Plz read!!! Nurse using drugs what should i do???

[J-Star]

I have a friend, not a best friend but close enough to where she trusts me with her personal information and lifestyle,

When I decided to leave my engineering job, after careful consideration I decided on nursing. This is when red flags started to go up for me.

This friend I have - she is a HEAVY DAILY marijuana user. She has even told me that she "HAS" to (yes, as in - she believes it is absolutely necessary for functionality) smoke before she goes to work - excuse me, before she DRIVES HERSELF TO WORK in the wee hours of the morning.

This is only part of my problem with the situation.

Now, I live in a moderate size house with one child and my husband. Everyday we STILL feel like there is always something more we can do for him. You know, corners to cut so our son can have more. This friend has two birthed children and one on the way. She lives in a small questionable apartment complex, in a two bedroom apartment. Her infant in the crib is sleeping in her room and her son has his own small room. They live here because it is all she can afford. Her husband doesn't work. Now, my friend, she is pregnant with her THIRD child within a 3 year period and claims constantly that this is even MORE REASON TO SMOKE IF NOT SMOKE MORE!!! She tells me, I tried to quit smoking for a day and I just felt really sick so I HAD TO SMOKE... )=

My internal response to this? WELCOME TO BEING PREGNANT!!!!!

I can't lie or be a hypocrite, I smoked when I met her 2 years ago - I have quit since then, obviously. I am not against LEGITIMATE medicinal use, but NOT for common recreation. She tells me that they spend over $1000 a month, sometimes exceeding $1500 a month on marijuana alone. She used to make fun of me for worrying about spending $100 for marijuana in six weeks by saying "Thats all?!?hahaha" I understand the misconception of a person hidden in the fog that "marijuana is safe and is illegal for -dot dot dot - fill in the blank with a million self righteous statements.... I know that it feels like it can be okay to do when you are doing it. When I quit I felt so guilty for having smoked for the amount of time that I did - for the money and time it had cost me. I have tried EVERY conceivable way possible to express my concern to her about this and I have actually cut off communication with her because of this. But this post isn't about me...

It is about the trouble I am having making a responsible decision.

Here are the facts - some are only opinion but this is what I am weighing: (not necessarily in order of importance because I am not sure what order they should be in!!!!)

1.) I believe strongly that the amount of money she spends on this drug is considered child abuse via financial neglect to her responsibility of being a parent with financial capability and means

2.) I am afraid she may wreck her car driving so early in the morning while stoned - no matter how in control she feels.

3.) She is dishonoring her oath she took as a nurse - this is very dishonorable no matter how you look at it

4.) She is in denial about her use in MANY MANY aspects and will not hear reason or logic

5.) She will quit long enough for a urinalysis but thats all she is "capable" of doing - I am saddened (and shocked) she doesn't feel the guilt of not being sober during these periods - what does this speak to her mission as a nurse?

6.) She claims she is seeking a PhD in medicinal marijuana research for therapy in particular for pregnant women.

7.) She is living at poverty level because of her expense for marijuana.

8.) If I report her she loses her license and cannot provide for her family.

9.) SHE MAY KILL SOMEONE OR NOT SAVE SOMEONE (SAME DIFFERENCE??) IN THEIR TIME OF NEED FOR HER HELP!!!!! I WOULDN'T WANT A STONED NURSE!!!!!

10.) Science hasn't dictated whether or not marijuana is harmful to an unborn baby - but why is she risking it?!? I want her to stop really bad for this reason!!! (amongst others of course)

So - what would YOU do? I am very concerned for her well being, though, I am an honorable person and want to keep ignorant mistakes that could be prevented from happening. I mean, what if I save many peoples lives before becoming a nurse by preventing her from killing someone or preventing a good nurse from caring for this friend's current patients. Does any of this make sense. I have worked myself up so badly on occasion over the matter that I begin to cry my heart out. I don't want to hurt her, but I don't want her to hurt someone else. I am not a whistle blower type, but I feel wrong for not doing anything. She has no support and is as nice and honest as anyone could ever be. She would never hurt anyone intentionally, and loves her family. I think she is really psychologically addicted to marijuana and needs help...

