Co-worker stole my ID

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2007

jess, did you misunderstand this post? or not read it thoroughly?...the question referred to "what do you do for pain relief when you have a medical condition requiring ths class of med" as Tazzi realized and answered......

You go see a doctor of course

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2007

Actually I read the entire post which I think you did not. This is a nurse who used another MD's name to phone in a narcotic for herself illegally. Hmm she actually felt this was the way to do it because she was addicted to precription narcotics and actualy asks how else does she get pain meds?. It does not matter that she was in pain or that she was addicted. Her way of getting the drugs was a crime and should be treated as such. She should not get a redemption because she is a nurse. A non nurse addict would not get a reduction so why should a nurse. As I said in my post. A crime is a crime and using your liscence to commit a crime should mean you lose it.

addressing both parts here. Illegally phoning in prescription for ones self. Is that , strictly illegal. And should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, without exception.

If she needed those meds so bad for pain relief then she should go see a pain management doctor, And get in a pain control program.

yes she should lose her license forever. she is obviously beyond redemption.

nursewendii · Jul 10, 2007

Just to clarify, I wasn't the one who asked about what to do if you need pain meds. It was the poster "dixiecup". I luckily don't need any narcotics to control pain and I hope I never do.

As far as all the negative comments about me and that I should lose my nursing license, I expected to recieve them because there are so many people in the medical profession who don't understand addiction and never will. :nono:

Like I said before, I hope addiction never rears its ugly head in your life or the life of a loved one but if it did, your opinion would sure change quickly!!

Thank you to Tazzi and Cattitude for being supportive. You two are awesome!!

TazziRN, RN · Jul 11, 2007

Sorry, but DUIs even without injury should be cause for automatic jail time, Give them an automatic 60 days in jail. All of them. DUIs whether its alcohol or drugs. All of them. Then those with injuries might occur less often. But when they do, there are higher charges involved.

Ahh, but this isn't wasn't the point! The whole point being bandied about here is that nurses are given preferential treatment, and all I said was that when it comes to DUIs with injuries nurses are not treated any different. DUIs by non-nurses do not get jail time unless it's a repeat offense, so why should nurses be treated more harshly?

Tom, I understand that you have strong feelings about this, so do I. But I commented on your statement about DUIs that cause injury and you turned it around.

I will bow out of your posts at this point, we must agree to disagree because while I am willing to understand your views/feelings on this matter, your feelings are so strong that you are unwilling and/or unable to see any other point of view. Not bashing you at all, just conceding that you and I are beating the horse beyond death.

angel's RN · Jul 11, 2007

Hey Guy's--

I know it's been since 6/11 when I posted my long story, but I have to do this. Guess who is NOW working at the facility that I am at??? YUP!! The very night super. that accused me of sleeping! An't that a b----? :chair: (Opps--Sorry!) Oh well, such is life!

's RN

TazziRN, RN · Jul 11, 2007

Hey Guy's--
I know it's been since 6/11 when I posted my long story, but I have to do this. Guess who is NOW working at the facility that I am at??? YUP!! The very night super. that accused me of sleeping! An't that a b----? :chair: (Opps--Sorry!) Oh well, such is life!
's RN

BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Oh, that's good! Has she said anything?

angel's RN · Jul 11, 2007

Nope, she is just as friendly as if we have been buddy'and co-horts for years. :trout: I haven't said anything, because the facility isn't aware of the accucsation (can't spell worth a durn). At least she is on the oppisite shift from me.

's RN

Cattitude · Jul 11, 2007

Nope, she is just as friendly as if we have been buddy'and co-horts for years. :trout: I haven't said anything, because the facility isn't aware of the accucsation (can't spell worth a durn). At least she is on the oppisite shift from me.
's RN

I hope she doesn't try to make trouble for you!!! I know you like that job. Hopefully she just leaves it all in the past.

Cattitude · Jul 11, 2007

As far as all the negative comments about me and that I should lose my nursing license, I expected to recieve them because there are so many people in the medical profession who don't understand addiction and never will.
Thank you to Tazzi and Cattitude for being supportive. You two are awesome!!

Don't take anything too personally, many people have been hurt by addiction in some form and are lashing out. It's NOT about you. Thankfully, "the powers that be" don't feel we should lose our licenses forever right? Keep on doing what you're doing for you. Recovery first!

I will bow out of your posts at this point, we must agree to disagree because while I am willing to understand your views/feelings on this matter, your feelings are so strong that you are unwilling and/or unable to see any other point of view. Not bashing you at all, just conceding that you and I are beating the horse beyond death.

Well said. I think the point has been made over and over and over again that we should "lose our licenses forever". Got it!

