Two of my friends who are CRNA's take recreational ecstasy almost every weekend. They will take it on Saturday night...stay up all night....and then try to sleep it off on Sunday. When Monday morning comes around they go to their contract per diem positions and perform anesthesia mostly in private practice plastic surgery clinics.
I am worried that one day they may provide anestheisa while the ecstasy is still running through their systems.
A couple of questions for those of you who are currently CRNAs.
1. How do you approach a CRNA and tell them you are worried they might harm a patient while under the influence.
2. What else would you do to make sure they don't harm anybody? Should I contact the state board or should I mind my own business? For the record I am just a nursing student.
They have both been practicing for 8 years and have never had any problems in the past. I just know I wouldn't want to be patient under their care.
i think everything is for the people but in the right amount, some drugs were legal and become illegall because people were abuisng it, some are legal in on place but illegal in another. Depending on the state law. General law is simple : AS SOON AS YOU Control it and it does't impair you performance in professionall and private life, it is fine. if these women are proving themselves for past two years, I don't think they have a problem.
Anyway MDM is used to treat depression in small amouts.
This is a joke, right? I sincerely hope you don't have a nursing license.
I had to respond to this thread because this is a "hot button" issue in anesthesia. Illegal drug use in anesthesia has been around for yrs. and continues to get worse- with providers, both MDAs, and CRNAs. To my knowledge, one use with ecstacy, and you are addicted-what we call in anesthesia-"impaired". We all know one addiction easily leads to another, so the argument," what one does on the weekend is one's own business", frankly doesn't hold water, in my humble opinion.Ecstacy does change your brain chemistry- the addict will next look for a high in any way possible-I could amaze you with the stories I've heard over the last 25 yrs. of different impaired MDAs or CRNAs and the wierd ways they sought to get high, but I don't believe in spreading that kind of info around. You don't let a Wolf in a hen house- that's what you are doing by allowing that situation to persist- Anesthesia IS trying to clean up it's act! You should do an intervention, and if not successful, make an anonymous phone call. When I put a patient to sleep, I try to think of that pt. as my Mom laying there in front of me, and take care of that pt. the way I would want someone to take care of my Mom. We owe as much to our patients. Think about the life you could be saving- your FRIEND'S, as well as one of their PATIENTS'. I am aCRNA in practice over 25 yrs.
I know of a few nurses that smoke pot. that is about as far as I will tolerate. an crna on "E" is ridiculous! If they are willing to put that much school on the line and risk there jobs, how much value do you think that they have in the patients they provide care for?
To my knowledge, one use with ecstacy, and you are addicted-what we call in anesthesia-"impaired". We all know one addiction easily leads to another
i am glad to say your career has been long and probably most fulfilling. however, your blanket statement above is, in my opinion, just rediculous. as u have stated, to YOUR knowledge.. but, to MY knowledge, this statement proves to be false. i did ecstacy once in my early twenties, WELL before i even knew what it is i wanted to do with my life. and i can assure you, since I am where i am, it didn't have residual effects. albeit, after doing it, and feeling pretty good, i read up on it, and the lasting effects of continued use scared the sh!t out of me. so, i have left it to the other public.
now, for your other statement regarding one EASILY leads to another, again, this is just plain naive, in my opinion. you blanket the statement again that what is good for one, is good for all. now, you may say that "in your experience", which of course is fine, but remember, not all are alike.
if u like your beer, or wine, are u EASILY using other stuff? are U "impaired"?
now, i am only saying this as rebuttal, and no personal attack to your beliefs. but i just have to say it's not "correct" in what you say regarding all.
so, on behalf of those that have moved on and NOT become addicted, thank you for your input.
Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
Jack, you are absolutely correct...I must have misread your post and I truly apologize.
We are definately on the same page :kiss
I thought we were. :wink2:
To turn a blind eye to a colleague who is ill, whether it's due to chemcial dependency, serious depression or other psychiatric condition, diabetes that is poorly controlled (we had an anesthesiologist who would frequently become incapacitated due to severe hypoglycemia), lack of sleep, or any other condition/illness that could lead to unsafe conditions for a patient entrusted to our care is not only legally and ethically unacceptable, it's morally reprehensible!
I also agree with your question, "Why must we wait for someone to die before something is done?" This appears to be a societal problem as well. Just recently we had a new traffic light installed at an intersection where several accidents had occurred. Despite the numerous accidents and close calls, nothing was done until a young woman was killed. The light was installed less than a week after her death. Unacceptable!
