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?

Specializes in Lie detection.
Other excellent resources that are excellent are Catittude and Tazzi. They are my heroes!

Anne, RNC

You're mine too :kiss !!! Any one of us that has the guts to post deserves a :bow: ... Kudos to you and hubby.

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you're mine too :kiss !!! any one of us that has the guts to post deserves a :bow: ... kudos to you and hubby.

we are clean, hear us roar!

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you guys rock!!:w00t: :yeah: :balloons:

leslie

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Specializes in Psych/Rehab/Family practice/Oncology.

Oh my gosh. I have been following this thread. I cannot think of anything that would make me more angry then to have somebody use my ID to steal drugs! Plus, I work with terribly ill cancer patients and think how awful for them to not get the proper pain control when nurses divert! I am curious, are there nurses out there who do not fully subscribe to the disease theory and if so, what are your thoughts? I struggle with this!

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
we are clean, hear us roar!

and please know that we are still skilled, compasionate, loving, caring people, but most of all, we are still nurses! and being in recovery we do deserve the honor to care for patients!

to answer the question of what becomes of a nurse who is not willing to follow the bons regulations and remain in recovery, there are places where they end up. some of those end up in jail, some end up dead. some of those that are lucky enough that they don't end up in those places, they lose their husbands or wives, their children, and other family members.

sometimes, before the nurse using on the job overdose accidentally sometimes while on the job, and are found in the bathroom, nurses lounge, or in their vehicle. some have to be found in their car after they have a wreck and take an innocent life as well as their own. i thank god that i was not one of those people. i did have to attend the funeral of one of my first sponsors after i finished treatment.

anne

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Oh my gosh. I have been following this thread. I cannot think of anything that would make me more angry then to have somebody use my ID to steal drugs! Plus, I work with terribly ill cancer patients and think how awful for them to not get the proper pain control when nurses divert! I am curious, are there nurses out there who do not fully subscribe to the disease theory and if so, what are your thoughts? I struggle with this!

Not all nurses who divert shortchange patients. I didn't. I diverted but my pts always got what was ordered for them.

As for the disease part, it all has to do with the brain and receptor sites. Some people have a more addictive personality than others, that's why some become addicted so easily and others can't figure out what the attraction is. If you believe that mental illness is a disease, then how can you not believe that addiction is a disease? The fact that it is recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act should say alot to you.

I am not knocking you for not being sure that this is indeed a disease. Not everyone can understand how it can be considered a disease versus a weakness.

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RIGHT ON TAZZIRN!!!!!!!!!! Good for you. I an very proud of you for your 13 years of soberity. I am a compulsive gambler. It has been since Novermber 17, 1990 since I gambled. I finally woke up after I failed out of Nursing school, and pawned my diamond and wedding band (yep-that's how bad it can get!). Thank goodness that my wonderful husband of 30 years stood behind me the entire time and cheered me on, held me when I cried, and just loved me in general:kiss .

Oh, by the way. I was "told" by a former boss that I was taking drugs, and what kind were they? I denied it, and offered a urine sample to clear things up. Oh no, says she, this is just a "fact finding interview" (exactly what she said):confused: . About a month later, after I worked a short staffed shift (extra, I might add), she called me into the director's office and they fired me for "working impaired". Mind you, they have yet to run a drug test on me. The night shift supervisor told my director that I must be doing drugs because she "found me sleeping at the desk" (another big time story!!). So, there was "nothing eles she could do" but to terminate me. I really tried to get her to run a urine drug screen, but she wouldn't hear it. All in all, it was a really good move for me, I got a job at another hospital, in a new unit, and I love it! Things DO work out in the wash!!

Thanks, 's RN

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Oh, by the way. I was "told" by a former boss that I was taking drugs, and what kind were they? I denied it, and offered a urie sample to clear things up. Oh no, says she, this is just a "fact finding interview" (exactly what she said).

Thanks, 's RN

My answer: "Well, if this is a fact-finding session, then you need all the facts you can get, so I insist on having a drug screen."

