Ok to take Anabolic steroids as RN?

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First off, this is not a thread on your opinions of steroids and whether or not they are safe, unsafe, immoral, etc., what I am asking is if the nursing board would see taking steroids as taking any other drug, like marijuana or cocaine, now obviously they are way different and steroids are illegal but i dont think that they would get you into legal trouble with being an RN, plus they couldnt really test for them, as steroids are not in a drug panel, this may be impossible to answer, and you would never get caught while taking them, but what would happen if you did?

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Specializes in Cardiac, Med-Surg, ICU.
First off, this is not a thread on your opinions of steroids and whether or not they are safe, unsafe, immoral, etc., what I am asking is if the nursing board would see taking steroids as taking any other drug, like marijuana or cocaine, now obviously they are way different and steroids are illegal but i dont think that they would get you into legal trouble with being an RN, plus they couldnt really test for them, as steroids are not in a drug panel, this may be impossible to answer, and you would never get caught while taking them, but what would happen if you did?

Taking anabolic steroids illegally isn't any different than taking any other illegal substance. They have detrimental side effects that affect not only the user but potentially threaten the safety of others around the user. There must be some method of testing for their presence in bodily fluid as atheletes have recently been "outed" as cheaters.

Ask yourself, is it worth risking your license that you worked hard for?

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I can't imagine that any healthcare licensing agency would let you off without disciplinary action if they discovered that you were taking an illegal substance thought to have behavioral effects.

But as far as "the nursing board," there are fifty of them (if you just count US states and just count the boards that govern RN's), so it's impossible to guess what any one board would do with any individual case.

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Psychological effects of steroid use

from the Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine and Science

http://www.sportsci.org/encyc/anabstereff/anabstereff.html#5

Anything that could potentially affect your logic, temper, ability to critically think and also happens to be illegal you probably shouldn't be taking. They could affect how you handle situations and could also put your patients at risk. Being that they are illegal, could endanger your patient and you are knowingly taking something that could affect patient safety, you could get into trouble.

And even if they don't KNOW to test you for them, if you make a mistake or lose your temper around a patient there will still be ramifications. Just as there should be.

From the Colorado Nurse Practice Act

http://www.dora.state.co.us/nursing/statutes/NursePRacticeAct.pdf

Grounds for Discipline

(q) Has dispensed, injected, or prescribed an anabolic steroid, as defined in section 12-22-102 (2.5), for the purpose of hormonal manipulation that is intended to increase muscle mass, strength, or weight without a medical necessity to do so or for the intended purpose of improving performance in any form of exercise, sport, or game;

® Has dispensed or injected an anabolic steroid, as defined in section 12-22-102 (2.5), unless such anabolic steroid is dispensed from a pharmacy pursuant to a written prescription or is dispensed by any person licensed to practice medicine in the course of such person's professional practice;

(s) Has administered, dispensed, or prescribed any habit-forming drug or any controlled substance as defined in section 12-22-303 (7), other than in the course of legitimate professional practice;

I also found a few health care professionals listed online who were busted for purchasing steroids for personal use.

I would say yes, you could get into legal trouble.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I would place a telephone call to one's state BON to obtain a definitive answer on this question. After all, the BON determines what nurses in a particular state are permitted to do.

However, if something is illegal, that usually applies to all members of a society (including nurses).

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Anabolic steroids are controlled drugs prescribed by physicians. They are not illegal. Like any prescription drug however, they are illegal to use and possess without a prescription. Every single drug has side effects.

There is no gray area here in the United States on the subject, and I am sure this would fall under a controlled substance classification, depending on your particular state, and federal laws.

I do personally feel there is a lot of political posturing associated with steroid use. Full disclosure: I have never used them, I just don't believe the "hype" surrounding these drugs, as compared to any other controlled, legal drug. I knew many users of anabolic steroids, both legal and illegal (most illegal) and never saw a single "roid rage", nor did I see or hear of any abscess formations, etc. Long term effects? Well, I have not seen any long term research. Abnormal hormonal growth in tissues can result in potential problems (cancers, weakened myocardial tissue), so it would follow that indescriminant use will result in problems.

Your question never stated or implied that the drug was illegal, so we muct assume in good faith that your question was taking these drugs in a legal manner. Of course, as others have stated, your BON will have the final word. I would be personaly surprised if the BON treated them any differently than any other cotrolled drug.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
First off, this is not a thread on your opinions of steroids and whether or not they are safe, unsafe, immoral, etc

Who are you to say that we are not allowed to give an opinion? The last time I checked free speech was a constitutional right. If you are taking them with a prescription from a doctor, I see no problem. However, if you are buying them illegally, yes, it's a problem. Any further questions should be referred to the BON.

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

Lately I keep seeing threads on this board asking what a person can do and not get in trouble with "the board of nursing." Felony crimes, jail time, marijuana use, now steroids. Please contact your individual board of nursing about these issues.

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I take an anabolic steroid by injection, and I am an RN.

Of course, I am taking it by prescription for a diagnosed medical condition, under the care of my physician.

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Who are you to say that we are not allowed to give an opinion? The last time I checked free speech was a constitutional right. If you are taking them with a prescription from a doctor, I see no problem. However, if you are buying them illegally, yes, it's a problem. Any further questions should be referred to the BON.

Because this thread is not intended for personal opinion on steroids, take your constitutional right crap somewhere else, and the answer that i was looking for was posted by nursbee04, thanks for that, its funny how it says that if its prescribed legally, which is easy to get, that they are ok to take, thats very interesting.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
Because this thread is not intended for personal opinion on steroids, take your constitutional right crap somewhere else, and the answer that i was looking for was posted by nursbee04, thanks for that, its funny how it says that if its prescribed legally, which is easy to get, that they are ok to take, thats very interesting.

Wrong. We can give our opinions here. This is a forum. If you post something, it's expected that you will get an opinion.

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Lately I keep seeing threads on this board asking what a person can do and not get in trouble with "the board of nursing." Felony crimes, jail time, marijuana use, now steroids. Please contact your individual board of nursing about these issues.

Ya but some of those questions are just plain stupid, steroid use compared to a felony, marijuana, cocaine is not even close to being the same, obviously a felony wont fly, and marijuana and cocaine have huge effects on ones ability to be an RN def. not acceptable, steroids are a different story and a gray area.

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