Nursing students on medication

[kjnsweets]

We had a conversation at work today about nursing students that take medication to stay awake for school. I have seen students come from the university so drugged up on things like adderol. Do these students realize that they are putting patients lives at risk and do I have the right to say anything to my boss????? Why do these so called #1 nursing schools allow this????? Does the nursing boards not see what is happening????

[CountryMomma, ASN, RN]

We didn't. They asked during the interview if there was a reason we thought we might not be able to provide safe patient care or perform at our best during school, but there wasn't anything that said we HAD to inform them about any medical conditions we had. That being said, I would be so uncomfortable letting that sensitive information be a part of my student record. There are some instructors, Gods bless their black hearts, who might find that information useful. In a less than savory way.

[PTKChic]

CountryMama's post was a bit of what I had in mind.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

At my school students only had to disclose medications if they were asking for accommodations, or if the clinical site did urine screens.

[NightNurseRN13]

At my school our drug tests were done for the clinical site's use. The instructors never knew the results unless something illegal came up and the hospital would send a list to our school saying who could not do clinicals at their establishment. The people who did the drug test would ask if you had a prescription for anything and if you did then you had to provide proof, but you were never asked why you take it and again, the instructors nor the school was ever told.

The only thing the instructors did know about was background checks, if it was something old some students were allowed to write a letter to the clinical site explaining the incident and then they were able to decide if it was "excusable"

[Covaryx]

I had to for school as they screen to make sure you physically and mentally capable of completing clinicals. They also wanted a list of meds we were on, to see if anyone would require extra time taking tests, or would be violating any patient safety (ie ambien, etc)[/quote'] About a yr ago I was on Ambien bc my anxiety had gotten so bad. If we tested positive for anything through the private screening company, they would call us and instruct us to fax a script list from the fulfilling pharmacy to them. The school never saw our med list, but we did need to disclose in our physical exam paperwork about any conditions they should be aware of.

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

I'm interested as to how taking adderall with or without a Rx is akin to "chemically cheating" ?? I don't see how that would make you any more likely to remember what you study. It helps you stay awake... Well coffee and Vivarin have been around a long time too.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

I'm interested as to how taking adderall with or without a Rx is akin to "chemically cheating" ?? I don't see how that would make you any more likely to remember what you study. It helps you stay awake... Well coffee and Vivarin have been around a long time too.

Well taking it without an rx is illegal so it's a moot point.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I'm interested as to how taking adderall with or without a Rx is akin to "chemically cheating" ?? I don't see how that would make you any more likely to remember what you study. It helps you stay awake... Well coffee and Vivarin have been around a long time too.

Withstanding the no prescription comment (besides it being illegal and medication misuse potentially harming one's body) I agree it's not "chemically cheating" when you are using a prescription, or even drinking coffee for that matter.

[NightNurseRN13]

I'm not completely sure either, but I remember conversation I had in a Gazebo with other students I didn't even know who were not in the nursing program who took adderall because it made them focus more and study better. I do know the drug can either make you more alert or make you sleepy depending on your own chemistry. When used right, it's a wonder drug, but it is abused often.

[vanessaem, BSN, RN]

I'm interested as to how taking adderall with or without a Rx is akin to "chemically cheating" ?? I don't see how that would make you any more likely to remember what you study. It helps you stay awake... Well coffee and Vivarin have been around a long time too.

I don't get that either. From my understanding of drugs like Adderall, Concerta, Focalin, and other ADHD drugs, some people use them to concentrate and to focus. However, they are not some kind of magic pills that will suddenly give you the ability to know all of the right answers. The medication will just help you to think more clearly so that you can possibly retain information better. At least, that's what Focalin was supposed to do for me when I took them for a brief time. I think some people need to have better knowledge on the uses of these types of drugs before talking to patients about them. I would rather a nurse tell me she doesn't know the answer than to give me wrong information.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

My sister was diagnosed with ADHD in college and had taken ritalin and adderall while she was in college. I think she would take great offense to the fact that what she was doing was called "chemical cheating". What the heck is that anyway. She worked her but off in college and now has a doctorate in physical therapy. She is an excellent therapist and works hard. Does it make her any less of a doctor because she has ADHD and needs to focus? I think not.

What makes me sad is the stigma people attach to taking meds. I can tell you 95% of the people I know that have to take meds would really rather not be on them at all. We are in the medical field people, we should know better. But apparently not.

[MunoRN, RN]

My sister was diagnosed with ADHD in college and had taken ritalin and adderall while she was in college. I think she would take great offense to the fact that what she was doing was called "chemical cheating". What the heck is that anyway. She worked her but off in college and now has a doctorate in physical therapy. She is an excellent therapist and works hard. Does it make her any less of a doctor because she has ADHD and needs to focus? I think not.

What makes me sad is the stigma people attach to taking meds. I can tell you 95% of the people I know that have to take meds would really rather not be on them at all. We are in the medical field people, we should know better. But apparently not.

Adderall and ritalin are actually controlled stimulants similar to amphetamine (Adderall is actually a type of amphetamine), and don't necessarily provide simply "focus". In those with true ADHD, psychostimulants such as adderall and ritalin have an effect that is sort of paradoxical compared to the effects on someone without ADHD; the drugs appear to have more of a calming than stimulant effect.

When abused by those without ADHD, adderall and ritalin are used in the same way that amphetamines or other stimulants are abused.

And while I would argue that Physicians have unfairly stolen the title of "Doctor", a DPT isn't actually a Doctor as the term is generally understood.