As far as what to do in this particular instance? Go to the AANA Peer Assistance Advisor resource page http://aana.com/Peer/directory.asp >, pick the state they practice in from the drop down directory, and contact one of the peer advisors listed. I guarantee they will take your call or email seriously. California's link to peer advisors for CRNA's is:
Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
i think everything is for the people but in the right amount, some drugs were legal and become illegall because people were abuisng it, some are legal in on place but illegal in another. Depending on the state law. General law is simple : AS SOON AS YOU Control it and it does't impair you performance in professionall and private life, it is fine. if these women are proving themselves for past two years, I don't think they have a problem.
Anyway MDM is used to treat depression in small amouts.
:wakeneo: :selfbonk:
#1 Ecstasy has never been legal
#2 Ecstasy, having NEVER been legal, is still NOT legal in any of the 50 states
#3 I have never heard of any law that allows you to use illegal substances within your best judgement:rolleyes:
#4 These women DO have a problem because they are violating the conditions of their CRNA license, with no regard to how much work it took to get that license, in favor of getting a "weekend high"
#5 They are not taking prescription MDMA for depression so to justify illicit drug use with that statement is pretty lame...kinda like saying it's okay for a professional to use cocaine on the weekends because other pts with terminal cancer can take it as part of a pain management regimen
:monkeydance:
If you do have a nursing license, I hope we never cross paths because you are demonstrating some really poor judgement with your post.
I think it would do you well to read this entire thread...there is a wealth of information that would be beneficial to you.
Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
As far as what to do in this particular instance? Go to the AANA Peer Assistance Advisor resource page http://aana.com/Peer/directory.asp >, pick the state they practice in from the drop down directory, and contact one of the peer advisors listed. I guarantee they will take your call or email seriously. California's link to peer advisors for CRNA's is:
If I can ever be of assistance in the future should this topic arise, please go to my peer assistance page at this link;
Jack
A clear cut answer to what to do in this situation!
If this behavior was acceptable, then there would be no reason for this website. The organization recognizes the need to assist those CRNAs with possible drug habits clearly stating that in no way, shape, or form is it going to be tolerated should they get caught or hurt somebody.
I have to correct a few factual errors made by a previous poster. A review of the history behind MDMA will reveal that it was in fact, LEGAL for some time (from the early 1900's to 1985). The following is a quote from another source:
In 1985, MDMA/Ecstasy received massive media attention when a group of people sued the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to try to prevent them from outlawing the drug by placing it on Schedule 1. The US Congress had passed a new law allowing the DEA to put an emergency ban on any drug that it thought might be a danger to the public. On July 1st 1985, this right was used for the first time to ban MDMA. (End of quote).
There are a series of very fascinating and well produced documentaries about illegal substances on the History Channnel that clearly explain the circumstances in which MDMA, cocaine, heroin and other illegal drugs became outlawed. The documentaries really cut through the misconceptions and misinformation that is out there.
Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
I have to correct a few factual errors made by a previous poster. A review of the history behind MDMA will reveal that it was in fact, LEGAL for some time (from the early 1900's to 1985). The following is a quote from another source:
In 1985, MDMA/Ecstasy received massive media attention when a group of people sued the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to try to prevent them from outlawing the drug by placing it on Schedule 1. The US Congress had passed a new law allowing the DEA to put an emergency ban on any drug that it thought might be a danger to the public. On July 1st 1985, this right was used for the first time to ban MDMA. (End of quote).
There are a series of very fascinating and well produced documentaries about illegal substances on the History Channnel that clearly explain the circumstances in which MDMA, cocaine, heroin and other illegal drugs became outlawed. The documentaries really cut through the misconceptions and misinformation that is out there.
I stand corrected...on that issue alone.
However, it is illegal today. Therefore, my overall argument has not changed.
Thank you for the valuable information! Would you also mind posting a link, so I can read more?
I've also found that if you enter 1985 MDMA DEA ban into google, you will get alot of good results.
It is true that the FDA never did get around approving it, so it is easy to misinterpret the lack of FDA approval to equal illegality. Of course all of this history background doesn't change the issue in this thread, but it is interesting stuff.
jeroboam
33 Posts
This is a joke, right? I sincerely hope you don't have a nursing license.