Nursing students on medication

Nurses Safety

Published

Nurses Month 2024 | Discounts & Freebies AORN Celebrates Nurses Month

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????

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Gosh, seems to me the OP was voicing a concern and asking for advice. The same information could have been provided to her without all the anger and self-righteousness. Did she hit a nerve? We all have the responsibility to speak up if we think patient care is being compromised for whatever reason. And of course, we do need to cite concrete examples showing why we are concerned. Maybe our concerns are baseless. Hooray. But it is a much worse crime to see something might not be right and say nothing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
What an odd, snarky post. You seem to be arguing things that she didn't even say in her post.

Further, anyone with a doctorate is a "doctor," period. But I'm unsure why you felt like throwing that in there, because she didn't say anything about it, other than that she earned her doctorate in PT.

I included what I was referring to in my post which was:

Does it make her any less of a doctor because she has ADHD and needs to focus?
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
Do you have a link to somewhere that states that is a requirement by the state?

From the all-knowing Wiki: "As of 2013, only a few states specifically prohibit DNP's from using the title "Doctor" with their patients (Arkansas, Connecticut, Maine, Oklahoma, Oregon), while four more states require them to clarify that they are not physicians (New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Virginia)"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
Technically, anyone with a doctorate can use the title Doctor.

I agree they should be able to, but technically no, not everyone with a doctorate can use the title Doctor in any setting without specifically clarifying that you aren't actually an MD.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
From the all-knowing Wiki: "As of 2013, only a few states specifically prohibit DNP's from using the title "Doctor" with their patients (Arkansas, Connecticut, Maine, Oklahoma, Oregon), while four more states require them to clarify that they are not physicians (New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Virginia)"

That's DNPs, though. You indicated earlier that EVERYONE with a doctorate needs to identify themselves as "not an MD" while in a healthcare setting.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

This is all part of the AMA's "Truth in Advertising"

campaign.

A minority of states adopted it after intense lobbying from the AMA, and in several of those states there is legislation to remove or modify the language of it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.
This is all part of the AMA's "Truth in Advertising" campaign. A minority of states adopted it after intense lobbying from the AMA and in several of those states there is legislation to remove or modify the language of it.[/quote']

Stripping someone of a title they earned hardly seems like "truth in advertising". Jeez. Talk about insecurity.

Makes me want to get a doctorate in vegetable gardening just to prove a point. I could get bunny ears and ask all the fancy physicians, "what's up, Doc?" and raise a big giant stink when they don't address me properly.

(Forgive me. I've been bitten by the snark bug today and I'm too tired for filters on my sarcasm. Maybe *I* need Ritalin.)

(I'm kidding.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Munro, I don't get the point of your post. I never used the term medical doctor. There is a difference. My sister earned her doctorate in Physical Therapy. I nowhere said she was a medical doctor nor that she claims she is one. She does get to use the title doctor in her name. I absolutely do not get why you are arguing with me over this. It is of no consequence to you. And completely off topic.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Moderator note:

Lets refocus here....the OP posted about students appearing to be unnecessarily medicated while on duty....or using prescription meds for off label usage.

Lets stick to topic.

If you wish to debate the use of Dr. by non physician personnel...please start another thread.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you this is why I stepped out of the conversation because it was going where it didn't need to go. Several times I have said that I know there are medical reason that people take these medications and most of the people that have commented on this have not noticed that. I've been told so as much as it's not my business. I have made my decision that if it brings harm to my patient then it is my business. I do watch the students when they take care of my patients because when push comes to shove the patient is my responsibility and safety of the pt falls on me. None of you that have commented on this saw the way this student was acting. So just as much as you all have said that I am making accusations...you all are assuming. I saw a student that I felt was not acting right. He made the comment when asked about how he had so much energy that he takes adderall to stay awake. Not my fault if he is lying I take people at their word. I am stepping out of this conversation because of the fact that it has gotten so ugly which was not my intent. Thank you for the advice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.
Thank you this is why I stepped out of the conversation because it was going where it didn't need to go. Several times I have said that I know there are medical reason that people take these medications and most of the people that have commented on this have not noticed that. I've been told so as much as it's not my business. I have made my decision that if it brings harm to my patient then it is my business. I do watch the students when they take care of my patients because when push comes to shove the patient is my responsibility and safety of the pt falls on me. None of you that have commented on this saw the way this student was acting. So just as much as you all have said that I am making accusations...you all are assuming. I saw a student that I felt was not acting right. He made the comment when asked about how he had so much energy that he takes adderall to stay awake. Not my fault if he is lying I take people at their word. I am stepping out of this conversation because of the fact that it has gotten so ugly which was not my intent. Thank you for the advice.

Love, I think the trouble is that you've connected dots between this medication and behavior, and it may be unfair to connect those dots. If you actually witness unsafe patient care, then the obvious solution is to voice your concerns. To voice concern about a medication a person uses, without having witnessed unsafe patient care, is indicative of judgment regarding that medication and its uses. This can be a very sensitive subject, particularly for those who have first hand experience of the stigma that is placed on mental illness in general.

My recommendation would be to ask the charge nurse or nursing supervisor to pay attention to this student's behavior before saying something to the instructor. Don't mention the medication. Just ask them to witness the student's behavior. This way you know they wont pay attention to the behavior with a skewed perspective. If they agree with your observations, then voice concern to the instructor. If you speak up preemptively, this could destroy the work this student has done up to this point, and if you do have bias based on the usage of this particular medication, this student will suffer the consequences of that. I am not saying that you absolutely DO have a bias, but that it is possible you are subconsciously placing judgment without realizing it. A second pair of eyes may help you know for sure if you are seeing this properly, it will make sure you know you have covered your own butt, and addressed a situation that, as you are concerned about, may be placing patients in danger.

I hope you are able to find your answers, and that this plays out in the most fair way possible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thank you this is why I stepped out of the conversation because it was going where it didn't need to go. Several times I have said that I know there are medical reason that people take these medications and most of the people that have commented on this have not noticed that. I've been told so as much as it's not my business. I have made my decision that if it brings harm to my patient then it is my business. I do watch the students when they take care of my patients because when push comes to shove the patient is my responsibility and safety of the pt falls on me. None of you that have commented on this saw the way this student was acting. So just as much as you all have said that I am making accusations...you all are assuming. I saw a student that I felt was not acting right. He made the comment when asked about how he had so much energy that he takes adderall to stay awake. Not my fault if he is lying I take people at their word. I am stepping out of this conversation because of the fact that it has gotten so ugly which was not my intent. Thank you for the advice.

That's great and all, take your ball and go home, if it helps you feel better about casting aspersions on a person you don't necessarily know.

But I would like to point out that while you keep saying you are going to protect patient safety, you never did explain how this student was threatening patient safety. We weren't there, you were, so tell us?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment