Serious, what do you think?

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · May 28, 2009

I think that if you look at the other posts,, you will find the stories, the pain, the grief and suffering of those in recovery here. It is all written, and rewritten.

How do you feel?

If you look in my history, you'll find exactly how I feel about it.

Right now I'm happy. I'm happy about life, and I'm happy to be alive. I see others suffering and sometimes ache in my heart that I can't help them, and that they need to take the first step. I can point to recovery, but I can't make them walk to it. I think as a recoverying addict, that is one of the hardest thing to face.

blueyezz71 · May 30, 2009

I think the people that are being punished over alcohol(NON work related issues) are being punished too harshly. As long as whatever happened did not affect your job in any way whatsoever ie. coming to the job hungover/intoxcated then I feel it a invasion on privacy.

I too think the people punished over alcohol don't deserve the same treatment as someone doing drugs illegally on the job.

HippyGreenPeaceChick · Jun 1, 2009

Would like to know your opinions on alcohol vs drugs. Yes, I know that a drug is a drug, no matter what substance that was abused, but how do the nurses that abused drugs, diverted (stoled) feel, when their patients that were under their care, suffered, were in pain and did without, so they could get their drug of choice? How do they live with that?
What is your opinion about alcohol vs drugs and how Nurses are treated differently because of their choice of what they abused.

While abusing substances particularly while at work is bad enough. I think this is an issue that can be treated and dealt with fairly.

But When you steal drugs from work, when you cause the patients to not get pain relief, or to suffer harm because of your actions. Then that is a totally inexcusable action. I say they should live without their licenses forever more because of it.

As far as alcohol vs drug abuse, there is no difference in my opinion. Got to work drunk, go to work high, these are serious issues. No difference between the two, just the flavor.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2009

If you're drunk at work,, you're just as guilty as if you were high. There is no difference,, and actually,, if anyone tries to say it's different and that it's okay to work drunk,, then you MUST BE drunk.

soulofme · Jun 2, 2009

Does that mean the wet bar at work is out?

catmom1, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2009

At the last facility I worked at in LTC, the patients virtually never got pain relief anyway. I was exhausted trying to pistol whip the floor nurses into givng prn's. To them, PRN meant you don't have to bother with it. So I guess all of them should "live without their licenses forevermore because of it."

Again, very ignorant.

Catmom :paw:

rninmi · Jun 4, 2009

While abusing substances particularly while at work is bad enough. I think this is an issue that can be treated and dealt with fairly.
But When you steal drugs from work, when you cause the patients to not get pain relief, or to suffer harm because of your actions. Then that is a totally inexcusable action. I say they should live without their licenses forever more because of it.
As far as alcohol vs drug abuse, there is no difference in my opinion. Got to work drunk, go to work high, these are serious issues. No difference between the two, just the flavor.

My last reply was removed because it was taken as an "attack"....for that I appoligize. I used a term...that term was not meant as an attack...rather I was using it in its purest definition. Allow me to rephrase.

The above statment indicates to me that you have a "lack of knowledge or information or are uninformed on a particular topic" (the dictionary definition of my original "attack").

My no means am I attacking your character....rather It appears that some people do not understand addiction and how the addict needs help. Loosing their job "forever" is not the answer! Countless recovered nurses (myself included) have proven with rehabilitation and close monitoring we can and do recover!

wubbzy · Jun 21, 2009

My last reply was removed because it was taken as an "attack"....for that I appoligize. I used a term...that term was not meant as an attack...rather I was using it in its purest definition. Allow me to rephrase.
The above statment indicates to me that you have a "lack of knowledge or information or are uninformed on a particular topic" (the dictionary definition of my original "attack").
My no means am I attacking your character....rather It appears that some people do not understand addiction and how the addict needs help. Loosing their job "forever" is not the answer! Countless recovered nurses (myself included) have proven with rehabilitation and close monitoring we can and do recover!

I think I missed the reply that was removed.

Addiction/alcoholism is documented by the AMA as a disease. My personal thought is that as long as no one was "physically" hurt by the actions of the "user" and they want and seek help, they should get it without all the repurcussions. Monitoring by the BON would be a way of seeing how serious one is about their recovery.

My patients always got the pain meds that were prescribed for them. I never kept anything from my patients. I used what was left over and was to be thrown away. I thank GOD that I always cared for my patients appropriately and by them never "suffering" because of me.

I am so grateful for my recovery and that the BON is allowing me to continue in my chosen profession. I will do whatever they want to show them I am serious about my recovery. A friend of mine recently told me, "I'd rather have a nurse in recovery taking care of me than one that just used in the bathroom." AMEN to that. Losing a license should be a very last resort for those who don't care and just want to get high or hurt other people.

Just my opinion, and I'm entitled to it, but still openminded to other's opinions. :twocents:

rninmi · Jun 22, 2009

My patients always got the pain meds that were prescribed for them. I never kept anything from my patients. I used what was left over and was to be thrown away.

"yet...." That is what I would always say at meetings when talking or saying something like that. We need to relate, not compare with other addicts. The end result is the same....."jails, institution or death" or....thankfully "recovery".

I would find myself saying things like "I never stole money to buy drugs" or "I never bought drugs off the street..." Someone helped me by finishing those statements with the word "yet".....Eventually I would have done those things! Left unchecked addiction knows no boundaries and will cause us to do anything to anyone to keep it going.