drug diversion

AJJKRN · May 23, 2017

Trust of employees with clear protocols and expectations...

allnurses Guide · May 23, 2017

Hello, everyoneI am a graduate student. My major is nursing administration. I am supposed to find a current trend issue in nursing administration and make a research that could be published in any nursing administration journal.I am thinking about doing research about ( strategies help nurse administrator to prevent nurses drug diversion (stolen)).What do you think about the topic?Do you have any suggestions or strategies that support nursing administrators to prevent nurses drug diversion (stolen)?

I think it's a good idea. But the topic would be meaningless without including a discussion why nurses divert. Is it a symptom of active addiction where the person does something they would never do sober. Or is it simply someone who steals to make money? A single Vicodin can have a street value of up to $150.00 in some places. It is a more complicated problem than it would seem on it's face.

Hppy

JKL33 · May 25, 2017

Well, I'll be blunt. Please don't touch this with a 10-ft pole unless you plan to do the topic some justice. I've become curious about this as a result of a recent lecture I attended and in subsequently reading more about it, I'm appalled at some of the BS that's out there, the ''let's guesstimate how big this problem is'' and even worse, "look for the following signs in your co-workers/employees" utter crap. The THREAT and fear of being accused is becoming just another weapon at the disposal of TPTB. Why don't you do a study on the number of ways in which workplaces could close any and all gaps that put nurses into situations where medications may not be handled according to policy (and/or best practice) - - which is NOT the same thing as actually "diverting" drugs for profit or personal use. That's a tall order, since IMO it begins with proper staffing. I've worked in some situations where management's ideas for handling controlled substances put EVERYONE at risk - including the nurse who might actually have a problem, sadly. So...if you want to do yet another study about how ___% of us are probably addicted to a controlled substance, or misusing one, or at risk of diverting medications because of our stressful profession....no thanks.

I have a great idea. How about researching the number of nurses who have come down with deadly diseases, or any kind of sickness at all, because they took a drink of water while in a "patient care area" AKA the nurse's station.

AJJKRN · May 25, 2017

I have a great idea. How about researching the number of nurses who have come down with deadly diseases, or any kind of sickness at all, because they took a drink of water while in a "patient care area" AKA the nurse's station.

True that!

They should just come out and say what it really is, protection of their electronics, and stop treating us like little children that have people's lives in their hands every shift. I will never understand why we get lied too on such obvious things...

rleah, BSN, RN · May 30, 2017

True that!
They should just come out and say what it really is, protection of their electronics, and stop treating us like little children that have people's lives in their hands every shift. I will never understand why we get lied too on such obvious things...

I second this!

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jun 13, 2017

There is a lot of information re healthcare workers + drug diversion.

After literature review, determining best practices, With buy-in from current employer, could look at reviewing current employers practice and modeling a project similar to Mayo clinic...or look at education campaign within a facility.

Mayo Clinic efforts:

10 Ways to Halt Drug Diversion by Healthcare Workers

ANA: American Nurse Today

The painful problem of drug diversion and what you can do

The impaired nurse: Would you know what to do if you suspected substance abuse?