Prescription narcotics or benzodiazepines while working?

Nurses General Nursing

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Should a nurse be working while on Ativan, Xanax, Lortab, Percocet, or some other prescribed medication that may impair a person? I always thought this was a no no, even with a prescription. Don't these drugs impair ones judgment? Yet, I heard on another thread that nurses take Ativan to get through their shift.

Aren't there warnings on these meds 'do not drive while taking'. Isn't it common sense that, if you shouldn't drive while on a medication, you probably shouldn't be making nursing judgment calls, dispensing risky medications, transferring patients, and so forth.

What is the policy on this? What about the Nurse Practice Act?

Relaxed? Buzzed?

I was given Xanax by my pdoc once for anxiety. Took the first dose and it put me down like an elephant tranquilizer. Each time I've had one I'm out for 12+ hours. I'm not a little guy. :D

that just shows us that people respond differently. Let us keep that in mind when thinking someone is or is not depressed, is or is not in physical pain.

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Specializes in LTC.

So if you have a Rx for Vicodin and you take it while at work for pain related to an injury at work or at home you can get in trouble for this? I broke my toe or I should say my husband broke my toe at the begining of this year and I had to take a week off work but was then released back. I was taking vicodin for pain while at work and my nurse managers knew this as well as the DON and the facility doctor who also had to release me to come back besides the doctor that took me off. The vicodin does not make me sleepy or effect me in anyway.

I also take Ativan at work for anxiety when it is bad. Lately at work things have been bad so I have needed it more. No one knows that I even take it except a couple of people so how is my judegment impaired? I have also taken Xanax before and that did nothing to me either. I also know one other nurse that takes Ativan 3 times a day every day for anxiety. So she should not be allowed to work because she has anxiety and has to take Ativan to function normal? Also, my doctor knows I am a nurse in a LTC, why would she give me the Ativan Rx if she didn't think it would be safe and I really needed it?

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My doctor knows I'm a CNA in LTC. Why would they give me Xanax? Which DOES impair me?

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No, you won't be fired, etc. or be in trouble for taking prescribed meds. You will if you get them from some other source than your own physician's script.

I don't think the OP was talking about abuse of this stuff, that would be like drinking at work. However if you are someone that finds that the side effects of any medication you are taking impairs your ability to concentrate/work, then it's up to you to call your physican and try a different med/approach to help you with your problem just like any other person in the world, taking any other medication... I think most sensible people give things a try before driving/going to work, etc. it's common sense.

I am sure that a prescription for a 'bout of anxiety doesn't "expire", and go under lock and key once that episode has ended, geez! How silly! I'd love to see the face of a doc that gets a call from a nurse... Doc says, "do you have any left from that last script I wrote for you?" nurse says, "Yes I have two left, but Doc, I couldn't take them without calling you first because that would be against the law!" :yeah:ROFL

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Specializes in LTC.
My doctor knows I'm a CNA in LTC. Why would they give me Xanax? Which DOES impair me?

I don't know about your doctor but my doctor is giving me the Rx to take AT work for increased anxiety. Is this why your doctor is prescribing it?

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Because I get increased anxiety/paranoia and agitation related to my BP2...

I don't take them though because sleeping on the job is discouraged. :D

Maybe I am awake but don't remember like the previous poster?? Who knows.

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

I read this on the Minnesota Board of Nursing site. It is under cause for disciplinary action. Note is does not distinguish prescribed drugs as opposed to those that are not.

While I believe there are nurse who most likely are able to function without difficulty. Just what if something happens to a patient under their care, and it comes to light the nurse had taken such and such medication even though it is a prescription. What would the nurses defense be to prove she was in fact not impaired in some way? Just a thought. I do not have the answer.

this is from the Board of Nursing Minnesota

9) Actual or potential inability to practice nursing with reasonable skill

and safety to patients by reason of illness, use of alcohol, drugs, chemicals,

or any other material, or as a result of any mental or physical condition

This has been an interesting thread to read, thanks OP

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As a new nurse who is about to go off orientation, the anxiety is killing me. I've considered taking a (low dose) Xanax that was prescribed to me over a year ago for a long airplane flight, but have also worried about whether or not that would be okay. I don't want to ask anyone I work with because I am trying to give the impression that I am relatively confident, and also I know that with more experience, my anxiety will diminish. Hopefully, I won't have a nervous breakdown before I find my groove!

I would be very careful about taking something w/o a current script. If you're tested for any reason, you could be in some serious hot water.

Talk to your doc about your situation and see what he/she can do for you.

If you get a new med, I'd want to take it on a day off, to learn the effect it will have on you. If you're going to be loopy or sleepy, it's better to be that way somewhere other than work. My :twocents:.

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I'm surprised at how lenient the general consensus is. We truly are an over-medicated society.

I would never work while under any drug that has the potential to make me sleepy, regardless of how I feel after taking it. Who knows if my mind is tricking itself into thinking I'm perfectly fine when my reflexes are off by a measurable amount.

"I'm fine. I'm not too drunk to drive!" Boy oh boy does our mind ever like to play tricks on us... Obviously this is an analogy/example of substances that alter our minds. I'm not talking about nurses going to work drunk, or trying to compare something illegal to something legal :p

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Specializes in Home Health, Case Management, OR.

Can't say I could function to work on narcs, however taking a 0.25mg of Xanax HELPS me focus. I do not get loopy on xanax and it takes any anxiety down to a level where I can function much better than had I not taken it. I would say it all depends on how a particular person tolerates the drug. I have fellow students who will take a xanax or ativan and be zonked out and dead to the world, then there are students like myself in which it does not cause any undesirable side effects.

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Specializes in DOU.
I would be very careful about taking something w/o a current script. If you're tested for any reason, you could be in some serious hot water.

Talk to your doc about your situation and see what he/she can do for you.

If you get a new med, I'd want to take it on a day off, to learn the effect it will have on you. If you're going to be loopy or sleepy, it's better to be that way somewhere other than work. My :twocents:.

OY, for the 4th time, I AM NOT TAKING DRUGS AT WORK.

Sorry if I seem rude, it's just that I've had to repeat myself 4 times. :banghead:

Being tempted is not the same as doing it.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I'm surprised, too, at how lenient people are. I also wonder why there aren't more definite rules about this.

I brought up driving. If you cause an accident with prescribed benzos or opiates on board, what is your legal responsibility? Does anyone know the answer to that question? Are you off the hook if you have a script?

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