Prepare yourselves, the drug addict on Dr. Phil is a nurse.

[Judee Smudee]

Now I am not going to make a negative or positive comment at this point because I have not seen the show. I only know three things at this point. One is that the promo they are running specifically says the woman is a nurse. Two is that yes, chemical abuse among health care workers is a real and growing problem. Three is that up until now Dr. Phil has been shall we say "unsupportive" of nurses.

[markjrn]

I can't think of ANY excuse for her actions.

That woman who kicked the crap out of that guy? That was hard to watch. Really hard.

[pricklypear]

I guess this is sort of off the subject, but could SOMEONE please tell me why that woman wasn't put in jail a long time ago??? Could you imagine video of some man abusing his passed-out drunk wife like that? I'm hearing aggravated assault, attempted murder???

[markjrn]

I guess this is sort of off the subject, but could SOMEONE please tell me why that woman wasn't put in jail a long time ago??? Could you imagine video of some man abusing his passed-out drunk wife like that? I'm hearing aggravated assault, attempted murder???

I agree.

[pebbles, BSN, RN]

No profession, no level of education makes a person drug abuse proof. Are some groups less likely than others to have members that use drugs? Of course there are but that does not exclude the possiblity.

Agreed. But part of Phil's comment (not having seen the darn show yet!) could evolve out of nursing reputation as a profession. We are widely trusted by the public on a variety of levels. Weren't nurses ranked just behind firefighters in ranking of public trust? Of course a nurse can develop a substance abuse problem. But that contradicts the image..... Hence, it makes good TV, and that is what Dr Phil is all about.

[mattsmom81]

But like mentioned already...why the NURSE addict...with continued reference to THAT?? Doubt it is coincidence that this occurs after he was asked to apologize to nurses as a group for disparaging comments.

HE chooses the guests and again...why a NURSE? Why not a doctor or a psychologist? Bet their rates for addiction rival nurses...altho I don't know the stats.

[pebbles, BSN, RN]

But like mentioned already...why the NURSE addict...with continued reference to THAT?? Doubt it is coincidence that this occurs after he was asked to apologize to nurses as a group for disparaging comments.

HE chooses the guests and again...why a NURSE? Why not a doctor or a psychologist? Bet their rates for addiction rival nurses...altho I don't know the stats.

I dunno - I still get the odd complaint from patients about how we don't wear white dresses and caps any more - the image of nursing is a hot topic no matter what angle you take it from !

[leslie :-D]

Its coming on tonight on CBS I think at 8pm Eastern. I didn't hear the remark about nurses on the commercial but maybe I will have to watch it now.

i'm watching it now- thanks twinmommy!

leslie

[begalli]

Phil's addict is a nurse. BIG DEAL. Actually, good. Nurses are not infallible. Not perfect. Not pure white angels of mercy. We are real people.

I'm sure viewers of this show are smart enough to know that because one nurse has this debilitating addiction, that not ALL nurses suffer the same.

I wonder what is at the root of this person's addiction? Was it the stress of a terrible job situation that drove her to find an escape in using? Maybe it was something more deeply personal. Maybe it just happened. How would you all feel if it did turn out to be something related to the stress of nursing?

I think that by people making a big deal out of this they are saying that this nurse and her problem are unacceptable and shameful. Addiction happens. If her appearance on Dr Phil (whom I can't stand) helps just one other addicted nurse begin to come to terms with their own problem, then good.

She IS a nurse. Someone who one would think would know better. It just goes to show that addiction has no boundaries and that it could happen to anyone.

So why is this person being judged as "bad" for the image of nursing? It just kind of bothers me that this person is being judged and rejected by those in her profession and we don't even know ANY of the story?

[pebbles, BSN, RN]

She's a nurse in a drug-rehab clinic, it seems. If that makes any difference at all, not sure it should.

I really can't stand to watch dr phil and his arrogant grandstanding any more. How is he any kind of "therapist" by berating the addicted person and her husband like this...? He's just like those "judge/court" type tv shows where people watch because they LIKE to see the authority figure telling off the "bad" person....

I especially didn't like where he told the husband that his wife had said she regretted getting married and having kids. That is so out of line.

Anyway, turning it off now to go watch the CSI and ER finales I taped last night while I was at work...... Quality TV!

[Judee Smudee, ADN, RN]

Guess what, I have nothing negative to say about this show. It is an excellent piece of work. This addict needed someone to tear into her just like Dr. Phil is doing. Right ON! You know why, it is either shape up or ship out as in DEATH. I really appreciate the fact that he does not expect the audience to offer pity or offer it himself. This womans behavior is evil in that it hurts everyone especially her. However, I do pity the family especially the husband and certainly those poor kids. I know he is an co-dependant. The controlling behaviors of chemical abusers is such that they have their families in such a state that the poor souls hardly know which end is up. I don't like her at all and I don't think she was a good human being even when she was sober. PS What do you think the BON is going to do about it. They can't just let this pass.

[LeiaT]

I think the reason that he was saying "you're a nurse" on the abusive wife show was because he though she should know better, she should know how much damage she could cause (beating him in the head with a liquor bottle!)...I don't think he means that nurses should be perfect. About the show on tonight, I have no comments because I haven't watched any of it.

[leslie :-D]

i just watched the entire show- i thought it was great.

in the introduction, dr.phil stated this woman was an rn who worked in a substance abuse clinic and was a full-fledged addict.

that was the only time he mentioned her profession.

the rest of the show focused on her, her enabling dh,and how she had learned to play the system, obtaining all prescribed meds from various doctors; and her need to maintain authority, control, manipulative behaviors.

she finally consented to rehab and the end was pretty optimistic w/dr.phil stating that they would be following her for however long it took and this woman was feeling better mentally, and for the 1st time in yrs, had hope.

amen to that.

leslie