Impaired Nurses

Nurses Recovery

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NurseDiane

298 Posts

Oh, I know blueheaven---that was my point with the obese nurses (and we've all seen them, what a HORRIBLE example that is for the patients we take care of). However, if the BON or another nurse "turned them in" or tried to "help" them, then the words DISCRIMINATION would be flying all over the place---and they'd be screaming about being judged because of their appearance and their weight. However, nurses with substance abuse issues get judged and talked about behind their backs and have fingers pointed at them all the time----and they have to swallow it. The bottom line is that the people judging the nurses with substance abuse really have absolutely NO CONCEPT of what this disease entails, they look at it as a character flaw, which it is absolutely not.

LOL---IQ tests before anybody starts working....LOL Likewise--are there any tests for laziness and not pulling your weight? How about tests for abuse of sick time and chronic lateness? How about incompetence and working in an area which is completely foreign to a nurse when they are floated to another unit? In my opinion, a nurse who lacks the skills to work in their area, or who "take advantage" of other nurses and/or the system are a hazard to patients, and often those things can't be "fixed". Taking a MICU nurse and putting that nurse in OB to cover a sick call is as dangerous as it gets---and I've seen it done.

I am not trying to make excuses or imply that nurses who have abuse/addiction issues should be working under the influence of drugs. But, what I am trying to say is that an excellent nurse is always an excellent nurse, and should not be judged on her nursing ability because of a substance abuse problem. Nurses should be a source of support and help for someone with an addiction problem---not be "shaming" them and putting them down because of it. I notice the tone in some of the posts where a nurse is asking about "turning in" the nurse to the BON---and that tone is often riddled with anger, criticism and disgust. Furthermore, the nurses who want to "turn the in" want to do it anonymously. Why do it anonymously? Be honest and up front with that nurse---talk to that nurse, express your concern and explain to him/her that it is your responsibility to report them to the nursing administration and BON, and it is not because you are mad or want punitive action to be taken. You are doing it so that the nurse can get help and be able to return to nursing and continue being the excellent nurse they've always been. Doing that anonymously is like "hiding"---almost like the nurse doing the reporting is "shamed" for some reason.

In my opinion and experience, nurses, who are supposed to be the most caring and empathetic people on the face of the earth, are often the polar opposite when it comes to dealing with other nurses who are dealing with substance abuse/addiction problems. Suddenly, those excellent nurses who have the issues are demoted and have become "bad" nurses, which is not true at all.

Specializes in Rehab, Infection, LTC.

"an excellent nurse is always an excellent nurse"

i totally disagree! i am an excellent nurse (IMO) but when i am using actively, i am a horrible nurse and have no business being near a patient.

as for your friend that goes to the pain clinic....she IS an impaired nurse. just because you get your narcotics from a doctor does not mean you are not impaired.

and as for those HORRIBLE examples of morbidly obese nurses....i'm one of those too.

if you honestly think your friend went halfway accross the country and FORGOT to take her pain meds with her? she's got you snowed!

Specializes in Rehab, Infection, LTC.

I am so grateful to the BON. Their sole job is to protect the public from me and nurses like me. When I had to go in front of the board members, it was the most horrifying experience. they raked me over the coals. a few of them didnt want to give me a second chance. they wanted to revoke my license right then and there. but a couple of them knew the people that were helping me on my side of things to get sober so they gave me one chance. if i relapse, i doubt they will give me another chance.

so they ordered me to rehab, ordered me to have a contract with TNPAP and put my license on probation.

all that helped me save my life!

addicts are manipulators. the BON has to have pretty stringent rules to go by so they don't get manipulated by us.

my case manager at TNPAP is STILL active in my recovery even after i graduated 2 yrs ago from my contract.

i am so grateful for all of their rules. those rules, those meetings, those drug tests kept me from working impaired anymore and probably saved someone's life.

so for that, i am forever grateful.

NurseDiane

298 Posts

southernbeegirl---I agree with you, an nurse who is working while impaired is not an excellent nurse. What I meant was an excellent nurse who is in recovery is still an excellent nurse---drug abuse does not take those skills away from you. I guess I was misunderstood.

I think my whole point with my posts is that nurses should be more supposrtive of their peers rather than whispering behind their backs and smiling to their faces, passing judgment when they most likely have no idea what the whole story is, and just generally being completely unsupportive and making their jobs and lives a million times harder than they already are.