Someone - anyone - if you made it this far in my rant , please help me by sharing your opinions or similar experiences. This is a very very big problem for me.

EDIT: I have not claimed to want to report her for anything - I simply am trying to determine if inaction is wrongful. This is a situation that is close to me and I wonder if I am too close to make a reasonable judgment. I am not being overtly opinionated about any of my facts, I am just merely including the items that I think hold weight in it.

[SarahMaria, MSN, RN]

This may not be a popular opinion but I believe that woman are given a choice under the constitution if they want to continue a pregnancy, and once they make that choice, the well being of the unborn child should be as important as the well being of the mother.

Actually, the Constitution states nothing about pregnancy or the right to privacy.

Probably the most important case regarding womens' reproductive choice is Roe v. Wade (1973). This US Supreme Court decision legalized abortion.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

In my state, the Board of Nursing mandates that if a nurse KNOWS that a co-worker is impaired by ETOH, non-prescription or prescription meds, they have a duty to report it to their supervisor. This quote is directly from the NC BON:

"Referrals should be made to the Board of Nursing when any one of the following situation arises:

• Positive pre-employment drug screens
  
• Positive results on a “for-cause” drug screen
  
• Signs and symptoms of impairment including the smell of alcohol on the breath, regardless of whether or not the impairment is alleged to be as a result of the nurse’s own prescription meds
  
• Reports of excessive use of controlled substances, increased wastage, sloppy or careless wasting, consistent failure to follow facility policies for wasting controlled substances, documentation discrepancies, manipulation of medication dispensing systems.
  
• Any time there is a violation of the Nursing Practice Act
  

*If patient safety is an immediate concern, the staff should intervene immediately to protect the patient and remove the nurse from the situation until the chain of command can be activated to assist in the management of the situation."

Seems pretty cut and dried to me. I am only commenting on the nurse using and going to work to take care of patients. I am going to defer any comment on her using while pregnant, as that seems like another issue altogether. Since this is a nursing forum and we are discussing nursing laws, ethics, and practices, I am limiting my opinions to just nursing. OP, I encourage you to look at your state's BON regulations regarding impaired nurses. You are in a tough situation, no doubt. I hope that you find some direction with this. It is a very difficult and probably a very emotional time for you right now.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Referring to your post, INurseUK, was your mother a nurse? There is A LOT wrong with working impaired, no matter the substance. One never can tell what the effects might be, either. Its akin to playing in traffic...

[leslie :-D]

nowhere is there a mandate for nurses to act as the "health police" and if you do so on your own imagined authority you will come across as no more than a self-righteous, preaching and intolerant person.

there is a mandate for nurses to protect our pts, which sometimes encompasses being 'pt police'.

my own mother smoked throughout her four pregnancies. hasn't killed me or my older brothers and sister yet.

smoked...cigarettes? that'd be her choice.

smoked pot? again, we have a legal duty to protect our pts from harm.

we are mandated to report impairment to the bon.

leslie

[taalyn_1, CNA]

Yes I think a Nurse working impaired is wrong.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Taking an illegal substance and showing up to work under the influence of said illegal substance is wrong. Period.

[leslie :-D]

yes i think a nurse working impaired is wrong, give me a break (*whack back at ya*).

thanks...i needed that.

but has she shown impairment on the job? there are plenty of functional alcoholic & / or functional prescription drug addicted nurses working in every city around the world. what about the nurse who takes a valium, vicodin, or xanex to help get through his or her shift? do they need help, of course, but they also function quite normally, thats why its called functional alcoholism or addiction.

if one's anxiety/pain is such, that it deems them dysfunctional, then i can see how a valium or vicodin will make them functional and able to do their job.

but pot doesn't work that way...it doesn't bring you down to 'normal' levels, as the aforementioned can.

while many claim they do/feel better when high/drunk, the bottom line is their perceptions are altered.

whereas taking a pain pill or anxiolytic, can bring you from 'altered' to cognitive.

big difference.

and, as someone who used to smoke pot, perceptions and thought processes are altered...even when feeling euphoric, creative or any other 'desirable' feeling.

leslie

[OCNRN63, RN]

What I still don't understand is that people are not getting the fact that the woman is using an illegal substance. It's against the law to smoke pot, whether or not you're a nurse. If you want to turn your head at someone who isn't a nurse who smokes, that's one thing. But a nurse or a doc is held to a higher (pun intended) standard. Part of the privilege of having a license is obeying the law.

