Nurses who can't give out narcotics

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They have recently hired 2 new nurses who are in some kind of drug rehab program. So now all of the other nurses get to do a lot of extra work. There are a lot of narcotics that are used at this facility. So now in addition to doing one's own heavy nursing medication assignment, the nurses are expected to give out all of the narcotics for these new hires. Why would they even hire nurses who can't give out narcotics in a nursing home?

Specializes in Oncology.

Maybe y'all should head over to the recovery forum to see how difficult it is for nurses with restrictions to find a job ANYWHERE. They take whatever they can get. They don't want to burden anyone, they're just trying to live one day at a time and get out from under the stigma they live with. How would you like it if everyone knew your personal problems? We're nurses, try to have a little compassion. The supervisor or whoever hired them should have worked out an arrangement to even the workload. Blame them.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.
I wish nurses in recovery all the best. However, I cannot work at See's chocolate candy store. It would be "too tempting" for me to be around all of that chocolate. So why would someone with a drug problem want to be around a job that involves giving out narcotics? Aren't they worried about being tempted once again by narcotics in the future when they are cleared to give narcotics?

Not really if they're actually in recovery. The obsession to use drugs or drink disappears typically sometime after a thorough 5th step is done with their sponsor(3 to 6 months roughly). After the obsession has been lifted, it's no longer a temptation and usually nothing more than an infrequent passing thought. This assumes they stay active within the recovery community.

This is a common misconception with drug and alcohol addiction. If the obsession was never lifted, I doubt most people would be able to stay sober/clean.:roflmao: It's also something that's difficult for "newcomers" because while that obsession is active, it's difficult to convince them that it can be permanently lifted.

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Specializes in Family practice, emergency.

"Sure, I'll give that morphine for you. Could you take my patient's bp in room 3?"

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As a nurse in recovery, I had a one year narcotic restriction when I returned to work. I am forever grateful to my co workers who helped me get through that year. Yes, EVERYONE knew my business. Did some of them resent having to help me? Probably. But I would and will always go out of my way to help them. The year flew by.

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
Maybe y'all should head over to the recovery forum to see how difficult it is for nurses with restrictions to find a job ANYWHERE. They take whatever they can get. They don't want to burden anyone, they're just trying to live one day at a time and get out from under the stigma they live with. How would you like it if everyone knew your personal problems? We're nurses, try to have a little compassion. The supervisor or whoever hired them should have worked out an arrangement to even the workload. Blame them.

28 applications - zero responses.

You CAN'T get your license back if you can't find a job in which you can work your 'time' under the required restrictions.

If you can't find any place that will employ you, too-bad-so-sad. Bye-bye license.

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Sorry to hear that you have been unable to find a job. What about private duty with a special needs child? I took care of a child for 2 years who had no narcotics. The pay was not good $15 an hour.

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
Sorry to hear that you have been unable to find a job. What about private duty with a special needs child? I took care of a child for 2 years who had no narcotics. The pay was not good $15 an hour.

Restrictions say "no" to PDN or agency work. You have to be in a approved facility and there MUST be an RN on duty or you can not work.

But listen, this happened 4 yrs ago. I have let my license lapse and now consider myself 'retired'.

My retirement job IS doing Private Duty, now as a CNA.

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"Sure, I'll give that morphine for you. Could you take my patient's bp in room 3?"

The biggest problem is that this sometimes doesn't happen. I sometimes work with medication aides who are not allowed to give insulin. While I am off doing the insulin injections on their hall, they can help me. One of them stocks and cleans my cart. They other takes an extra break and calls her husband. Guess who I like working with. I think that if you have any restriction that prevents you from doing something that everyone else can do, you need to compensate by doing something in return. It is not fair to be idle while everyone else is working if there are tasks you can accomplish.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
I wish nurses in recovery all the best. However, I cannot work at See's chocolate candy store. It would be "too tempting" for me to be around all of that chocolate. So why would someone with a drug problem want to be around a job that involves giving out narcotics? Aren't they worried about being tempted once again by narcotics in the future when they are cleared to give narcotics?

That's part of why they have the stipulations while in the monitoring program. A few years out, however long the period is, they will have gotten help and ideally be stable enough in their recovery to not be white-knuckling every day at work.

I'm sure they have enough shame and regret without their colleagues judging their very presence--with those stipulations in place to protect all involved.

I agree with the other poster who suggested speaking to your manager about how to balance your need to give their narcs. I wouldn't think it would be too much of an issue for them to do some of your treatments in lieu of less meds to pass.

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I've been one of those nurses working through a state monitoring program for drugs and alcohol although I was never given restrictions on passing narcotics. As part of that program, to keep your license you have to work as a nurse. And it is so hard to find a job even when your finished with it if your license was on probation. I would gladly help one one of these nurses because I have been there and know the struggle. I would expect some sort of trade off in responsibilities though.

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Specializes in ORTHO, PCU, ED.

I could understand giving them a chance..but hire 2 of them!? That would not go over well where i work!

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I wish nurses in recovery all the best. However, I cannot work at See's chocolate candy store. It would be "too tempting" for me to be around all of that chocolate. So why would someone with a drug problem want to be around a job that involves giving out narcotics? Aren't they worried about being tempted once again by narcotics in the future when they are cleared to give narcotics?

Not all person's in the program are drug addicts - I was a garden variety alcoholic. Never drank on the job or before going to work. But I was highly depressed and became suicidal and ultimately came before the BON after an unsuccessful suicide attempt.

I worked in psych while in the program which was great because The RN's mostly don't pass meds in that setting and nobody questions it. In my current job I would gladly change up my assignment to take the Narc load so that a nurse in the recovery program could have the patient's that did not need narcotics. Everybody deserves a 2nd chance.

Peace

Hppy

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