Nurses who steal narcotics....

Nurses General Nursing

Published

This is something that always ****** me off to no end. In my career I've know of 4 nurses who stole narcs. One would take liquid morphine and replace it with water, our pharmacy puts blue dye in ours. We had a card of narcs missing and the NOC nurse who accepted it (it had her signature on it) would not come in for a drug test. Another nurse years back would give vicodin, PCT whatever every four hours on the dot to the patients who had severe dementia knowing that they wouldn't be able to say whether or not they actually got the med.

I despise people like this. Why do it? Why not just go to one of those pain clinics and get your narcotics or whatever you want. Figure out which docs happily prescribe meds up the wazoo and go to them. Why take some elderly persons (I'm talking LTC) meds and make them suffer. What are your guys' thoughts on this.

Wow as a nursing student I hadn't even thought of this yet, but I am sure it is a very big problem. The scary part to me, is how easy it would be for other people's careers to be destroyed for knowing about things like this and not reporting it. No one likes a "rat" but when your license and job is on the line I would say it is something you should report, if you see it happening.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Wow as a nursing student I hadn't even thought of this yet, but I am sure it is a very big problem. The scary part to me, is how easy it would be for other people's careers to be destroyed for knowing about things like this and not reporting it. No one likes a "rat" but when your license and job is on the line I would say it is something you should report, if you see it happening.

The hardest part is proof. Yes, you may suspect something, but until you have 100% proof that it's XYZ person doing it, you shouldn't really report it - you can do a lot more damage that way.

(I'm not a nurse, but I did a paper on this thing last semester and did tons of research on it.)

And also, the incidence of drug/substance abuse in nurses is about the same as the general population.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
allnurses does not allow personal attacks.

if you feel you've been attacked, use the red triangular report button, on the bottom left of the post.

keep in mind, that just because you take one's statement personally, is not synonymous with one personally attacking you.

feel free to do a search on nurses and addiction.

we've debated on this topic, over and over and over.

and, will get many varied opinions.

i personally, do not feel "sympathetic" towards an active addict...

especially specifically those who take from our patients.

i get angry when i see victims who've been manipulated, lied to, stolen from, allowed to suffer, etc.

in other words, i am human.

but- if the addict wants to get clean, i will be the most supportive advocate around.

if you're new to these boards, get used to many strong and vocal posters.

and enjoy.:)

leslie

I happen to know a few people who have been penalized and even banned for voicing "strong opinions." I am new to posting here, but have observed from a distance for some time and I have seen many a post disappear due to "strong opinions." Three days ago someone did personally attack me on another issue and I attacked him right back. Both posts were removed.

If you were blind and somebody said blind people **** them off...would that be a personal attack? What about if you were Mexican and someone said that Mexican's **** them off. Not personal? Think again. Addiction, active or not, is an illness...as much harm as the addict does to those around him or her, that person is also suffering. No one is asking for your pity...just some professional distance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What the original poster said was far from a personal attack (the definition of a personal attack would be an attack directed at a specific person)

but nobody is obligated to feel pity for addicts. Help them, yes, but at one time or another, every addict made the decision to take those first few drugs they knew they shouldn't have.

I know plenty of addicts and don't feel bad for a one of them. They all did heroin for fun, popped narcotics for fun, sought out prescriptions to take - while they played xbox - ?? - for fun........

Just because addiction becomes a medical condition in later stages doesn't mean it wasn't a result of poor decisions, was out of your control, etc etc. and non-addicts who didn't make those choices are entitled to their feelings about nurses stealing drugs from patients.

Poor decisions in addiction is the RESULT of having a genetic and environmental illness. As the result of BEING one of these "heinous" members of society, I have actually become a researcher (PhD candidate) on the issue of addiction. There is nothing in your post that indicates a scholarly knowledge of exactly what addiction is, how it starts, or what defines it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.
Poor decisions in addiction is the RESULT of having a genetic and environmental illness. As the result of BEING one of these "heinous" members of society, I have actually become a researcher (PhD candidate) on the issue of addiction. There is nothing in your post that indicates a scholarly knowledge of exactly what addiction is, how it starts, or what defines it.

hmmm, sounds to me an awlful lot like "the devil made me do it." Genetics and environmental illnesses aside, WE ALL have the personal choice to do right or wrong. This is the basis behind "free will" that we each experience as humans. Regardless of how one comes to be addicted, the first step is ALWAYS our own choice, and no one will convince me otherwise.

I'll help a nurse anyway i can if they are found to be impaired and they ask for help, but i will not give one ounce of sympathy to a nurse that steals drugs from my patient, esp if my patient has pain issues and really needs those meds.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CEN, CPEN, RN-BC.
I wonder what the actual percentage of nurses that end up abusing narcs is compared to doctors or pharmacists? Has anyone read any statistics on this or has there been a study?

