drugs

enita · May 1, 2003

I think nurses who go out the night before are asking for trouble

New CCU RN · May 1, 2003

Well, it doesn't have to be a "younger" nurse. What exactly constitutes going out to party? Just wondering if you mean out getting hammered at a bar or what. The answer is kinda a no brainer...

amk1964 · May 1, 2003

i hate working with a nurse who still smells like alcohol[ or worse-sex] the next morning and all they talk about all day is how wasted they were.

i like to go out occasionally also, but clean-up your act before showing up at work.

GAstudent · May 1, 2003

I am a young mom of two kids and the only time that I drink is if my kids are away for the night (so not very often). I don't go out and party. I stay at home or go to a friends house and hang out for the night with my husband and a few friends. We usually watch a movie and drink a few beers. Even if I have to work the next day I will still drink a few beers but will get up in the morning and take a walk to get me up and going, get cleaned up and go to work. I don't discuss getting drunk the night before with anyone at work because it's none of their business and a pt could hear and that's not right. Must say that a few of my co workers discuss what they do and I have heard on co worker asking someone on her cell phone if they could get her some drugs..must say that the DON received a letter in the mail, with no return address and no name on it at all. Yes she was actually a friend of mine, but at work it is wrong. They gave her a drug test and failed then she said she wanted another and passed, well she thought that she was ok since she passed but then they gave her another one the next day and she failed. She had taken a blocker that is not picked up by the test. She was only a CNA but still she did not need to work caring for pts and dealing with meds at work if she was doing drugs. What if she did it at work and took someones meds and did something wrong at work and hurt a pt and I knew this and did nothing about it. Sorry but I am not putting someones life in hands like that.

New CCU RN · May 1, 2003

I am fortunate to not work with anyone (at least that I know of), that behaves in such manner... I am assuming that you mean getting hammered, etc before going into work.

nurse2002 · May 1, 2003

I am close to a wonderful nurse who would never put her career on the line by abusing drugs or alcohol.

One night she had one glass of wine before she went to bed. The next day it was still on her breath. (Im positive she brushed her teeth.) Well, a fellow nurse reported that she smelled alcohol on this nurses breath and the board of nursing put her through ten kinds of heck. Very devastating. She retained her license, but was very humiliated.

Many colleages that she had worked with over the years had to write letters the the board of nursing on her behalf. She had to take random breathalizer tests. And random blood alcohol levels.

Another story. Off topic a tad.

I know another nurse who was going through a divorce and lost much weight quickly. Her new place of employment actually accused her of doing drugs. They did not ask for a drug test. They said she was being let go due to her obvious "cocaine addiction." They ended up settling out of court with her and she retired at the early age of 32. AFTER being humiliated by The Board.

Liddle Noodnik · May 1, 2003

Originally posted by enita
What do you think of younger nurses going out to party the night before a shift on duty

The same way I feel about older nurses who stay up too late watching TV or drinking at home or whatever ...

If it affects their performance they need to be told. I used to party a lot and would go to work still hungover and I KNOW I wasn't the best nurse around during that period of time.

Liddle Noodnik · May 1, 2003

Originally posted by GAstudent
She was only a CNA ...

Be careful when you say "only a ... " whatever! These are the guys and gals who are our eyes and ears and often know the patients better than WE do! We'd be SKEWERED without them!

Liddle Noodnik · May 1, 2003

Originally posted by nurse2002

Her new place of employment actually accused her of doing drugs. They did not ask for a drug test. They said she was being let go due to her obvious "cocaine addiction." They ended up settling out of court with her and she retired at the early age of 32. ...

Yet those who DO have a problem go undetected. Very sad.

Re the nurse with alcohol on her breath, though -- it is possible that she denied having more than a glass of wine the nite before but really had more; if she had a problem she would most likely deny it.

The moral of the story is, ya never know what goes on behind closed doors... AND you can never assume that someone "does" or "doesn't". Appearances often lie. I got the greatest reviews when I was drinking to excess, even my own sister told the doctors when I was seeking help later that I didn't drink or smoke dope much at all. And SHE was my closest friend! I hid it REALLY well!

jschut, BSN, RN · May 1, 2003

Hmmm... how about a DON who says to "Call me!" if you need anything, but she never answers her phone because she's out partying.

or...

Sweeps it under the rug when a patient's liquid narcotic is gone and replaced with water....

Interesting place I work in.....

Nurses and DON alike all go out to "party" together....wish I had someone to report it to and it wouldn't jeopardize my job.....

Disablednurse · May 1, 2003

JulieLPN, you do. Notify the BON annomously(sp) Let them check on it.