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.

[dfk, RN, CRNA]

BSNin2007: I hear ya. I think the only solution is to have periodic randomized drug testing, on the spot.

My thinking about this has evolved over the years. Without getting into a much larger debate, I'll say that I don't believe such testing is necessary for college athletes, or government bean counters, or auto mechanics. But I'll gladly pee in a cup for my employer anytime it asks me to. They pay me well, and treat me well, and the least I can do is to show up unimpaired so that I won't kill or injure their patients.

As for fearing treatment by a drugged-up medical provider, all I can say is: I'm VERY careful about who takes care of me. You should be as well.

i'm all for what you have said thus far. and i agree completely with your previous statements. what i am about to say is not proactive of users. you say you are VERY careful about who takes care of you. i fully believe that you are. but, i don't care who you are (meaning anyone), no one person is able to tell everything about anyone. what i mean is that the worst addict can be the best liar, both physically and verbally. now, don't get me wrong, this is not a blanket statemet, but trust me, people can get burned by the best of them. what i'm trying to say is one REALLY never truly knows, at best, all the time...

[BSNin2007]

DKF,

I think most of us,including yourself, know that users and addicts, in particular, can be the BEST liars and manipulators. I also believe if you work side by side with someone long enough, especially if you are a medical professional there should be some indicators. So as a patient who is receiving medical treatment from someone for the first time you may not have a clear indication if that person uses, but I'd bet a dime to a dollar someone they work with does.

[jeroboam]

I agree completely. One can never be certain about anyone or anything. However, making the proper inquiries to the right people regarding a provider can lessen one's chance of having an incident of medical error. As health care workers, we're in a better position than anyone else to make sure inquiries ourselves. I had surgery a few years ago; you can be sure that I hand-selected the guy who put me under.

[scaredofshots]

OMG I'd report them. What are you gona do when something bad happens...Blame yourself... Will you be able to look at yourself in the mirror after their funeral... Something to think about...

[augigi, CNS]

Well, perhaps you, being from Australia, are unaware, but consensual homosexual conduct between adults is not illegal anywhere in the United States. And sexual conduct doesn't impair one's mental status, but drug use certainly does, both during and after use.

Further, certain conduct (namely, that conduct which endangers others) should be, and is, within the purview of government. Perhaps you're an anarchist, perhaps not, but most people that I know want the government to protect them from people who are dangerous, and Ecstasy users whose day job is anesthesia are just that: dangerous.

And by the way, as someone who is slightly to the left of Ted Kennedy, I'm all for personal freedom and civil liberties... except when it comes to issues like this. If you want to live in the Outback and take Ecstasy, god bless you. When you do so, and then expect to be putting me under for my surgery in Alice Springs the next day... no, I don't think so. In that case, you should lose your license.

And that brings me to this: a license from the government to engage in a specialized occupation is a PRIVILEGE, not a right. When you violate the requirements for maintaining that privilege, you lose your license. We don't care if the kid at McDonalds used Ecstasy last night, because his cash register is preprogrammed to give the correct change. At the worst, I may get someone else's order in my bag. But we do care about airline pilots, and doctors, and nurses, and bus drivers, and child care workers, etc.

I'll repeat my advice: report these women.

I think she said "underage" which would imply it was not between consenting adults.

I happen to agree with you, although I don't appreciate the implication that Australians are ignorant fools sitting in the "outback". Personally, I live in a city of ~5 million, and have the same access to news that you do.

[BSNin2007]

"originally posted by kaeri

i believe you should not report them. it may be that the substance is illegal - but so is under-age drinking/drink-driving/homosexuality/ smoking pot etc.they are not using mdma the night prior to their shift.

dont meddle - the chance of them making a mistake is less than the person who was on an alcohol soaked bender until 1 am monday morning. or smoked pot last evening. marijuana has a much longer half-life and 1 joint/bong can stay in the adipose tissue for 48-72hrs. i've seen +ve results 6 - 8 weeks after last joint."

augigi,

underage drinking is what was said ^ above. to me this comment about homosexuality was clearly either ignorance or prejudice. either way it is not for me to judge someone's sexual orientation, and it is certainly not illegal!

[kaeri]

"sit in the outback and take ectasy" - anericans can be quite ridiculous when it comes to how others live, cant they? no idea.....

and to the others who are hoping for the perfect world: have you got your questionaires ready for your next health professional to fill out? "do you have any illnesses? are you taking sudafed? did you drink last night?

good luck with that.

jeez: why do you people believe you are so right?

[kaeri]

"originally posted by kaeri

i believe you should not report them. it may be that the substance is illegal - but so is under-age drinking/drink-driving/homosexuality/ smoking pot etc.they are not using mdma the night prior to their shift.

dont meddle - the chance of them making a mistake is less than the person who was on an alcohol soaked bender until 1 am monday morning. or smoked pot last evening. marijuana has a much longer half-life and 1 joint/bong can stay in the adipose tissue for 48-72hrs. i've seen +ve results 6 - 8 weeks after last joint."

augigi,

underage drinking is what was said ^ above. to me this comment about homosexuality was clearly either ignorance or prejudice. either way it is not for me to judge someone's sexual orientation, and it is certainly not illegal!

as you have gotten personal and assumed i am ignorant or prejudiced: it may surprise you "living in the land of the free" that some places of the world - maybe the ones that havent been invaded by your guns, your bible or your media - still regard homosexuality as illegal.

of course, we in australia dont have many modern conveniences. my thinking may change when we no longer give a belt of whiskey to some-one needing a leg amputated.

[BSNin2007]

kaeri,

Just because someone disagrees with your point of view is no reason to condemn an entire country. Just as I certainly don't believe all Australians are sitting around doing X because one person made a, from what I gathered, sarcastic comment. If you don't like being judged or labeled why would you do it to others?

[BSNin2007]

Kaeri,

This is not a political website so I will not defend my political views, I will however state that you have no idea who I voted for and what my stance on foreign affairs is so please don't assume you do.

[Focker, CRNA]

RN/BSN/JD/ESQ

Thank goodness for your conviction. I am seriously worried that I may receive medical care from some of the respondents to this thread. Some of these people are defending the actions of the alleged users so voraciously one may begin to question their motives.

When someone defends gay's right to marry, do you assume they are gay? When someone is pro-choice, do you assume they've had an abortion? If I support the 2nd amendment do you assume I own a gun? That would clearly be faulty logic.

There is no need for basically accusing half the respondents of doing drugs themselves, it accomplishes nothing but devaluing the worth of your opinion in this discussion. If you disagree with someone, try an intelligent rebuttal instead.

[BSNin2007]

Focker,

Something as serious as someone who administers anesthesia doing illegal drugs? I don't see the justification in defending them unless you agree with it. I am not saying you,or anyone who feels it is okay is a user themselves, but I would question their ability to make responsible decisions and therefore their ability or priveledge, it is not a right, to hold a license. This is clearly not in the same league as defending being pro-choice or gay marriage. These "professionals" are violating people and risking lives through their illegal and irresponsible behavior.