Totally off topic, but can physicians prescribe themselves medicine, specifically narcotics?

As shady as it is, If an MD trips on ice and sprains their ankle (able to bear weight, swelling, but no deformity) could they possibly write themselves a script for 3 days worth of vic's? Dumb question probably, but I've never asked before.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Totally off topic, but can physicians prescribe themselves medicine, specifically narcotics?

As shady as it is, If an MD trips on ice and sprains their ankle (able to bear weight, swelling, but no deformity) could they possibly write themselves a script for 3 days worth of vic's? Dumb question probably, but I've never asked before.

i've asked before and i was told NO - but i can't even remember if it was a doctor who i asked so i'm curious to see who responds.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired from healthcare.
A lot of news is made of healthcare professionals at all levels abusing substances and medications, but I'm not sure I've ever heard an objective statistic about it. I would like to know, just for curiosity's sake. I also think that with all the in-services employers are required to do to keep us up to date and employable they could slip one in about how to spot a functional addict or something.

I remember being alone in the med room without supervision and I was thinking about how stupid it would be if I tried to takethe narcotics. I have also been there when the charge nurse had to take a syringe of refused narcotics and squirt them into the garbage.She had me sign my name to say that I watched this. I wish we could legally just put these refused doses away in case they change their minds or for someone who needs the same dose of the same drug. I do understand the mindset of someone who is addicted to narcotics when the patient refuses and they now have to put the drug they crave in the trash. In this case they must feel as if they are not technically "stealing" the drug from the patient because it is already predestined for the trash. I think this would provide a private rationalization for them because they did not have control in the first place.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.
Poor decisions in addiction is the RESULT of having a genetic and environmental illness. As the result of BEING one of these "heinous" members of society, I have actually become a researcher (PhD candidate) on the issue of addiction. There is nothing in your post that indicates a scholarly knowledge of exactly what addiction is, how it starts, or what defines it.

I don't agree with this philosophy. People are still accountable for their decisions. Addiction comes from alot of factors but most people do not become addicted by being held down and injected with heroin. Congrats on your research but this philosophy is counter productive.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in A myriad of specialties.
Wow... they really dye your morphine blue? Did they start doing it because of the nurse filling it with water? Insane!

Our liquid morphine is also blue; comes in little tubs of 5mls; only one person gets it and gets just 2.5 mls so the other 2.5 mls are wasted by 2 nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LPN.

Our morphine comes in two different colors, red and blue. Never thought anything of it. I never thought the blue could stain your tongue. I have never looked at anyones tongue for that.

What are the signs we should be looking for, concerning a nurse who steals narc's. One my first job as a LPN, the other nurse who worked with me, was found to be stealing narc's. I suppose I was so new, that I didn't see any signs. But, now, to be honest, I still don't know what to look for.

I agree that people make their own personal choice to start taking drugs. But, I think once hooked, according to what I 've read and seen, that it's a major fight to survive afterwards. I know when we get a patient who is a drug seeker, it can be a major hassle. They about drive you crazy wanting this drug or another one that makes the first one's effect more pronounced.

I would like to know how to deal with patients like that. It is so frustrating. I can't imagine being a nurse, and having a full drawer full of drugs at my disposal.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
hmmm, sounds to me an awlful lot like "the devil made me do it." Genetics and environmental illnesses aside, WE ALL have the personal choice to do right or wrong. This is the basis behind "free will" that we each experience as humans. Regardless of how one comes to be addicted, the first step is ALWAYS our own choice, and no one will convince me otherwise.

I'll help a nurse anyway i can if they are found to be impaired and they ask for help, but i will not give one ounce of sympathy to a nurse that steals drugs from my patient, esp if my patient has pain issues and really needs those meds.

i agree - i've had issues with addiction in the past, and i hadn't planned on saying anything nor felt the urge to share my courageous story (lol) but it is a CHOICE.

not to mention - like i said in a previous post, i've known many addicts who would not take nor buy their fix from someone known to be stealing them from the elderly whether it be their grandmother or a nurse (and i have known of a nurse to sell).

in fact, at my lowest point - i wanted to report a nurse who i knew was doing this, but my bf wouldn't tell me her name.

believe it or not, you can be an addict and still have some morals/dignity. maybe there's nothing dignified about meeting up with someone in a parking lot for a dope deal, but even most addicts have lines they won't cross. not all of them rob pharmacies or steal old lady's pocket books just like not all teachers molest children and all nurses don't steal meds.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment