Nurse doing cocaine HELP

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A very close male friend has a new girlfriend. She is an ICU nurse. I have only met her twice and my friend states he is in love with her. I have a big big problem. The last time we went out she broke out a bag of coke. She admitted to me she had a drinking problem as a young teen. From what I saw she still has it. She did mix coke and alcohol that night. My friend told me she doesn't do coke on the days she works. I don't know if I believe that or not. I know where she works. I know her Director. If I tell even without using my name they will know it's me. I will loose my friend who means the world to me, but the ethical and professional in me is giving me the kick. It's been bothering me for a long time. I would like some other opinions before I make up my mind. I know what I should do and I know what will happen if I do it. HELP.

Lori

Just a note about a couple of things:

1. True random drug tests are computer-generated; the names are chosen by a complex computer algorithm. If a unit manager gets info from an outside source that a nurse might be doing drugs off-premises, she has 2 choices: (1) gather info the RIGHT way, via her own observations and those of other nurses, all of which are documented, which can then lead to a direct request for a drug test; or (2) she can ask people to take a "random" drug test, which includes the suspect. However, if the nurse in question hires a competent lawyer, and the lawyer finds out that the test wasn't truly random, then the hospital is going to be in trouble.

2. I wouldn't live in Texas for all the money in the world. I don't need anyone to tell me how to live my life outside of work. There's an old saying: "If you wanna run my life, then pay my bills".

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In all seriousness though. I do believe that in almost all cases our personal lives do affect our job performance, even when we dont mean for them to, or realise that they are doing so. But the bottom line here is that the nurse in question should be turned in. I would not want a coke head, even if its only a once in a while habit, which I doubt seriously, to take care of me, my family, or anyone else. Judgement is affected and this nurse has no business working until she recieves the help that she needs.

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Specializes in oncology, surgical stepdown, ACLS & OCN.
I have not read all 13 pages of this thread, just the 1st and last couple of pages...and all I can say is...... WOW! :smackingf

I can not believe this is even an issue! A nurse displayed illegal activity, in public, in front of strangers.....

Does she need to be reported? Uh...yeah! :uhoh3: I can not believe this is even a question! All that needs to be done is an anonymous call to the Nurse Mgr of the unit...if the OP is not comfortable, then someone else does it. Simply state that so and so nurse was observed to be doing an illegal substance. The Mgr will have that nurse doing drug screening faster than her head can spin!

And, no there is not an issue w/random drug screens. I worked w/a group of nurses that were very, shall we say, coke happy. Their little party lasted for quite a while, maybe a year or so. Guess what happenned to each and every one of them...got reported (not by me, this is when I was still quite naive, many years ago); drug tested, sent through a diversion program and at last count at least 3 of them had permanently lost their licenses d/t not staying clean. One of them ended up in jail.

The original thinking was....'oh, it's fine, I only party when I'm off, it's ok...."; to "well i party all the time now, call in sick cause I'm too ***'d up to go to work", to exchanging drugs/money on breaks to going out to their cars at lunch to get high! I saw it all unfold in front of my eyes. I felt the same way...did not know what to do, was scared cause I was friends w/one of these nurses. Ran for the hills when I saw their house of cards coming down.

Don't be fooled .....being a coke addict is no joke, this person needs help, better sooner than later. Maybe your intervention will keep patients under her care safe and help save her license!

I couldn't agree with you more!!!! It is incredible what goes on and people either except it or they are afraid to say anything or report it to the appropiate people that would make sure something is done. What about the patients that are under the care of these nurses, how could anyone let this take place! Substance abuse and healthcare do not belong in the same world,

that is all there is to it!

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Specializes in Case Mgmt; Mat/Child, Critical Care.
I couldn't agree with you more!!!! It is incredible what goes on and people either except it or they are afraid to say anything or report it to the appropiate people that would make sure something is done. What about the patients that are under the care of these nurses, how could anyone let this take place! Substance abuse and healthcare do not belong in the same world,

that is all there is to it!