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I tried, I really, really did. I even offered to PAY for the d--- thing (sorry!!):chair: , but she wouldn't hear of it. "Didn't need it yet", she says. "Not accuising you", says she. Yeah, right. She also threatened to turn me into the state board!!! Then I told her that without the urine test, it was her word against mine. Apparently she didn't turn me in, 'cuz it's been almost three years and I haven't heard anything about it.

's RN

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Specializes in L&D, M/B.

As this thread has been wondering on..... I have been thinking maybe I should be letting people know that not every nurse addict diverts from where they work. I NEVER took drugs from where I worked. I always gave my pts. their pain meds. as the reason I started on my journey of addiction was for pain reasons. I had (would still have if I do not take care of myself) SEVERE migraines, 3 or 4 times a week. I ended up having rebound headaches from taking so much pain meds.

I was taking benadryl 200mg 3 or 4 times a day (yes I said benadryl) in the END of my addiction with what Fiorniol I could get from my doctor for my headaches. (I was scared to divert thank god and I pray everyday that I stay that way)

Maybe I am telling to much in a public forum but people need to know just how easy it is to become addicted to pain meds. My life was a mess. The only good thing about my life was my nursing job. That is what in the end saved me. I have a great sponser (who is not a nurse), go to NA meetings, go to my nurse support meeting each week, I still have random UDS's monthly. It sounds like a big deal but my life is so much better now. I do not stay hiding in my house in my bed crying with a headache everyday. I have a life. I thank God everyday for that.

Sorry for the long post and for being so open but everyone I work knows who I am and I am proud of what I have with my life in the last 7 years. I have just this past week signed up to go back and get my BSN (what am I thinking..........)

Theresa JFT

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Specializes in Nurse Educator; Family Nursing.

As others have said, it is the compassionate thing to report the drug user to the BON. In many states, there is a clause in the Nurse Practice Act that requires you to report knowledge of drug abuse/diversion by a nurse.

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Specializes in Lie detection.
you guys rock!!:w00t: :yeah: :balloons:

leslie

Thank you so much for the support! It means a lot for us in recovery.

I am curious, are there nurses out there who do not fully subscribe to the disease theory and if so, what are your thoughts? I struggle with this!

Many people do struggle with the belief of addiction as being a disease. They want to believe that an addict can "stop anytime they choose". But with an addict, there is a factor of obsession and compulsion that makes this very difficult. When the addict is using, there is no rational though process going on. The feelings of guilt, morality,etc may come later and the addict can have good intentions but the disease comes knocking again and that goes flying out the window.

In the early stages of my own addiction, I struggled with this as well. I couldn't even call myself an addict let alone say I had a disease. Once I realized that I actually COULD NOT stop using without help, well I admitted what I was and what I had. Treatment for me saved my life. SAVED MY LIFE!!!! I have a progressive and fatal disease. Yes, FATAL. I know that if I use, it will kill me. Now if that doesn't sink in and make it a disease for you (general you) I don't know what will.

Not all nurses who divert shortchange patients. I didn't. I diverted but my pts always got what was ordered for them.

As for the disease part, it all has to do with the brain and receptor sites. Some people have a more addictive personality than others, that's why some become addicted so easily and others can't figure out what the attraction is. If you believe that mental illness is a disease, then how can you not believe that addiction is a disease? The fact that it is recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act should say alot to you.

I am not knocking you for not being sure that this is indeed a disease. Not everyone can understand how it can be considered a disease versus a weakness.

Good post Tazzi.

Also, it's very true that not all nurses that divert, steal from patients. I didn't either. BUT, that's probably only because I didn't use long enough. I'm sure I could have gotten to that point eventually. Thankfully I didn't. I certainly don't knock any addicted nurse that has. Yes, it's a horrible act and stealing from pt's just shows how deeply sick someone has become. I hope any nurse who is sick from addiction finds the help they need. And yes, if you see something, report it.

All in all, it was a really good move for me, I got a job at another hospital, in a new unit, and I love it! Things DO work out in the wash!!

Thanks, 's RN

Congrats on your recovery. Life is better on this side!

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