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.
Specializes in Cardiac, stroke, telemetry,Med-surgical.
"It's a tough situation that you are in especially with jobs so hard to find. Unfortunately you are already in it neck deep and it's not going to go away no matter how much you try to ignore it. This CNA has no qualms about approaching you for drugs even after you have refused to provide them. She has no qualms about threatening you. How far will she go to get what she wants? Will she intentionally jeopardize your job if she doesn't get what she wants from you? Will she steal from patients or do harm to them? You've already sacrificed your peace of mind. How much more are you willing to sacrifice? Your patients' safety? Your license?
I would suggest you document in detail every instance she came to you and give this documentation to your supervisor. You never know, someone else may have tried reporting her in the past. If management takes the CNA's side, send a copy of the documentation along with management's response to the Department of Health Services (or whatever your equivalent is). "
Agree.
I think that you are in a very difficult situation. And that's why: It seems to me from your description of the situation that you are afraid of her. Am I right? Is this person manipulative? You said that she will refuse everything and you will look like the one who is lying... What are the reasons to make you feel this way? Does she have many friends in your unit? Do people highly respect her? Do you feel that this person is "skillful in influencing or controlling others to her own advantage"?
If it's so, I was thinking... maybe you can record ( not just writing down all the details but using a recorder, a small recorder that you can hide into your pocket) your conversation with this person? You don't have to use it as a proof, just keep it for your own sake. Do not use it as your weapon but as your last resource of defense.
And I do think that you should do something about this situation, do not run from this person. Please. No man are allowed to make your life difficult (except patients, of course :)). How can you work if you feel unsafe? How can you concentrate on your work if you afraid for the safety of your patients?
do you realize that by not telling someone in charge that can remove this person from the clinical setting that you are putting your own license on the line? thats your livelyhood!
She doesn't work on my hall anymore, though she still finds opportunity to talk to me.
I'm going to stay FAR AWAY and make sure I am not alone with her ever again.
I indeed work at a place where the nurses get no back up and in fact the aides are treated better. Seeing as this person has been there 20 yrs. I have no doubt who would be held in higher regard. This doesn't mean I'm treated poorly in every aspect, but I know how this would go. And if I did report her she could deny the whole thing, and they would probably believe her.
Running to another job isn't really an option. The jobs aren't so plentiful here I can just go pluck one off the job tree. The only thing I can think of is to steer far away from her from now on. It is horrible to have secrets, especially those kinds. I hate what addiction can do. She told me not long ago that she wouldn't have any problem getting more, she just had to get her script refilled. This must not have been true, because when she talks to me now I see a desperate person and this gives me such a bad feeling.
I HATE DRUGS. What exactly do these addicts get out of them that makes them want to have them all the time??? I don't understand addiction and how it can completely take over a person's life, but it must be hell. Now that this aide and me have this "secret" I feel like I've stepped into this dark realm (hell) and things will never be the same with her again (I've known her for many years-she just started this hydro thing a couple of weeks ago- and it's hard to take.)
I have heard an addict will kill for drugs. I don't know if I am blowing this out of proportion, but I do not feel like I'm talking to a rational feeling person anymore. She even asked me if I could "steal" drugs from my husband (she knows he had major surgery recently.) Of course, I told her I could not.
Sweetheart... SHE ASKED YOU TO STEAL FROM YOUR HUBBY.
This has gone on far too long.
You have to say something. Job or not. It's gone wayyyy too far now.
Burying your head in the sand is NOT going to make it go away, sweetheart! I know, it totally sucks big ones!! I would not want to be in your shoes right now!!
mama (i like to use your old name, ok?:)),
i do understand your predicament and situations such as this, have a way of blowing up in your face.
of course, the ideal would be to report it/her...
and she'd get help, you'd keep your job, no one would retaliate and all would live happily ever after.
what i do think you should consider, is still talking to the adon/don...
not necessarily to report her, but to share your concerns about her.
even though you're communicating the same words, the intentions are different.
she does need help.
looking the other way isn't going to benefit anyone.
if your bosses sense that you are talking to them out of genuine concern, chances are it won't come back to bite you.
just think about it, will you please?
leslie
I think that what Leslie suggested is the right thing to do. Make an appointment with the DON and go in and sit down and talk with her. PERSONALLY. And give her a letter, in writing, giving your version of the events and outlining your concerns at the same time. IN WRITING. Professional letter.
