Nursing Student taking drug?and stealing!

[tobesmartt]

What would you do? Nursing student working who works same floor. This is her last semister nursing school. She has hx of meth and other meds, hx of stealing from co-workers & patients. She has returned back to work due to holiday break. Her face has multiple lesions, she scratches everywhere, she acts like a "crackhead". What would you do>?????

[eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN]

Those are some strong accusations. Why are you so angry at this person?

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

Yes, they are strong accusations. OP, I don't know if you are a staff nurse or what, but that's something the manager/charge nurse/nurse supervisor needs to handle, if that is true.

I would like to know why you are angry as well. I noticed your poll only had "dangerous nurse to be" or "crackhead". I am not voting because it could be neither.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Moved to our Nurse Colleague / Patient Relations forum.

What would you do? Nursing student working who works same floor ..has signs of drug impairment, has hx illegal drug use and steeling

Please see my thread: The impaired nurse - Nursing Community for Nurses and Nursing ...

Read the link The impaired nurse: Would you know what to do if you suspected substance abuse? to learn how to report situation to your manager objectively.

[cherry_blossom]

It doesn't matter what you think? thats the manager and HR responsibility. This nurse could have bad acne and a bad past record, everybody deserves a second chance. But You need to document everything you do so ur covered. If you catch this person in the act...then act on it? My opinion, you don't like this person. I'm sorry. Everyone works with at least one person they don't care for. Lol. It's life. The best thing to do when you don't like someone, ignore them. Just writing a post like this gives them power. Be the best nurse u can be and don't give that person 1 second of ur life. :)

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I think you need to have a confidential conversation with your manager.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I am not voting because it could be neither.

I was thinking the exact same thing. I've worked with some pretty eccentric nurses...some (both male and female) who are pretty air headed. When I was an aide, there was an agency nurse that came to our facility and many people nicknamed her 'crackhead' (not to her face of course). Just because someone fits into one of those categories, it does not mean they are on drugs (I'm pretty sure not even 'crackhead' was on drugs). There are also people who have multiple scratches and lesions on their bodies for many reasons other that drug use. You are heading into some pretty sketchy territory by accusing someone of hardcore drug use without definite proof. A history of such is not proof that she is using at present.

As for the stealing...this is not acceptable behavior (again, however, not proof of drug use). If you know that she is stealing, talk to the manager so that it can be dealt with properly.

P.S., are you a nursing student too?

[BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN]

Plus, your use of "crackhead" to describe a co-worker with a possible fatal addiction is disheartening- especially coming from an alleged caregiver.

Addiction is a chronic progressive disease in need of treatment, not a choice in need of judgement. Your admittedly not even sure yourself, so the obvious humane thing to do would be to take your accusations to your Nurse Manager. Everyone has things in their history they'd rather not have;)

[OCNRN63, RN]

None of the above, and the pejorative is unprofessional.

[loriangel14, RN]

What evidence do you have? Scratches on the face could be from anything.Just because she has a supposed past hx doesn't mean you can jump to conclusions.Unless you have proof I would mind my own business. Maybe she could use some friendly support.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Someone's "history" based on what? Heresay? Gossip? Unless you are watching her light up the pipe, you really don't KNOW, only "heard" and stealing? Was she caught? Or again, something that you "heard" and gossip? And "acting like a crackhead?"(BTW, someone who is diabetic and experiencing low blood sugar, someone who is having a seizure--their behavior is questionable too, so I find "acting like a crackhead" to be way, way over the top) What is that supposed to mean? And if she is acting that off the grid, then I am sure that the charge nurse would notice something like that, no? Lesions and scratches could be anything at all. (Exczema? Poison Ivy?) One of the things you will learn as a nurse is to reserve judgement and if she is practicing in a way that is unsafe, then you should bring that to the attention of charge. Otherwise, I would concentrate some of your studies on cultural compentency in care and learn about addictions. Running around spreading stories about a fellow student's "past" is not at all becoming, very unprofessional, and you should learn to get out of that habit now.

[BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN]

I was going to add to the advice given to the OP, that the Nursing Staff who I have seen get busted on a Urine Drug Screen(Usually aimed at someone who ends up negative), are never the ones you would have expected. They are working very hard to cover up the use, and while I'm sure there are exceptions- are usually your overachievers, first to help you, and can't be "found out" by "looks" alone.