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

Big Bab's · Dec 8, 2003

Hey Kelly!!....where you been girlie?!?

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. 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!!!

crankyasanoldma · Dec 8, 2003

One of our nurses had bilateral ingrown toenail surgery that began her problem. When she was let go, she said she was taking 21 vicodin a day. She gave up nursing and got a job as a checker at a grocery store.

skybirdrising · Dec 8, 2003

Originally posted by DoctorRN
My experience with this was that I was the one who "ratted out" the user.
Very popular nurse and I was the unfortunate one to catch her immediately after she had given an IM injection (she had a large circular blood stain on her hip). There were two "extra" demerol injections signed out to a patient who when asked knew exactly how many shots she had gotten on shift. There had been multiple incidences of her "giving" signing out more meds than were ordered for patients but everyone thought she was just helping out patients who had intractable pain. I called a friend for advice and the friend called our boss. I should have confronted the girl right then and there. Instead she was gone home before everything was reported. Long story short, she refused to have drug testing and was asked to resign because she wouldn't submit. She claimed that the blood was from her period and that I was out to get her.
There was a rift in the staff, I became the villian to about half of the nurses. She and her spouse made death threats towards me... it was a nightmare.
I learned a VERY important lesson, if you catch someone or suspect someone is using don't let them go home, call a supervisor to come immediately.

Unless you have substantial evidence beyond a shadow of a doubt, leave it alone. Witchhunting has never worked.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2003

If I am in the right, and someone is in the wrong. I have never concerned myself about the rifts it might cause. In this world doing right may not always be the popular way. I dont believe in witchunting but if I should ever see anyone stealing drugs or using drugs at work then yes by god I will bust them without any hesitation, I wont have any concerns just because some nurse who may be popular, but is still a druggie, in bringing him or her down in a flash. If they want to threaten me, let them go ahead and bring it on, I can handle it.

Wrong is still Wrong and never will be right no matter how you may choose to adorn it.

Lemonhead · Dec 8, 2003

Originally posted by skybirdrising
Unless you have substantial evidence beyond a shadow of a doubt, leave it alone. Witchhunting has never worked.

You don't have to have evidence "beyond a shadow of a doubt", that's only for criminal courts--even the state boards can discipline a licensee without "evidence beyond a shadow of a doubt." They can do it on suspicion alone. I don't believe in witch hunting either, but I believe if someone is reporting based on patient safety and the motives are "right", then it should be done...and once again, don't know how I'd handle it, but I understand people that think it needs to be done...

Geez, the "ingrown toenal" leading to addiction --how sad--who would think, but I've also heard of people having dental problems too that lead in to some heavy duty drug abuse situations....I guess you just never know...

mattsmom81 · Dec 9, 2003

Originally posted by CCU NRS

The two case in which I was involved I was working as an agency nurse and had no prior emotional involvemnet with the people I tunred in I did strictly for self preservation. Being an agency nurse onm a floor where narcs come up missing is very dangerous and hazardous to all concerned like the one person posted about everyone being suspec tthis is exactly the case and is to be avoided at all costs.

This has happened to me several times also while doing agency shifts. We make very easy scapegoats and have to be aware of the games addicts play....they are perfectly willing to sacrifice OUR reputations and life so we need to be very careful not to enable them.

I am very empathetic towards people in pain emotional and physical. But we need to be careful not to become part of the problem too...

As the child of alcoholics I can recognize some of the resentment of some posters here, and recognize it in myself at times too.

Tough love approaches are necessary, IMO. :cool:

jenny867-5309 · Dec 9, 2003

A nurse associate of mine was not automatically fired nor did she lose her licence. You get a certain number of chances and most hospitals will offer rehab. When nurses get caught it is usually a cry for help.

Lemonhead · Dec 9, 2003

Originally posted by jenny867-5309
You get a certain number of chances and most hospitals will offer rehab.
That varies from state to state--some states are into rehab, others, strictly punishment--so, it totally depends upon location.

Big Bab's · Dec 9, 2003

I agree....It does no one, the patient, the impaired nurse, or their coworkers any favors to not turn them in.....the controversy comes with WHO to report them to first.

Originally posted by teeituptom
If I am in the right, and someone is in the wrong. I have never concerned myself about the rifts it might cause. In this world doing right may not always be the popular way. I dont believe in witchunting but if I should ever see anyone stealing drugs or using drugs at work then yes by god I will bust them without any hesitation, I wont have any concerns just because some nurse who may be popular, but is still a druggie, in bringing him or her down in a flash. If they want to threaten me, let them go ahead and bring it on, I can handle it.

Wrong is still Wrong and never will be right no matter how you may choose to adorn it.

[email protected] · Dec 9, 2003

My heart goes out to anybody with a drug problem and I include myself. I smoke, drink coffee, and beer on my days off. My heart really goes out to any one with a drug problem who has access to them, but I'll be damned if I wanna share the keys with them! I've seen a coupla dozen nurses allowed to "resign" for "dipping." Most of them are allowed to resign, cause it's too much trouble to get them some real help.

Jon in Detroit

.

LilgirlRN, ADN, RN · Dec 9, 2003

They used to do that here too, allow people to resign or allow themt o go to rehab without involving the board. There is no accountability with that though, they found that nurses that participate in the program stay clean at a much higher rate than those who do not have to be screened.

Lemonhead · Dec 10, 2003

Originally posted by [email protected]
[but I'll be damned if I wanna share the keys with them! I've seen a coupla dozen nurses allowed to "resign" for "dipping." Most of them are allowed to resign, cause it's too much trouble to get them some real help.
Jon in Detroit
. [/b]

In regards to the keys issue, I don't blame ya at all for that--nobody should have to share keys with someone that's stealing--but, I know it does happen...

I can't believe managers that just allow someone to resign if they know they are using--a pretty big risk I would think. Do they not realize if that person goes to another hospital and kills someone while under the influence, they are going to investigate their work history? Or do they think "outta sight, outta mind"..... But then again, some of them think it's better to "hurry up and get rid of the bad apple" for PR purposes than be concerned about the risks to the next facility......