Thanks! Like I previously stated, this is a "no brainer" issue....or should be anyway. Anyone who needs to question whether or not a nurse doing drugs should be reported....well, that needs some serious reflection.

We all know there is the "right"/"legal" way of doing things, no one is arguing that point or even questioning that things s/b done legally....

Bottom line is....zero tolerance; nurse and drugs do not mix (unless he/she's the one giving them :rotfl: ) LOL.

In all seriousness, we really can't afford to have a nurse caring for patients whose off duty habits are certainly going to affect them...maybe not today, but one day soon this nurse is gonna crash and burn.

This issue really doesn't need to be clouded or diverted from it's sole intent: turn the nurse in....help her, help her patients!

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
Illegal use of drugs is exactly what it is, illegal.

and everyone should have a problem with druggies

whether at work impaired or elswhere

And if I see a fellow nurse washing beer after beer down, whether it impairs work or not, I would encourage them to get help and if that didnt work, yes I would turn them in as having a problem.

Tom,

Judging from this post and a few others you've made following it, I must admit I'm at a loss.

Are you being serious or are you just taking the mick? :confused:

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
You were reported for not having your yard mowed? wth?

Did you beat them (busybody coworker) with your golf club?

Z

He wasnt a coworker, just a neighbor who called the administrator repeatedly

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
In all seriousness though. I do believe that in almost all cases our personal lives do affect our job performance, even when we dont mean for them to, or realise that they are doing so. But the bottom line here is that the nurse in question should be turned in. I would not want a coke head, even if its only a once in a while habit, which I doubt seriously, to take care of me, my family, or anyone else. Judgement is affected and this nurse has no business working until she recieves the help that she needs.

Thank You very much. I love the way you out it.

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Easnt aa coworker, just a neighbor who called the administrator repeatedly

Why? Sounds like a real peach.

Z

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
Tom,

Judging from this post and a few others you've made following it, I must admit I'm at a loss.

Are you being serious or are you just taking the mick? :confused:

I must be serious, because I dont even know what a Mick is.

I know Mickey Mantle

I know Mickey Mouse

But I dont know what a Mick is, is that one of those quaint little Yankee sayings???

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
Why? Sounds like a real peach.

Z

I actually walked out one day and he was measuring my grass with a ruler, to see if it violated city code

Welcome To Texas

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I would like some other opinions before I make up my mind. I know what I should do and I know what will happen if I do it. HELP.

Lori

turn her in. right away.

do it anonymously.

then deny that you were the one who did it, if anyone ever asks.

you'll fulfil your ethical/moral/professional/legal obligation, and you won't have to be a whistle blower.

if she's busting coke out in front of you she's doing it in front of others.

by the way: if you know about it, but don't report it, doesn't that make you liable and at legal risk?

another angle: do you want this woman caring for you grandparent, your parent, your spouse, or your child ?? i dont.

please. turn her in, for everyone's sake. she obviously doesnt care about herself or the law... what makes you think she really cares about any of her patients?

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by the way, when i was in the Navy, i went to my training school with this guy who was a Marine corporal, his name was Jose. he had a good friend, another Marine, his name was George. George and I became pretty good friends, too. he was a great guy and everyone liked him.

George also had a new wife, who came to live with him in base housing.

George's wife was trouble. we all could see it. unfortunately, he couldnt. His wife apparently was doing coke. people kind of ignored it. but then one night Jose saw George doing coke with his wife.

Jose turned George in the next day. George was summoned to his commanding officer's office, took a UA test and popped positive for cocaine and marijuana. he was kicked out of the Marine Corps. Career over. Zero tolerance.

We (our training class) were stunned. we were all pretty tight knit. and Jose and George were supposed to have been best friends. they lived near each other in base housing, and their wives spent a lot of time together.

our initial reaction was shock and anger. how could he do that to his best friend? what a rat! how could we ever trust him?

but you know, we all quickly realized, that what he did was absolutely right. and if we were going to be mad at him, we would be wrong.

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