And guess what? It's still is not going to happen!

I still think that nursing would be better served if we came together on this issue and found ways to HELP or REDUCE addiction instead of just blaring out about punishments.

angel's RN · Jul 12, 2007

i hope she doesn't try to make trouble for you!!! i know you like that job. hopefully she just leaves it all in the past.

you and me both!!!!!!:smackingf

but between you and me? looking!! :idea:

's rn

JessicRN · Jul 12, 2007

I am so glad I came across this discussion. I am an RN who is in early recovery(51 days to be exact). Here is a little about me. I am an addict who has tried to get clean since 2001. That is when I was confronted by a very caring nurse manager who knew I had a problem. I entered the impaired nurse program voluntarily because I was never caught diverting. I stayed clean for almost two years. Then I ended up in the hospital with kidney stones hooked up to a dilaudid PCA. After discharge, I relapsed. I have been battling my addiction ever since. I started using heroin on my days off. I continued working without getting caught. I was fired in October of 2006 for being late to work after many verbal and written warnings. In November I tried to commit suicide after being arrested for calling in rx of xanax. My name was in the paper for being arrested(I live in a small town where eveyone knows you). Talk about humiliating. But it wasn't "rock bottom" for me yet. I continued using, had two other suicide attempts, and got arrested again for rx forgery. I was sent to rehab(court ordered) and here I am today.
For the few people that were commenting that are in recovery, you will know what I mean when I say I had a spiritual awakening. I have been fighting this disease for so long, and I am now finally ready to surrender.
I guess according to a few on this discussion, I should lose my license forever and never be able to work again as a nurse. That is your opinion, and you are entitled to it. I just hope addiction never rears its ugly head in your life.
As of today, I am waiting to see if I am eligible for the impaired nurse program. Because I plead guilty to the charges for the rx fraud, my case is under review. I know that I may have my license suspended or be put on probation. But, nursing is all I know. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a nurse when I grew up, not an addict. So I'm willing to do what it takes to continue to practice nursing. I have thought about quitting the field and doing something else, but I feel nursing is my calling. And it is what I want to do.
I'm sure I'll get some negative feedback from a few, but to each their own.
I just want the other nurses in recovery that have been posting to know that you are a good role model to me. Everything that you have said has helped me to feel less bad about being a recovering addict that happens to be a nurse. Thank you!!!

This is the post I am referring to somehow I made a mistake and it went to the other post instead . For those of you who keep making comments to my comment addicted nurses are not a step above the other addicts. Please this post is not about anyone in recovery and it is not about alcoholics. It is about the OP looking for help from someone who diverted drugs.(Originally Posted by rmelvin

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! )

The OP does not care who is in recovery so I am trying to keep bringing this posting back to a drug addict diverting nothing more. Please if you are an alcoholic stay off the post it is not about you make your own post. As for nurses thinking they are a step above the other addicts. I mean drug addicts (not alcoholics) Except if you come to work drunk. Any nurse who uses another persons name to divert drugs is a criminal nothing more there is no excuse and no she should not be forgiven. She or he can go to a corner and get their drugs the old fashioned way and take their chances not use thier liscence or someone elses licence like this poster did. A nurse who gets caught for diverting drugs who feels she should not be punished because "drug addiction is a disease" is definitely putting herself above the others. ALL I AM SAYING IS DRUG DIVERSION IS A CRIME and in my opinion the nurse should lose her licence not temporarily but permanently. No this is not a call for help otherwise she/he would divert the drugs in their own name.

If you are a drug or alcohol addict and did not divert drugs or use another medical person to get your drugs yes you need help and your licence should be up for review with the BON only if you came to work drunk or stoned otherwise it is noones business and you can go to rehab on sick leave and it is noones business . I have nothing but respect for nurses in recovery and yes I know a few.

I promise you if someone used my name to divert drugs if I found out who, I would have them arrested and press civil charges. Why becasue I have been the victim and I almost lost my licence because I almost could not prove I did not take the drugs myself. (I have a pretty good idea since the suspect nurse was found calling in a narcotic prescription to the pharmacy and shot up in the staff bathroom and left all her paraphenilia in the bathroom). So no I have little compassion for a nurse who diverts drugs even if she was my best freind. When you become the victim rather then the addict come back on the post and talk about it. :nono: :nono:

Cattitude · Jul 12, 2007

When you become the victim rather then the addict come back on the post and talk about it. :nono:

I've been both victim AND addict . I have been victimized by the person you are supposed to trust the most in the world. The one that gave you life. Yep, my Mother.

When your own mother steals from you,lies to you, tries to manipulate you for years and years on end, well that hurts worse than any coworker could ever do.

So yes, I can "talk about it"!