My CRNA friends do illegal drugs

[DrugReptoNurse]

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.

[zenman]

Sorry, I got interrupted!

I'm not a CRNA but agree with Laughing Gas.

I hope the people condoning this aren't CRNA's. Anesthesia providers have the highest incidence of substance abuse above all other groups. It is an illegal drug. What else do they take? Why would they be honest about ever being impared at work? Turn them in. This is not the cub scouts. If you take your responsibilities seriously about being an anesthetist, you would take some official action. Tell the chief CRNA, or supervisor.

And for god's sake, non nursing people read this board. It looks really bad when nurses tell other nurses to turn the other cheek to substance abuse. At least act like you're mildly bothered.

[RNCRNA2BE]

I think that the posters who are rationalizing the behaviors of the crna's have points in that, yes, alcohol, and not to mention many of the prescription meds these days, can be just as bad and they are legal. However; when I go into work as an RN I like to be at my best. Well rested, have eaten etc. Peoples' lives are on the line, here!!! CRNA's or not, as nurses, we have a responsibility to be at our best mentally and physically.

[nurse4theplanet, RN]

I think that the posters who are rationalizing the behaviors of the crna's have points in that, yes, alcohol, and not to mention many of the prescription meds these days, can be just as bad and they are legal.

Recreational alcohol use and taking prescription medication appropriately do NOT pose a problem. Abusing alcohol and prescription medication are just as harmful and ILLEGAL as taking ecstasy...so I don't see any appropriate rationalization there.

I disagree with previous posters who think its okay for a healthcare professional to use an illegal substance recreationally... Is that why they make us take drug tests at work? What if it was crystal meth or cocaine? I don't think so...

[nursesaideBen]

After reading more of the posts I had to reply. I can't believe that the illegal drug abuse of health professionals is being defended! CRNA's especially hold a patient's life in his/her hands and with that comes responsibility. No, they may not be addicted but that doesn't mean they have no need for help, they wouldn't be using drugs if they weren't getting something out of it. They need help to find a healthy way to cope with stress and life in general. Maybe I'm weird but I would not want a CRNA or anyone for that matter administering meds or anesthesia to me even if they just use illegal drugs "occasionally". These drugs cause mental impairment and when one is mentally impaired she most of the time cannot perform her job properly. If people who were mentally impaired were capable of doing their jobs compentently there would be no laws or rules banning such drugs or behaviors. My heart truly goes out to these professionals but they need to wake up and realize that what they are doing is jepordizing their careers, lives, and most importantly the patients who are trusting them with their lives. Just my opinion.

[RNCRNA2BE]

Recreational alcohol use and taking prescription medication appropriately do NOT pose a problem. Abusing alcohol and prescription medication are just as harmful and ILLEGAL as taking ecstasy...so I don't see any appropriate rationalization there. Its okay for a healthcare professional to use an illegal substance recreationally? Is that why they make us take drug tests at work? What if it was crystal meth or cocaine? I don't think so...

I'm not sure if you understood my post, since I can't really connect what you posted to mine. Either way, is it illegal to abuse alcohol? It's illegal to drive after you've abused or be in public, but not necessarily illegal per se. I never said anything about it being ok to use illegal substances. My point was being impaired is just that no matter what the substance.

[nurse4theplanet, RN]

I'm not sure if you understood my post, since I can't really connect what you posted to mine. Either way, is it illegal to abuse alcohol? It's illegal to drive after you've abused or be in public, but not necessarily illegal per se. I never said anything about it being ok to use illegal substances. My point was being impaired is just that no matter what the substance.

I know. I'm sorry. I was really referring to the very first part of your post and I do realize what your overall tone was...I guess I just get on a soapbox every now and then and a particular post will just spawn a flight of ideas.:monkeydance:

I never realized how strongly I felt about this issue! That's one of the reasons I love this board.

[SimonJester]

As an outsider I know I would not want myself or any member of my family treated by anyone who was using on their days off. I don't care if its one day, two days, or a week... Would you get into an airplane if you knew the pilot was up the night before using? You hold another persons life in your hands... The risk to the patient far outweighs your need to get high…. Find another line of work… State Nursing Boards are created to protect the public…

[SmilingBluEyes]

Would you want a potentially-impaired Health Care worker of ANY sort caring for YOU or YOUR loved one?????

Think not. That should clear it up a bit.

[slinkeecat]

OMG!!!! It truly sickens me that any NURSE would defend illegal, illict drug use... I would report these two nurses to the BON immediately. It is crap like this that hurts our profession... Good grief this truly pisses me off. I think it is disgusting that any one would condone this behavior.

[Alpha13]

Too many people let the law define their morals. I'll dare to say that I can break the law and still remain a decent, ethical person. That doesn't mean I look for laws to break and I can certainly compromise on more serious laws that I disagree with, but recreational drug use is not one of them. (and by recreational I mean infrequent, one hit a week at most) If you guys ever speed or roll through a stop sign I hope you agree with me lest I call you a hypocrite!

Ecstasy is not heroin or cocain. Sure it's harmful, but I'd be willing to argue that alcohol is much more damaging and that even recreational use of that drug would be worse than recreational ecstasy use.

Also, can we stay away from the "image" argument? I know a few physicians that love the image their title gives them, and personally I couldn't care less. Let the docs maintain an image, I'm more interested in what I do rather than how I'm perceived.

[nurse4theplanet, RN]

Ecstasy is not heroin or cocain. Sure it's harmful, but I'd be willing to argue that alcohol is much more damaging and that even recreational use of that drug would be worse than recreational ecstasy use.

Ecstasy is an "unclean" designer drug that also contains various amounts of ephedrine, DXM and ketamine (which produce PCP-like effects), cocaine and methamphetamines.

[GiantHeart21]

I was glad to see that I am not the only one that has experienced high level medical professionals abusing drugs. If you see my post medical professionals abusing drugs, you can read what happened to me. I was really upset when so many people wrote back saying that I must have been lying. I would never make up something such as this. This happenes a lot and while I think that my situation was a bit worse than yours, I did report them by writing an anonymous letter to the hospital admin. Good Luck!!!!!