what to say?

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Specializes in trauma, ER, PACU, CCU/ICU, Management.

Hi guys,

I need some advice, there are 2 pt's on my wing that require narc's once a day. What do I say to get someone to give them for me. I will do anything for the other nurse so she/he could give them for me. I just don't want to make things worse for me. Do I just fess up about the Kare program and 1 yr with no admin. narcs or say something else. Any advice would be great.

Thanks!:bow:

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

a few years ago i worked with a nurse who had narcotic restriction and she was honest with all of us who worked with her. when she asked for a push to be given we did it for her. we all accepted her and her honesty and did our best to help her.

honesty is th best policy.

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Specializes in ICU.

You might be able to tell them, you might have too. But if they get nosey and ask what you did, I suggest you don't tell them. If it really bothers you to tell them what you did, then tell them you got a DUI and reported to the board so now you have to do this KARE thing. I know it's lying, but sometimes nursing coworkers can't handle the truth.

You are in recovery and you seem to be doing very well. You got a job and are following all the rules a recovering nurse has to. You jump through hoops on a daily basis to keep your nursing license. You are proud to be a nurse and you want to be the best nurse that you can be... right?

Chances are they might be alright with it, but do you want to take that chance? I think they need to know that you can't pass narc's, but they don't need to know what you did to get where you are now. So, it was a DUI on new years eve.. lol

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I think I'd stick with " I took a walk on the dark side and now I'm finding my way back, thanks for asking and being concerned" If they are just curious it will satisfy them, if they are meanspirited it will shame them and if they are human it will bless them. Good luck and God's speed.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.
I think I'd stick with " I took a walk on the dark side and now I'm finding my way back, thanks for asking and being concerned" If they are just curious it will satisfy them, if they are meanspirited it will shame them and if they are human it will bless them. Good luck and God's speed.

well , i don't know if a nurse asked me to push or give a narc for her and this happened over and over and i asked " asked her why she kept asking me to keep doing narcs for her? whats going on ", i don't mind helping but i have my work and you arn't goig to come clean i would wonder., and she told me " i took a walk on the darkside , thanks for being concerned" " the red lights and i would steer clear..would flash in my mind and i would rather have her be honest and tell me the truth.

she has nothing to be ashamed of telling me the truth. it wouldn't shame me if she said that to me ( about the walking on the darkside ) , the red flag would go up and i would wonder what the heck she did. it wouldn't shame me at all if she said that to me.

honesty always be honest and tell the truth, your coworkers will help you.. if you give a lame excuse as to why you can't do your complete job and co workers need to help you. you must be honest and tell them. people are usually not mean , and they want to help you.

i want to help , but when i am signing out narcs and pushing meds on my license for a RN or LPN i want to know why , and thats my right as a human and a professional.

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Ye right!!! My friend can tell you volumes about coming clean and what it gets you. Frankly it is no ones business other than your supervisor and HR. If they don't like the fact that they have to administer the narcs tell them to take it up with the NM and let her or him tell them what they will. Giving them a broad explaination is not a lie.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.
Ye right!!! My friend can tell you volumes about coming clean and what it gets you. Frankly it is no ones business other than your supervisor and HR. If they don't like the fact that they have to administer the narcs tell them to take it up with the NM and let her or him tell them what they will. Giving them a broad explaination is not a lie.

well , if i'm pulling narcs and giving medication through a patients vein that can affect them or possibly kill them on my license for a pt who isn't assigned to me .. not just once .. but alot.. i would want to know why. and thats my right and a broad comment is not going to cut it... i can refuse , but like i said we had a very nice girl that made a big error paiid her dues was honest with us , we all helped her . she was a awesome nurse we are all human and be honest and tell me what you need and i will help you. the girl that we did meds for is now off and still works with us... she is awesome and i love her.

you gotta give people credit... it's okay to tell people the truth and not dismiss them as not caring without even trying. maybe the nurse manager can do the meds for her.. but i have a right to refuse giving a narc to a pt iv, po or whatever if i am not assigned to tht patient. a nurse manager cannot tell me my ethics.

i work as the clinical supervisor and i can tell you now, if a nurse came to me and said " she told me she walked on the dark side and wants me to push some diluded for her and i don't feel comfertable, i don't know this patient ' i'd say don't do it then ...

let the nurse manager who hired her come in and do it for her... but if she was honest and told me " i made a mistake i cannot push meds or go near narcotics " i would say okay and i would do it for her. but if you cannot be honest and tell me " you took a walk on the dark side and to push meds for you" i would not be shamed i would walk away and wonder about you... i have a license to protect and i have been through 5 years of nursing school and because "you took a walk on the dark side" isn't my problem. shamed ?? hardly...

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

Honestly, this shouldn't be a big deal in normal circumstances. If it is a post surgical or othropedic or hospice or something it would be.

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Specializes in ICU.

It could possibly be made into a big deal. So, the OP is correct in trying to figure out what to say to these people. Some folks are okay with not knowing, and some really want to know what you did in the past. Sometimes they rationalize it because they want to know "what kind of nurse" they are working with.

I know it is no one's business.. but some people feel like they need to know. It is good to have an answer ready, just in case.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, Education.

Just tell the truth and be done with it...:nurse:

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The only person you owe a COMPLETE explaination to is your NM and HR when you are interviewed for the position. Anyone else feeling like they need to know can ask the NM. If they can't muster the courage to ask the NM then they don't need to know and they have an agenda. Frankly if another nurse had a restriction I would just be satisfied with my assumptions and keep it to myself. They can go online and put in the persons name and county and get all the info they want. If they are that curious then let them do a little work to get the dirt.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

I didn't express it quite right. I was trying to convey that it (the situation) shouldn't be thay big of a deal in a "general" sense.

Of course that is just wishful thinking for the most part because human curiosity and judgements/opinions get in the way.

Obviously for the person in the situation it is a big deal.

I worked once with someone in such a situation. The reason/explanation given was that they had a restriciton on their license and could not dispense narcotics nor hold the keys to the supply.

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