Stealing drugs!! what's your opinion?????

CCU NRS · Dec 7, 2003

Originally posted by cannoli
What is "tweeking behavior"?

is like hyperactivity with a drug induced twist. They are always doing something, they take things apart and then try to put them back together usually failing they can't sit still and rarely stop talking and they talk really fast and they mostly don't make much sense but they think they have figured out the worlds problems. They constantly just mess with things. This person was also usually dirty with greasey unwashed hair and usually fever blisters on the lips. ya know tweeking!

cannoli · Dec 7, 2003

CCU NRS, thank you.

LilgirlRN, ADN, RN · Dec 7, 2003

If you don't like this thread, you don't have to read it, as with any other thread.

cannoli · Dec 7, 2003

Originally posted by LilgirlRN
If you don't like this thread, you don't have to read it, as with any other thread.

Who is this comment directed to?

LilgirlRN, ADN, RN · Dec 7, 2003

Go to the top of the page Cannoli. Barb thinks we need to come up with a new twist to the topic. I don't like every thread started here, but if I don't like it, I just don't read it. That's my only point. Just like people who complain about violence/sex/language on TV or in the movies, change the channel or don't buy a ticket.

cantoo · Dec 7, 2003

3rdShiftGuy,

I am a participant in the Florida IPN and I can tell you that 12 step meetings are indeed required. Participants must attend 90 meetings in 90 days and then three meetings a week thereafter for the remainder of the program, which is five years. We have to get a meeting verification formed signed by the chairperson and it has to be submitted, on time, every three months to IPN. Failure to do this is considered a breach of your contract and you are then dismissed from the program and reported to the State Board of Nursing. Your friend may have been referring to the fact that after two years one no longer has to turn in the forms, but we are still expected to attend. Some local nurse support group facilitators can require that you still turn in the forms to them even after the two years.

Every once in a while we have someone that comes into the program that balks at the idea of being forced to attend a religious cult and they are usually labeled "in denial" and are then mandated to get additional counseling at their own expense until they "get it". Most of us just go along with the program, whether we agree or not, and learn to "talk the talk".

For me, NA was not a good experience. I used drugs to dull the emotional pain of having lost my daughter to a drunk driver. I was discouraged from discussing that issue in meetings because I was told it wasn't addiction realted. I eventually sought grief counseling on my own and I have not had a single thought of using since.

Could it be that your friend has some new info that us participants are not aware of? If so, I'd sure like to hear about it. 12 Step programs may be good for some people and those people should attend if it helps them. But, for many of us, it's detrimental to our recovery and being mandated to attend is not a good thing.

I'd just like to add that the posters on this message board have been, for the most part, very accepting and open-minded and for that I'm grateful. Lemonhead, Babs and myself have been to many that aren't. Thanks for hearing us uot!!!

cannoli · Dec 7, 2003

Originally posted by LilgirlRN
Go to the top of the page Cannoli. Barb thinks we need to come up with a new twist to the topic. I don't like every thread started here, but if I don't like it, I just don't read it. That's my only point. Just like people who complain about violence/sex/language on TV or in the movies, change the channel or don't buy a ticket.

Okay, got it.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2003

Originally posted by cantoo
3rdShiftGuy,
I am a participant in the Florida IPN and I can tell you that 12 step meetings are indeed required.

Cantoo, congrats on your recovery. I will ask him again. But he did clearly say AA was not required, and that he thought it was challenged in court, but that something was required that was group oriented. But face it, when they say 90 meetings in 90 days, what other recovery program meets every day with so many options as to times. With a mandate like that what options are there? Do other sobriety groups meet so often?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2003

Originally posted by Lemonhead
I really only had one experience along these lines--I worked with a girl that we were pretty sure was drinking either on the job or immediately before and snorting during--she smelled of alcohol and when she went out on breaks, when she came back she was revved up----This was before "my" problem and I was worried one night when she was trying to take care of an asthmatic and she was SOAKED with sweat, shaking and had a beady eyed look about her...I just grabbed one of my other coworkers and asked what she would do--we reported it to the charge nurse, who approached her, told her that she had 2 choices, leave immediately and voluntarily seek help and stay off until she was "better"--the charge nurse told her that if she wanted to "deny" the problem and continue working, she would immediately report her--the girl was livid, but she left--ended up on a long personal leave, but ended up doing okay-went to rehab, the whole 9 yards---I always admired the charge nurse for that--at the time, I thought she was kind of crazy for taking on the responsibility of NOT reporting it, but, she was very firm and direct, but also kept the situation completely confidential-, she also got a nurse out of direct care immediately in a way that, in my opinion, kind of forced the nurse to get help. The few of us that knew what had happened, kind of had a feeling the charge nurse had maybe "been there, done that" because it was handled so well.
It's a very tough call for me right now...honest to God, I don't think I could report someone if I thought they would have to go through the things I had. I also would not want to see a patient in danger--I think I'd probably confront them directly and take it from there---it is a tough call and there really are other things that could be making someone act "different", so it's definately a fine line.
Oh, and just a little FYI--for someone using narcs, especially excessive doses--the narcs will eventually have the opposite effect and act as stimulants.....that's why some nurses can "function" on such high doses of these meds....

I'm a little torn. I wonder if that charge nurse put her license on the line by not reporting it. Supose that person didn't get help. Suppose that person returned to work the next day, or quit and got another job and caused someone some harm.

Was that charge nurse puttiing his/her license on the line by keeping it confidential like that? I'm sorry, as much compassion as I have I might have handled the situation just like that, but would have bumped it up the management chain and told them what I had done.

Lemonhead · Dec 7, 2003

Tweety's:

Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy
I'm a little torn. I wonder if that charge nurse put her license on the line by not reporting it.

I thought she put her license on the line--that's why, at the time, I was pretty floored that she'd take the risk...she basically told the girl that if she didn't get help, one way or another, she'd report her..in other words, if the girl quit the job and walked, her name and license number would have been sent to the Board...like I've said, don't know how I'd handle it, but, in this instance, it ended up being a good thing..

And as for the "old" thread, sorry, I didn't realize that someone determine a thread was "old" and told other's to move on....thought this was a "discussion" board--isn't that what we are doing? There's plenty that bore me too on this site, but I sure wouldn't go in and tell those actively posting that they are boring or "old"....I agree with LilgirlRn--if you don't like it, don't read it...pretty simple if ya ask me....

Lemonhead · Dec 7, 2003

There's plenty that bore me too on this site, but I sure wouldn't go in and tell those actively posting that they are boring or "old"....I agree with LilgirlRn--if you don't like it, don't read it...pretty simple if ya ask me.... [/b]

I was referring to the other threads on this entire site, not this one!

Erin RN · Dec 7, 2003

I think the mere discusion of this issue, how many posters have jumped in as well as the amount and quality of information that is being provided is proactive in itself. Addiction is not something we like to address amongst our own. Realizing that it does happen, for whatever reason, is the first step in becoming proactive. All of these stories will help others to be able to more easily indentify those that are impaired and we are also hearing first hand about both reporting and treatment..I think this is an extremely important thread..:) Erin