Nursing Student with a Drug Addiction

Nurses Recovery

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Hi guys:

I have already asked this question on the Friends/Family of Addicts forum I belong to, so I thought I would get your opinion as well.

My husband is a 3 1/2 years clean, recovering addict. His good friend (I'll call him J), who he met in AA, recently got accepted into nursing school for this coming fall 2011. J was clean for 3 years when he relapsed this past fall 2010 (heroin, pills, alcohol). J continues to use, is refusing to go into rehab, and as far as I know plans to start nursing school in the fall, clean/sober or not. I have three main concerns: 1. the waiting list is very long and he will be taking a spot from someone who would better take advantage of the program, 2. J will be impaired and having patient contact, and I worry about the patients he may be responsible for, 3. At some point he will have access to narcotics that he will be able to steal.

Now, the F/F of Addicts people mostly just said to let the situation be, and that J would fail out on his own anyways. But I feel as if I should contact the nursing school to let them know (I went to the same nursing school). Because who knows how long it will take him to fail on his own, and how many patients/narcotics he will have contact with, besides the fact that someone else will have to wait another semester to get into the program if he takes the spot.

So what do you all think? Should I contact the school?

(Feel free to move this to another forum topic; I didn't think it fit great in the Nurses in Recovery forum since he is not yet a nurse, or in recovery).

Thanks everyone!

Vanessa

I went through nursing school with a girl obviously addicted to drugs. She came to class/clinicals falling asleep, saying inappropriate things, one day she would talk non stop the next she'd barely speak. She made it all the way to the final semester when an issue with her preceptor forced her to withdraw (I never knew the details, if it was drug related or not). Several students made comments about her behavior to the instructors, nothing was ever done, she had excellent grades, passed all her drug tests, etc. I recently found out she was allowed to return to nursing school the following semester, and graduated. I may be wrong in my assumption but I believe she was using the whole time, even after she returned. I saw her at a department store during this time and she could hardly keep her eyes open to talk to me. I think of her and wonder where she's working and what kind of care her patients receive. My question is, what action should someone take after informing the school/instructors fails? Since she was not a licensed nurse at the time we didn't know what step to take next.

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Hello Vanessa,

My boyfriend also just got accepted to a nursing program this Fall 2011, and I am also facing the same issue. I've known him for 4 years and also know his past with drug/substance abuse which he went through before we met. Fortunately though, he found his "epiphany" and on his road to a new, clean life (at least that's what he told me); however, only a few days ago, when we attended a friend's party, I caught him snorting cocaine. Since then, I've been suspecting him doing cocaine without me around. It's very upsetting and it's definitely affecting our relationship. But just like you, I am debating whether or not I should call the director of nursing. It's his dream to become a nurse and I am very happy for him that he's finally achieving that; however, he seems to be relapsing to his old ways and this concerns me a lot. Not only is he putting his life and our relationship at risk, but also the well-being of his patient/s. They already had a drug test before they went to clinicals and he passed it (because he saw that one coming and prepared for it I presume), but I might have to ask the school to do an upcoming, random one if possible. It breaks my heart to do this to the one I love, but it's for the good of others.

Allie

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Med/Surg.

Not reporting him may lead to his death. You would be doing this for his good, not just that of his future patients. Sadly, addiction is about having an intimate relationship with a substance (in this case, cocaine) instead of with another person.

Cocaine is the "other woman" and you are signing up for a lot of pain if you continue in a "relationship" with a practicing addict.

Catmom :paw:

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I would not and could not get involved. It is his life, if he makes it through school he's not as addicted as you think, if he is he'll never make it. Let go of this situation and let God take care of it after all none of us have control over anything. I'm sure your AA husband would tell you to mind your own business. Please don't try and use patients as a reason as if you remember you are not alone in the pixis, or with the patient as your clinical instructor is there. I would also hate to read on here later how you reported this and after J lost his spot he committed suicide. Then you'd being dealing with what part did you play in his death. Everything is just the way they are suppose to be, and God does not need your help/interferrence.

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i agree with nowim clean. it sounds like you suspect- but are not certain. i wouldn't ruin this chance for him. as has been said- he won't make it in school if he truly is using.

