Nurses Diverting Drugs?

Rustyhammer · Apr 10, 2003

Originally posted by deespoohbear
Yep, same thing happened at our facility. The nurse was removed from her management post and was given a position with no weekends, no holidays, no call. Made for a lot of hard feelings at our facility. This has been about 18 months ago and still hard feelings are harbored against the administration and the nurse in question. Other people have been disciplined (or terminated) for a lot less.

Soo...Is THAT what it takes to get off of call not have to work weekends or holidays? Hmmmm...... :idea:

-Russell

Disablednurse · Apr 11, 2003

In my LTC experience of 23 years, I have seen this happen twice. The first time I was an LPN and discovered it during the pre-shift count of the Tylenol 3. The staff was going to have to go thru a lie detector test and the guilty nurse admitted it to prevent everyone from having to do that. This nurse went thru rehab, continued to work and steal drugs that way until she lost her license. This did not stop her, she continued until her son became a policeman, stole scripts from doctors and got off r/t her son's help. She eventually helped him lose his job r/t her addiction. The second time that I was involved it was a med that got "lost". Never could prove what happened, but learned what all you had to do when something controlled got "lost." Never want to do that again.

New CCU RN · Apr 11, 2003

Originally posted by OBNURSEHEATHER
No, the pyxis does not solve the problem, it just makes every person that gets into it accountable for being in it. Leaves more of a trail.

I would think it would make it at least a little harder for a nurse to divert then... I mean.. it is pretty easy to target who is taking the med, right?

LaurieCRNP2002, MSN, RN, APRN · Apr 11, 2003

Like Ohio, the PA SBON puts out a newsletter (can't remember if it's quarterly or semi-annually) and at the end there is a rather extensive list of those who have had some action against their license. It always amazes (and saddens) me how many of those actions are related to drug or alcohol abuse (either directly or indirectly).

Like Heather said above, Pyxis helps, but if an addict wants to steal drugs to get their fix, I suspect they will find a way, even if there is an automated system. I thankfully have never had experience with this problem personally and hope I never will!

Laurie

Not so newly minted MSN

OBNURSEHEATHER · Apr 11, 2003

Originally posted by New CCU RN
I would think it would make it at least a little harder for a nurse to divert then... I mean.. it is pretty easy to target who is taking the med, right?

Absolutely. But it doesn't change how difficult it is to get the drug. It just signs your name to it. Which, in the throws of addiction, no addict really cares about.

New CCU RN · Apr 11, 2003

Gotcha, I guess that makes sense.... really it is a very sad thing. I feel very bad for anyone who suffers with such an addiction.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2003

, When I was an LPN, I worked w/ an RN who was found unconscious in the bathroom with a syringe still in her arm and several multi-dose vials of MSO4 in her pocket. One LPN had suspected her for a long time and had spoken to our DON, but was blown off.

This RN was also offered rehab, no weekends, no nocs, etc. She refused. It was several years later when I finally saw her name in The State Board newsletter. She was listed under the "license revoked, drug related" section.

mattsmom81 · Apr 11, 2003

Most nurses I know who have diverted drugs have had chronic pain issues vs addiction to narcs, and this is sad.

Those with chronic conditions or are post injury are seen as a 'risk'. I have been injured (OJI plus MVA)required surgery, and was in considerable pain for years, so I am sensitive to this as I have had to overcome multiple obstacles to return to work.

If a nurse takes a RX analgesic.. say for legitimate bouts of arthritis pain... and admits to it or shows up on preemployment drug screen, in my area they likely will have great difficulty getting a job today. Now they may NEED a job, and can DO the job, yet don't dare create a paper trail leading to suspicion and potential losses, so they may in time consider finding painkillers illegally so they can work and bring $$ to their family...

This has been the situation in half a dozen nurses I know who have been caught diverting. They were IMO good nurses in chronic pain who didn't dare admit it... and diverted extra doses their way to control their OWN pain...which was a bad decision on their part of course.

Pain control is paramount today to our patients...but a nurse or doctor in pain seems to be a different animal.

So why couldn't their pain be treated honestly and upfront? Well...if the system allowed them to I feel they would have done so....at least in the situations I encountered.

I'm glad to hear some facilities WILL work with a nurse or doc in this situation but in my area it doesn't often happen. The general rule here is injured staff are discarded/forced out and nurses and docs who need pain control don't deserve to stay in the medical profession. Those attitudes are out there and are unfortunate, IMO.

jfpruitt · Apr 17, 2003

Well, I can't believe all this discussion about RN's and diversion and it was happening right under my nose. I am currently doing my preceptorship at the local VA. My RN that is my instructor was just busted on Friday for diversion!!!!!!!!! He was escorted out by the nurse manager and the police. What a wake up call for me. He really hadn't started working with me yet on giving out patient meds, and maybe now I see why. He was probably afraid I would catch on if I was beside him the whole day.

FutureNurse2005 · Apr 17, 2003

This topic is a sad one to have to deal with, but I appreciate all the thoughts and stories! Before reading this thread, I never would have thought much about it!

Thanks for opening my eyes to something so serious!

TMPaul · Apr 17, 2003

I am the Employee Health NP for the hospital and can tell you first hand from having to do reasonable suspicion drug screens.. It's a big problem that's just getting bigger. In most states (check your nurse practice act) you ARE obligated to report to the nursing board and can be held liable if you knew of a problem and DID NOT report.

Liddle Noodnik · Apr 17, 2003

Hey, drug abuse and addiction IS a sensitive topic, I am GLAD to see it. I'm a recovering alkie and had I not been so scared of what different drugs could do I'd probably be one of the diverters.

Telling on them is doing them a favor so don't hold back; the sooner they are found out the better.

These people taking narcs aren't doing it because they are theives, they are doing it cuz they have a compulsion and a mental obsession that without intervention will go on til they are dead, in jail, or in a mental institution. They live with the guilt and the fear of what they are doing every day. But without the drugs they fear they will die.

Some are in abusive relationships and are doing it for their mate, again feeling that they have no choice. If they don't do it they fear they may be killed.

I think it's hard not to judge nurses who are in this position, but you would not BELIEVE how many of us nurses end up in AA or NA. Nurses are so often giving every ounce of themselves away that they have no clue how to take care of themselves! Many CAN be rehabilitated and then "serve their time" by helping other addicted persons with their own experience. I just LOVE being able to do that for people.