jlallenbaugh

But my point is: How can you be so sure it is an addiction? Do you just "know" by the way they look or act? How do you know that their behavior isn't due to pain? Isn't pain subjective? You are supposed to take it as they say it is. Nurses are not the ones to decide whether we should give a pain med that is ordered when the patient asks for it. The Doctor orders it and it is his call , not ours. The only reason I think that we should withhold ordered pain medicine is if the Pt is too out of it to need it. No Nurse is supposed to feed an addiction and I doubt that they were admited for "addiction treatment" or you would be working on a detox unit. It is your right to practice nursing the way you see fit though, it is your license and reputation. I know that some Doc's are clueless when they over order pain meds to the point where it is almost dangerous and the pt is always doped, but it is our responsibility as nurses to advocate for the pt and try to get something changed or at least try to suggest a pain consultation. You shouldn't punish the pt just because you think he is a "junkie". That's just not right. And patients do know when you are doubting them and I am sure that they sense that and makes them feel very worthless. What if that "junkie" really is in pain and you choose to withold or "not feed his so-called addiction?" I believe that would be very poor nursing care. That's just the way I feel. (Not trying to offend or attack personally)

Even if you are not "venting" where a pt can actually hear you, you still relay a demeaning message to that patient. You can tell when a nurse is doubtful of you and it's too bad for those poor patients in pain that are afraid to ask you for any relief.

You hit it right on the money!!! I agree with every thing you have said. I have been a patient myself and looked at by nurses and could tell that they just think your " another drug seeker" . It really is too bad that so many nurses are still so narrow minded that they believe they have the power to see inside someone and know their pain. Thanks for that post. You have said it all.

You sound like an excellent nurse and able to view patients the way they ought to be with no judgement. I can't believe some of the responses from nurses that have absolutley no compassion. Keep up the good work!!

Sounds to me like the only problem here is a judgemental one. Who are you to say who exactly are the drug seekers and who are in pain? Can YOU tell by looking at them? Well, Hats off to you. You have more nursing skills than I. Remeber who will be judged in the end.

I have been a nurse for a long time but apparently not as long as you to see patients in pain and to be deeming them all "junkies" and "drug seekers". It is impossible to know for sure what a patients pain is and people all deal with it in different ways-you know that. I know that there are the drug seekers out there that ruin it for the pts truly in pain, but you have to remember that addiction is a disease too. If anyone is to blame-it's the doc's that start all this in the first place. Please try to remember that addiction is not a moral deficit. Alot of the people you work beside may have been through the same thing(yes, nurses too). Please don't be so harsh.