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

tmiller027 · Dec 15, 2003

Originally posted by cbrnbloompa
I have heard of several instances where nurses would take the pain med themselves instead of giving it to the patient, therefore the narc drawer count is right on but the patients pain is not controlled!!! So what out for thepatients who are only in severe pain when a CERTAIN nurse is taking care of them.

Now this just sounds cruel

Lemonhead · Dec 15, 2003

Originally posted by mystc42
I never imagined this post would catch on this much, thank you everyone for your comments and stories.

I'd like to say thank you too for all of the support, understanding and questions! Lemon

LilgirlRN, ADN, RN · Dec 16, 2003

They sent a nurse home from work yesterday because she was too doped up to work. She is going through a bad divorce and had some dental work done, took too much of her pain meds. Had to get a family member to come and get her. Don't know what will happen to her from there.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 16, 2003

Originally posted by LilgirlRN
They sent a nurse home from work yesterday because she was too doped up to work. She is going through a bad divorce and had some dental work done, took too much of her pain meds. Had to get a family member to come and get her. Don't know what will happen to her from there.

I don't know about Alabama, but not a lot of nurses here know it is against the Nurse Practice Act to take narcs and work. A coworker once complained of a sore neck and another coworker seriously offered her a Vicodin. Fortunately the nurse declined.

Bottom line if your in so much pain you need narcs, you can't work. Wish me luck, I'm having oral surgery soon myself and will have a percocet perscription. But the last time, I would take motrin during working hours and two percs before bed and I was fine. I'm lucky motrin works well for me.

Keysnurse2008 · Dec 16, 2003

My opinion is ...it is unethical......illegal.......dangerous to patients and if you suspect this is being done you should notify your unit manager asap........what part of this is not comprehensible to you?It is not JUST an ethical issue its a Patient safety issue!!!!!!!and you should speak up!!!!1:eek:

[email protected] · Dec 17, 2003

Let me tell you!

Been a nurse for 20 years. First place I worked (ER, Major trauma center) one dozen people allowed to resign for dipping. I was usually the last to know, I just look up one night and they're gone. Some of them probably signed my name on the narcotic sheet.

Worked in a little dinky place that was closing in a few weeks anyway. We were down to 30mg of morphine. Told my director that 30mg was not worth having, so he ordered another box (10mgX10). I do the count on Friday. Nobody else bothers to count until Monday and the whole box is missing. Hospital administrator tells me what the suspect told him. "Jon must have taken the MS...I was on an extended break that night...I laid down and slept from 1900 to 0700!" Can you believe that they let this woman resign, so that she could take her problem elsewhere?

Jon:roll

bls-rn · Dec 17, 2003

Lemonhead I would love to speak with you through email about some things you have posted. I agree with what you say and am not a "hostile" lol ! Please email me so I can write to you. Thanks.

bail · Dec 18, 2003

Hi again,

I told you all that I had been terminated from my job, for I am specualting, suspicion of taking narcs, even though my drug screen was negative. I also reported having witnessed another nurse altering the narc sheets, reported that, and nothing was done about that. Now, the former employer has reported me to the Attorney General, and state nursing peer assistance program.

I am supposed to get a "substance abuse evaluation" next week.

The AG wants a "detailed" reponse to the complaint. I have tried three times to reach the AG office to find out exactly what they want, no response. I am going to contact my lawyer as well. The employer states they reported "the theft" to the DEA and local police. Now, while the implication is there, the employer did not state to me any accusation of "stealing" from them, ............any adivse out there is much appreciated.............

Thanks

bail

LilgirlRN, ADN, RN · Dec 18, 2003

Bail, best of luck to you. Don't talk about this here, talk only to an attorney and remember what others have said, the BON is not your friend.

Lemonhead · Dec 18, 2003

Bail, DAMN!!!!! What the hell is goin' on there....

Okay, first of all, Lilgirl is absolutely right..do NOT do anything until you talk to an attorney. You are not the first nurse to be falsely accused and certainly not the last...they (the law enforcement, hospital, board) are going to scare the begeezus out of you with all of this "incriminating evidence"--that's their job--to scare you in to submission so they do not have to investigate any further and they land you as the scapegoat. So, let it go in one ear and out the other and DO NOT give a single statement to ANYONE...as for the drug evaluation, don't even do that until you talk to a lawyer. This crap is VERY intimidating, because as nurses, we don't know a lot about law, we are so scared that w'ell do about anything to save our precious license, including nurses that are coerced in to statements--so please Bail, be VERY VERY careful. If you are innocent and have done nothing wrong--it will be up to them to prove your guilt and although they may be giving you the impression that they have TONS of evidence against you--that's their job--to scare the hell out of you. Believe me, if they truly pursue it, they will have alot more work to do--and if they can get you to make one little incriminating statement and snag you, it makes their job a whole lot easier. And it makes them look like the hero's saving the "public"..it's also great for our elected public officials to get that evil nurse---and believe me folks--it happens to innocent nurses...it's scapegoating at it's worst...so, Bail, they most likely do not have as much against you as they are letting on--just keep a level head and get an attorney ASAP!!!

Lemonhead · Dec 18, 2003

And....DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT talk to the AG---they are the state attorney..they work FOR THE STATE..DO NOT give them ANY statements until you talk to an attorney---"statement" is nothing more than a nice, deceptive way of saying "confession" and anything you say, WILL be held against you--it will also be twisted and turned upside down to reflect poorly on you.....

bail · Dec 18, 2003

Hi again,

Thanks Lilgirl and Lemonhead................I'll take the advice seriously..........I just had to vent..............please keep me in your thoughts.............thanks :)