Co-worker stole my ID

Nurses General Nursing

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did you ever use someone elses idenity to steel narcotics form an acudose machine? How did it make you feel when you had to work with that nurse again that you stole her idenity from?

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I need to talk to someone who has stolen a co-workers ID and took narcotics under their name to use for their addiction. Has that happen to anyone out there?? I am trying to cope with this issue. A very close co-worker who I respected and loved did this to me. Did she not think that I could get introuble? Was she so desperate for the drug she didn't care how this would hurt me deeply!

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Specializes in Lie detection.
I need to talk to someone who has stolen a co-workers ID and took narcotics under their name to use for their addiction. Has that happen to anyone out there?? I am trying to cope with this issue. A very close co-worker who I respected and loved did this to me. Did she not think that I could get introuble? Was she so desperate for the drug she didn't care how this would hurt me deeply!

I'm sorry this happened to you. Please read through this thread and you may learn more about the strong pull and disease of addiction.

I can't speak for your coworker but generally speaking, addicts really don't think about consequences. They think about getting the drug. Consequences come later. Guilt comes later. I hope your co worker gets the help she needs and is one day able to make amends to you.

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Specializes in MedSurg, Ortho, Neuro, StepDown, Rehab.

Even though it is a very dear friend, RUN:monkeydance: (don't walk) to your Nurse Manager and let her know of the situation as quietly as possible - if something should come up (missing dose, etc., inaccurate count) quess which name will show up.........worked to hard and studied long nights for my License to be snatched away.....

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Specializes in Critical Care.

The machine requires not just an ID, but a password.

How did this co-worker get your password?

You have to report this. Your license is now at risk. Anybody that would place your career at risk is an enemy. They are destructive to themselves and don't really care if you take the fall with them.

If you look at your nurse practice act, I'm sure you will find an obligation to report. It's the law. More important, it's YOUR license at risk for not doing so.

If you want to remain a nurse, you MUST clear this up immediately.

~faith,

Timothy.

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I know you feel betrayed and you may never forgive her for what she did, but please understand that her actions were not driven by any desire to hurt/betray you. The pull of addiction is stronger than any loyalty one may feel for others.

I did not steal another's ID to take drugs, but I did divert them for my own use. At the time I truly believed that I was not hurting anyone else by my actions....that's what addiction does, it skewers your thinking. Your friend needs help and turning her in will be just what she needs. She may hate you for it but it will start her on the road to recovery and sober nursing, if that's what she truly wants.

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The machine requires not just an ID, but a password.

How did this co-worker get your password?

~faith,

Timothy.

She probably stood next to the OP as she was logging into the machine. You know, just some friendly chit chat while waiting her turn. That's what happened to me and a couple of other nurses on my unit. Until it actually happens to you, you don't really believe you are friends with or work with someone who would do this to you. I didn't think it could happen to me until I got called into my director's office and asked to explain why I took out a med my patient was allergic to and why I didn't chart that I gave the med. In the end, what saved me was the fact that I was off of the unit for an in service...thank goodness for sign in sheets. The nurse who was stealing narcs did not know I was off of the floor and another nurse was covering my patients at the time. The diverting nurse had the user IDs and passwords of three nurses so she was never taking out narcs under the ID of a nurse on her day off.

To the OP, how do you know this has happened. If it is something you found yourself, turn the other nurse in immediately. Do everything you can to protect yourself and your license.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

Thank goodness, our system uses an ID and a fingerprint. If we are in such a rush to get to a patient that we forget to log off, the machine times out after 30 seconds anyway.

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30 seconds was all that was needed for an EMT to take narcotics from the machine when the nurse left.

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Specializes in pre hospital, ED, Cath Lab, Case Manager.

It happened to me. I reported it immediately. The nurse was taken off the floor, ultimately allowed to resign - but several years later had their nursing liscense taken away for drug abuse & mental illness. This person was taking drugs from patients in other ways as well. I never admitted that I was the one that turned them in & I did get some cold shoulders for a while.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Any and all nurses with drug addiction problems should lose their jobs and their licenses immediately and forever.

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Specializes in Lie detection.
Any and all nurses with drug addiction problems should lose their jobs and their licenses immediately and forever.

You forgot to add burning at the stake.:trout:

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