How do you excuse doing illegal drugs as a nurse? Is meth OK as long as you don't look impaired? How about smack? I mean, heck, if pot's OK, everything else should be on the table, as long as you don't look stoned.

[TanyaBRN]

Wow what are friends for?

I will keep co-workers so far away after reading your post.

I will continue to seperate my private life from anyone I work with.

Thanks for this lesson.

Did you know that oral sex is illegal, you may want to call the cops on her for that.

J walking, seatbelts against the law and very deadly.

Calling all cars be on the look out for....fill in the blank my friend.

What people do in their personal lives is NOYB, I agree.

But if a nurse was spending time in the supply closet having oral sex instead of taking care of patients, then it becomes your business. The issue here for me is coming to work stoned. Nurses should not come to work using *legal* narcotic pain medications, much less illegal drugs.

And BTW, the Supreme Court found all "sodomy laws" (IE making oral sex illegal) unconstitutional in 2003. Sodomy law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

When the Supreme court says that it is OK for nurses to go to work stoned, we can have this conversation again. Until then, this nurse needs to be reported. What if she's the nurse for your mom some day? Or your child? Unacceptable.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I'm going to go all out here and say I don't think the legality of the substance is all that relevant here. Alcohol is legal, but still very mind altering and dangerous and a nurse going to work under the influence of it is endangering her patients and coworkers.

I definitely think the line can get very blurred when you consider the 'legal' prescriptions many nurses may take (benzos) that can alter their reaction and functioning... But I've never heard of a doctor prescribing alcohol.... and even though some states have 'legalized' medical marijuana, I don't think it would be considered a 'valid' prescription by the BON.

Even if pot was legal- I think it should have the same restrictions as society puts on alcohol. It's not acceptable to go to work under the influence... nor should a pregnant woman use it.. (Just my opinion)

[nursel56]

I agree, a nurse should not be stoned on the job. But I must say your comment about "the oath" a nurse takes? Are you for real? Have you ever heard of "terminal sedation" or "palliative sedation"? How about docs and nurses removing the "products of conception"? Hippocratic oath in med school, come on wake up! We are way beyond living by any oathes in the medical field! Medical terminology works well when needed, how about "EUTHANASIA and ABORTION"! Your worried about a nurse smoking pot? Get in the real world!

Yes I think a Nurse working impaired is wrong.

Comments like these make me want to say "yes" to the question "should allnurses be a forum for nurses?"

Awaiting the flamage and knuckle raps. Too angry to care right now.

Earl, what you are implying is euthanasia is not. But explaining the difference would likely fall on deaf ears based on the fervor of your statement.

JTVand, if nurse A and nurse B ingest the same amount of a mind-altering substance and go to work they are both impaired. Impaired isn't how you look or sound, it's how you think and react. Reminds me of an often heard remark from my youth said by people stoned out of their gourds. Hey, I can maintain, man.

It's terrifying the number of posts that excuse/condone this behavior.

It is.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Comments like these make me want to say "yes" to the question "should allnurses be a forum for nurses?"

Awaiting the flamage and knuckle raps. Too angry to care right now.

Earl, what you are implying is euthanasia is not. But explaining the difference would likely fall on deaf ears based on the fervor of your statement.

JTVand, if nurse A and nurse B ingest the same amount of a mind-altering substance and go to work they are both impaired. Impaired isn't how you look or sound, it's how you think and react. Reminds me of an often heard remark from my youth said by people stoned out of their gourds. Hey, I can maintain, man.

Amen and amen.

(I'll have your back if anyone tries to flame you or rap your knuckles. )