Drug Seeker Stories

Specialties Emergency Nursing Q/A

Well I had one of those lovely drug seekers the other night. Patient said she had a kidney and was peeing prue blood. Well, I had her get a CC urine. When I went back to get her urine, I noticed her finger was bleeding and some blood spots on the sheet. And her urine was a weird pink color. So I told the doc and he had me cath her....her urine was completely clear. Of course, she tried to make up a story about how sometimes she pees blood but sometimes pees clear too. Whatever...sent her out the door...

Also had someone come in 3 times in one week who used a new name everytime. Turns out he was going to ER after ER in my city using differents names for drugs...sent him out the door and to jail.

Specializes in Trauma/ED.

We had a regular that we wouldn't give narcs to for his "complaint of the day", he was DC'd from triage and then he walked over to our 2 story stair well and jumped! Bilat Tib/Fib fx's, said, "Now you will give me pain meds!"

Had a woman come in with her friend for chronic knee pain, goes on to state a WHOLE list of allergies, suprise supries NSAIDS and Toradol first on the list. Gets a couple percocet and discharge later. Next day her friend comes in with her and her friend has "knee pain" same list of allergies same issues, same doc and me. They now know he isnt going to give our narcs though they stop in reguraly to see who is on. =( This is the one thing that kind of gets me down and out about ER nursing.

Give me someone that NEEDS REAL help any day not matter what they come in for!

Specializes in ED.

Had a woman come in for "seizures". She had a long list of meds including po morphine. On her allergies, morphine was listed. When I asked her about it, she told me she was allergic to IV morphine and had to have dilaudid instead. She then told me she was due for her pain meds and ativan and needed them immediately. I explained that she would have to wait to be seen by the MD prior to getting any meds. A few minutes later, she proceeded to have a "seizure". Another nurse and I went in and did the Oklahoma seizure test on her, which she passed with flying colors. To do the Oklahoma seizure test, have two nurses at the bedside, on next to the patient and the other at the foot of the bed. The nurse at the side of the bed asks the other nurse how to perform the test. The nurse at the foot of the bed explains (out loud) to rub the inside of the left foot (all while actually performing said task) and the right arm will twitch. Yep, my patient's right arm definitely started twitching when her left foot was rubbed. We were laughing so hard, we had to leave the room. Consequently, she received no meds during her stay.

Specializes in ER.

Recently pulled to the ER for a night and a pt that comes in with a left elbow injury stated he wasnt sure what happened. Going over his social assessment do you smoke use etoh etc pt states "No I DONT use drugs never have, these arent iv marks I just donated blood and the lady had a hard time sticking me"

Sure she did that would explain all of the iv track marks running up and down both of your arms.

Same night couple hours later lady comes in with abd pain, dr suspects appendix. Psych Assessment if she has history of previous suicide attempt pt states "no these scars aren't from me cutting myself or drugs I was in a car wreck" keep in mind her arms were completely covered so I never saw her arms to this point. She rolls up her arms and has nothing but what looks to me to be scars from slitting wrists and old and fresh iv marks.

Specializes in CAPA RN, ED RN.

Gotta keep in mind these people are feeling pretty proud of themselves for figuring out a way to score and giving us bad info so they never have to pay the bill. They know the mandates that we have to treat pain fairly aggressively. The ability to work us only lasts so long though and I figure it causes them more problems in the long run. But then I don't think like an addict.

Specializes in ED.

What I find amazing is that from California to Boston, Montana to Texas and all over the globe these people use the exact same methods and stories. Is there a handbook out there for drug seekers or maybe a website?

Frequent drug seekers :

1. A beautiful mid-age lady : c/o fell down and show the 'painful area' which is on her feet..coloured with blusher and lipstick! She had an episode of overdose once and cardiac arrest : CPR done.narcan given ---> back to life and now back to the old habit again.OMG!

2.Fifties old lady. Frequently come with a letter from a doctor which state her condition which is 'very painful' and requesting for peth.

Somehow after over a hundred times given their 'food of life' they were blacklisted in our center.

Thanks God.

Specializes in ICU.

I had a 20-something-year-old man first try acting like his arms and legs were painted on - spilling his dinner all over himself, pooping the bed. Then he tried screaming at me - I told him I was getting the paperwork to have him removed from the hospital. Then he started sobbing like a BABY - "I just need some diazepam for my pain." :no: Here, buddy, have some ketorolac and start acting like a grown up.

Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

Do y'all think that pain med's work differently on everyone? Meaning, do some people get this crazy good feeling from them and others just go to sleep and don't feel the "happy" effects? I just wonder, other than an addictive personality, what makes people seek out that recreational dosage while others just put them down and walk away when they don't need them anymore. I can't help but wonder if perhaps some people (most?) just don't feel any euphoria what-so-ever and If so, why the heck is that?

Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

"Im allergic to aspirin, ibuprofen, toradol...." Why don't you just say, "I'M ALLERGIC TO EVERYTHING BUT DILAUDID!"

The best is, "what does is this? Oh 1mg isn't enough!" Most legit people don't know anything about doses etc, I just want to say, "can you make it any more obvious!?"

We had a lady come in who had a history of cancer, but was somehow always admitted to our oncology ward. She was middle-age, morbidly obese, and one particularly busy night when we were busy taking care of...well, y'know...real problems...she came out of her room, wailing up and down the hallways, "Oh Jesus! Oh Lord...Jesus, help me!" Up and down, all around. Myself and several of the other new nurses just stared in amazement, all of us fully aware of her games but realizing it was being taken to a new level before our eyes.

One of us snapped out of it and jumped for the phone to page the docs again. Another one headed into the hallway to start an assessment. And then, out of the back room, our experienced coworker emerged.

"Go back to your room and stay there, Mrs. X. You're keeping all of these other patients awake. And if you're up and walking around, your pain mustn't be that bad! Now go!"

I swear on a stack of Bibles, that patient was never the same again.

I used to be the drug sniffer dog.. Then I realized, just give them what they want, they'll be back but it will be quick. I know they can get better stuff on the street..

Had a pt tonight that continues to sign in with fake names, sickle cell. Couldn't do much before because I couldn't remember her last used name. Tonight I did.

I was amazed at how confident she felt about yelling at me and demanding the doctor order dilaudid and Benadryl every 10 minutes until the police entered her room.

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