That way you have proof if it ever comes back to you for the state board of nursing. Please, please please... take my advice on this. Cover your bottom. Talk to her and write the letter, using it as a guide to help you cover everything you wanted to say in your coversation so you do not miss any important topics AND to later validate the date, time, and what you talked about regarding this issue. You keep a copy of it for your records at home.
please let us know what happened. i am so worried about you and this issue... it made my stomach ball up in a knot.
i always see your posts when i read and smile... golytely is my least favorite treatment to have to give, and there are actually hard candies called "golytely"... so i always buy them for my friends and hand them out. please take care.
So..let me understand.. this individual is most likely abusing drugs and potentially caring for dependent and vulnerable patients while in an altered state of mind..I'm sorry I realize this puts you in a difficult predicament but I can't believe you are not taking action. What if something happens to a patient due to this person?? I'm having a very difficult time understanding why you are not protecting yourself, your license, but most of all, your patients.. am i missing something here???
I would like to point out that it may not be the coworker with a drug 'problem'. She may be trying to obtain them for a 'loved' one or a dealer. Regardless, she needs to be reported.
Truthfully, I have empathy for the addicts that are in pain. I have ZERO tolerance for the providers that introduce the 'solution' without warnings. I hate street pushers and I especially hate pushers that hide behind an MD.
It broke my heart to see my mom being accused of being a drug-seeker and coming off the opiates after just trying to do what she had always been told--do what the doctor tells you to do.
I'm glad I haven't seen her in a couple of days. I definitely think she wants the pills for herself. I'm trying not to dwell on it now. I just think I will ask her outright if she has a problem and let her know I would not be "helping" her by trying to be a drug supplier to her.
It's just kind of sick the way she was looking at me, almost with a lustful (for drugs, not that way) yearning. Just gross.
I'm hoping it isn't an issue again. I know everyone says report her but I just can't right now. We are in the midst of major changes at this facility. I'm going to try to see if this just goes away.
romantic, BSN, RN
194 Posts
"It's a tough situation that you are in especially with jobs so hard to find. Unfortunately you are already in it neck deep and it's not going to go away no matter how much you try to ignore it. This CNA has no qualms about approaching you for drugs even after you have refused to provide them. She has no qualms about threatening you. How far will she go to get what she wants? Will she intentionally jeopardize your job if she doesn't get what she wants from you? Will she steal from patients or do harm to them? You've already sacrificed your peace of mind. How much more are you willing to sacrifice? Your patients' safety? Your license?
I would suggest you document in detail every instance she came to you and give this documentation to your supervisor. You never know, someone else may have tried reporting her in the past. If management takes the CNA's side, send a copy of the documentation along with management's response to the Department of Health Services (or whatever your equivalent is). "
Agree.
I think that you are in a very difficult situation. And that's why: It seems to me from your description of the situation that you are afraid of her. Am I right? Is this person manipulative? You said that she will refuse everything and you will look like the one who is lying... What are the reasons to make you feel this way? Does she have many friends in your unit? Do people highly respect her? Do you feel that this person is "skillful in influencing or controlling others to her own advantage"?
If it's so, I was thinking... maybe you can record ( not just writing down all the details but using a recorder, a small recorder that you can hide into your pocket) your conversation with this person? You don't have to use it as a proof, just keep it for your own sake. Do not use it as your weapon but as your last resource of defense.
And I do think that you should do something about this situation, do not run from this person. Please. No man are allowed to make your life difficult (except patients, of course :)). How can you work if you feel unsafe? How can you concentrate on your work if you afraid for the safety of your patients?