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Stay out of it.

Pink

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While i was in nursing school....I was drug tested at least several times per year and we could be sent for a random test at anytime if they had reason to suspect.

So between that and the drug tests for my healthcare jobs...I was tested like 6 times per year.

I dont see someone with that kind of problem making it too far. We were allowed to miss 1 clinical day per term and had to pay 30$ per hour to hire a private instructor to make any more days up. Also had to have a minimum 78% in everything.

So don't worry too much..their are systems in place for him. You can't hardly do anything with actual patients until the second year...and even then someone is supervising every med, shot, ect that you do.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Whether to report or not...tough call. On one hand, if what you hear is true he can be a danger to himself and others. On the other hand, unless you've witnessed him using, you don't know for certain whether he's relapsed. Plus, reporting him without evidence can border on slander.

Keep in mind that people like to think the worst of addicts, recovering or otherwise: if they have a bad day or their performance starts slipping, the first thing people speculate is, "are they using again?"

Unless you have witnessed him using, I would stay out of it. He'll encounter more than enough drug tests along the way in nursing school and employment and if he is indeed using it'll be addressed.

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Unfortunately, if he is already into heroin and other heavy drugs, giving him further access will just feed his disease. Some people do CHOOSE nursing as an option to feed their addiction. Is it your place to intervene? Possibly, if he truly wants to be a nurse for the pure reward that the career can provide. Is it fair that he may be impaired to care for patients as a student, and under the nursing school liability? He needs to be referred to see a counselor, and given an option that we have all been given. the chance to recover and live a full productive life in sobriety. The worst thing you could do is nothing, because he will eventually fall, and it would be awful if a patient was placed in his care and something detrimental happened.

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I am not an addict/recovering addict but over 50% of my immediate and extended family are. I have been involved in ACOA groups and CODA groups for years. I'm shocked at the word 'snitch' being used, the amount snark used in telling her to mind her own business and questioning her motives. From ton that I know about recovery, those type of attitudes are not those of someone in a place of a healthy recovery. A non-user-yes, but in no way a healthy recovery. For those who think I'm wrong too:

please, please reassess the program you are working or maybe not working? This is nursing that we are talking about not flipping burgers. I am truly worried for some of you.

What if you found out that your child's teacher was impaired in the classroom, on field trips, figuring out grades?? It is far more likely to have impaired teachers as very few states have mandatory D/A testing for them especially the strong union states.

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I am not an addict/recovering addict but over 50% of my immediate and extended family are. I have been involved in ACOA groups and CODA groups for years. I'm shocked at the word 'snitch' being used, the amount snark used in telling her to mind her own business and questioning her motives. From ton that I know about recovery, those type of attitudes are not those of someone in a place of a healthy recovery. A non-user-yes, but in no way a healthy recovery. For those who think I'm wrong too:

please, please reassess the program you are working or maybe not working? This is nursing that we are talking about not flipping burgers. I am truly worried for some of you.

What if you found out that your child's teacher was impaired in the classroom, on field trips, figuring out grades?? It is far more likely to have impaired teachers as very few states have mandatory D/A testing for them especially the strong union states.

I am a recovering alcoholic who is also in the BON AP program, and all I can say is OMG. I am very grateful for my recovery, but if it had come because someone stuck their nose in my business and reported me I do not know where I would be today. Recovery has to be a choice. This OP was saying should they make a phone cal.NO ......NO..... and NO they need to mind their business. I do not know any school that does not do drug screens at clinicl assignment time. If a person is using they will catch it, if they are as hard core as this person says they are they will never pass the classes to begin with. If you are not an addict, or recovering addict you have never walked in my shoes and you have no clue what we deal with every hour of every day.

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RoseRN

How do you know that girl was using drugs? She may have been ill, had a mood disorder, maybe she had a baby at home that kept her up all night, or a snoring husband? Maybe she studied late into the night. Did you ever ask her? A person shouldn't make assumptions. My career was almost taken away because of people making assumptions! There could be many reasons for behavior inconsistancies. It's not ALWAYS drugs!!:madface:

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