you don't. Its smart to keep your distance like you are doing.
I would report it very soon as the fact she is asking her supervisor(!!) may mean that she is desperate and willing to go through some pretty unethical lengths to get what she wants.
Xbox Live Addict
473 Posts
Dangerous situation, both for you and for the patients.
Someone like this is a menace to your residents. If she gets the chance, she will divert drugs from them to her - and push it off on you or some other unfortunate nurse. She sounds like an experienced junkie, and that means she knows plenty of ways of obtaining what she "needs" by fair means or foul, mostly foul.
Telling someone "not to dare" tell anyone about this conversation is also a pretty obvious threat. I can see why you're scared. I would be more worried about her making a false accusation of some kind about you to the management, which could make life very difficult.
Wishing you the best in this unpleasant situation. Go to the supervisor. Take steps to protect your colleagues, and your residents, and yourself.
catlynLPN
301 Posts
Tell her you would lose your license and go to prison for doing that and you don't see living in a prison cell as part of your future!
Like as previous posters advised, I would report her......there is no telling what she is already on while working.....she's a danger to the patients.
Wow, people sure are bold, aren't they?
RN1982
3,362 Posts
There is a CNA at the nursing home where I work who has been there a very long time. I've always gone out of my way to be friendly to the people I work with but I now understand why it is not a good idea for a supervisor to become too chummy with the people they supervise.This CNA has started asking if I can get her some "hydros." She told me to not dare tell anyone about our conversations and I assured her I would not. Today, when she saw me, she asked have you been thinking about me? I said sure, then laughed as if I just then understood what she meant (though I knew full well what she meant by asking that) and told her I couldn't get her any "pills" and walked away.The whole deal has made me feel like I stepped in a huge pile of you-know-what. I'm not about to start slipping "hydros" or anything else to this person, but that she would start even asking me has me feeling very uncomfortable. It kind of scares me, too. Who knows if she would have a couple of thugs find out where I live and try to scare me into getting drugs for her? I don't like this whole deal. If she asks me again I'm going to tell her to go see her doctor. I won't tell on her for this but I don't know what to do about getting her to stop asking me to do something like that.Have you ever had such a situation? I do understand now why supervisors do not fraternize with underlings. I'm keeping my distance now.
NO, this is what you tell her..Say..."I am not a drug dealer and the next time you ask me to get you drugs, I'm reporting you to the supervisor and the state (assuming she's certified). Get some help and leave me alone"
Personally, I would go to administration anyways and say that you do not feel safe working with this CNA and state specifically that she's asked you to divert drugs and threatened you to not tell anyone....If your boss does not handle to situation, I would be looking for another job.
Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN
697 Posts
turn this person in, for her own sake. Plus the heat will come off you. What they have asked for is illegal. I am more concerned on why she asked you. Why did she think you could help her. either that or her own addiction is way out of control and she is begging to get caught.
RN1121
79 Posts
Does your facility do random drug screens? The facility needs to be made aware of the possible liability and potential danger this employee is.
This is FAARRR fetched, but was she possibly kidding around with you?
lorbal
11 Posts
I had a similar situation occur - not with narcotics, but with 800 mg Motrin. A CNA approached me and asked me for Motrin - I said we are not to give meds out - she said Mrs. so and so has some (which baffled me - how does she know). I told her those meds are the residents and not for her use. She never asked again.
In your situation, I would take it up with a supervisor - don't mess around.
nessajune21
133 Posts
It seems dangerous to just laugh her off.
I think that you need to be stern in telling her that you WILL not get her any pills, rather than that you CAN not.
Good luck with your situation. It sounds very uncomfortable indeed!