As far as the nurse who went to her father's funeral.........I actually do not know her, but having had the experience of my father dropping dead on the golf course, I can totally understand being in a state of mental confusion. When I got the call about my father, I was at work in an ED in NYC, and I took a yellow cab from NYC out to eastern Long Island----but I forgot to bring my purse, any money, a coat (in March), and I sat in the back seat and trembled the whole ride, even though they medicated me in the ED because I was shaking uncontrollably. So, I can understand that situation.

I am very glad that you got help, beegirl. I hate the gossip that happens in the hospital every day----I stay away from it. I guess I am one of the rare nurses who understands that nobody is perfect, we all have our flaws and sometimes we all need help. Needing help doesn't make us weak, but many people avoid asking for help because of that gossip and stigma.

What I don't understand is........most people get stigmatized for using drugs and alcohol, but movie stars and musicians and celebrities get MORE attention and accolades when they enter rehab and do their time!! What a double standard, huh?

exnursie

86 Posts

and, i do know for a fact that the florida bon mandated that she go to that place in atlanta----i saw the paperwork and sat with her while she cried about it costing $100,000 and how she couldn't afford it. (it has also been discovered that "some" bon have "deals" with certain treatment places, a "kickback" system, you wash my back and i'll wash yours kind of thing.....) they had her running every which way but loose. she was not a florida resident, and her family was out of state, and she tried to work something out where she could go to a rehab place near her family and they wouldn't allow that either. she ended up having her license placed on "emergency suspension"---but she did go to hanley hazeldon in west palm beach because they took her insurance

http://www.ipnfl.org/faq.html#impairment

[color=#ffffff]"ipn does not provide the evaluation and/or treatment required, but does provide referrals to board-approved addictionist, psychiatrist, and/or other treatment professionals. these addictionists, psychiatrists, and/or treatment providers are located throughout the state of florida and referrals will be made to a provider geographically closest to the nurse's place of residence."

NurseDiane

298 Posts

LOL----You guys can pull all the quotes and stuff out that you want. I saw the paperwork and know her situation.

Also---remember in that particular quote, it says "Board-approved".

moonmaid50

14 Posts

Specializes in Nursing Adminstration.

I am a nurse in recovery, still being monitored & most likely I'll continue that monitoring after my consent agreement is over. At first I was so ashamed at the pickle I'd gotten myself into I was afraid of everything. But then I started going to Caduceus & Impaired Nurse meetings & low & behold I wasn't alone any more. In fact I saw many nurses & docs I had worked with over the years.

Yes it is hard to get a job while under contract. I tried saying "I am in a program with the Board of Nursing" and that got some understanding. But the bottom line is getting someone to take a chance on you. I've heard many people say they would hire a monitored nurse over one not being monitored but let's get real. Doesn't happen that way.

I finally got a job as guess what?? A case manager monitoring other nurses! I finally got the point too. I see why we need monitoring, meetings, and most of all advocacy. I don't get all upset when I have to call in EVERY day or get my meeting lists signed. I like the meetings now, a lot. I miss them if I'm traveling or work keeps me away. And no, being a case manager doesn't make me a hard a$$ to the other nurses. My PHP handles Docs, PA's, & a host of health care workers but the nurses have my attention. I do my best to let them know what is going on and why. I've spent hours on the phone trying to get a broke, out of work nurse with no insurance into a decent treatment program finding help with finances and even driving a few there myself.

We as nurses need to stick up for our sisters & brothers who need help, not throw them under the bus. Until we recognize that addiction can get it's hooks into ANYONE and that treatment really does help we are still in the stone age when it comes to our own care.

Living happy, joyous & free

morte, LPN, LVN

7,015 Posts

and, i do know for a fact that the florida bon mandated that she go to that place in atlanta----i saw the paperwork and sat with her while she cried about it costing $100,000 and how she couldn't afford it. (it has also been discovered that "some" bon have "deals" with certain treatment places, a "kickback" system, you wash my back and i'll wash yours kind of thing.....) they had her running every which way but loose. she was not a florida resident, and her family was out of state, and she tried to work something out where she could go to a rehab place near her family and they wouldn't allow that either. she ended up having her license placed on "emergency suspension"---but she did go to hanley hazeldon in west palm beach because they took her insurance

http://www.ipnfl.org/faq.html#impairment

"ipn does not provide the evaluation and/or treatment required, but does provide referrals to board-approved addictionist, psychiatrist, and/or other treatment professionals. these addictionists, psychiatrists, and/or treatment providers are located throughout the state of florida and referrals will be made to a provider geographically closest to the nurse's place of residence."

this may well be the "official" position, doesnt mean it is what happens, in fact we dont know the time frame of the incident under discussion, the official position may have been changed!

NurseDiane

298 Posts

No kidding,morte................we all know how "that" happens...........

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