Tired of impaired nurses

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Ok...I have been a nurse for almost 20 years and thought I had seen it all. My current employer seems to be a becon for impaired nurses. We currently have 3. The latest one is causing loads of issues. She was a great nurse that worked with us for 1 year. It was found out that she was removing approximately 40 percocets per shift for patients she was not assigned to. Management aproached her and sent her for a drug test. Since she had a personal prescription for the drug, nothing was done. Many of the staff were very uncomfortable when she was around. (She was not signing the MAR--you had to look in the pxysis for the last dose given) Management pushed the issue and she up and quit. Well 6 months go by and she is back (rumor has it that she was terminated from the last place). I questioned my manager about this and she said there would be stipulations. I see none. Her first day back was today and I snooped around in the pxysis. She gave 10 percocet in one shift and once again failed to sign them out on the MAR. None of these patients are alert enough to report that they had not gotten the medication.

What can I do? Does any one know what actions I can take if management continues to turn a blind eye? I know we are short on RN's, but this is crazy. We already have a tough enough job without worrying about team members stealing drugs! A group of us are really upset and not sure what steps to take next. Help!!!

CCO can resolve anything--never hesitate to go to the corporate compliance officer

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Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.
i do take home a pair of gloves to clean the kitty litter boxes .. lol..

That's theft, and I'll bet it's more than a pair. Multiply what you take by all the employees with access to them, and you get increased costs that make higher healthcare insurance rates..........:o

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Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.
I also always carry a piece of crystal. I think crystal is very beneficial, what for I have no idea.

I also carry a pair of chinese medicine balls to roll in my hands. Good for stress and other problems.

Crystals impart beneficial rays, but need to be in view, not secreted in dark pockets.

Chinese "medicine balls" are great for relieving carpal tunnel problems, as they're rotated in one hand, but if they hit the floor, they're a hazard. Be careful of them!:monkeydance:

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
Crystals impart beneficial rays, but need to be in view, not secreted in dark pockets.

Chinese "medicine balls" are great for relieving carpal tunnel problems, as they're rotated in one hand, but if they hit the floor, they're a hazard. Be careful of them!:monkeydance:

I usually have the crystal in my hand as I feel the warmth from it.

And I never drop my balls, they are too nice to damage. Besides they are tonal and imparting certain tones is also beneficial health wise.

My coworkers thing Im even nuttier than ever. Thats also beneficial.

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YOUR RIGHT. SOMETIMES I'M SO BUSY I FORGET. i ALSO TAKE OFF MY LAB COAT ALOT BECAUSE I GET WARM. IT'S NOT INTENTIONAL IT'S JUST ME NOT PAYING ATTENTION.

I RARELY DO IT, BUT I AM ONLY HUMAN HUMAN.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!

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what would you do if that particular nurse went on an loa,got herself straightened out and came back,how would you be toward that nurse?

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Ok...I have been a nurse for almost 20 years and thought I had seen it all. My current employer seems to be a becon for impaired nurses. We currently have 3. The latest one is causing loads of issues. She was a great nurse that worked with us for 1 year. It was found out that she was removing approximately 40 percocets per shift for patients she was not assigned to. Management aproached her and sent her for a drug test. Since she had a personal prescription for the drug, nothing was done. Many of the staff were very uncomfortable when she was around. (She was not signing the MAR--you had to look in the pxysis for the last dose given) Management pushed the issue and she up and quit. Well 6 months go by and she is back (rumor has it that she was terminated from the last place). I questioned my manager about this and she said there would be stipulations. I see none. Her first day back was today and I snooped around in the pxysis. She gave 10 percocet in one shift and once again failed to sign them out on the MAR. None of these patients are alert enough to report that they had not gotten the medication.

What can I do? Does any one know what actions I can take if management continues to turn a blind eye? I know we are short on RN's, but this is crazy. We already have a tough enough job without worrying about team members stealing drugs! A group of us are really upset and not sure what steps to take next. Help!!!

Speaking as a impaired nurse myself, I can only imagine your frustration as a nurse who knows that something fishy is going on. If your management is turning a blind eye I would suggest going up the chain of command AND reporting nurse to board of nursing. If the nurse is using and stealing she clearly has a problem and needs help. Reporting to management and the Board of Nursing is important for at the very least your patients who are probably not getting percocet they may need. I don't think reporting is tattling. Although I sought help myself, I still thank God I was reported months later because programs most boards of nursing have ensure you seek out help and in my states doing this program does not ensure you will be able to work again. I hope some of this helps.

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I do not think this is a tit for tat issue. I am sure that u have worked hard and done well. But saying that others have not practiced well or have the same work ethics that u feel u have is wrong. Most nurses, I want to believe, have a high standard of care. People are people. Things happen, I am glad that they have not happened to u or to me. But if we continue to berate each other, our profession will continue to spiral downwood. Educators today,I am sure press the same standards that u and I were privy too.I also know that there are exceptions to every rule.

The "I would never","It would never be me" ,or "look at them,they should have know better" , ideal has ta go. One never knows what is down the line for them. We need to practice defensivly in many areas unfortunately, we need to protect our licence, we need to support our peers. Many will fall or stumble,we have to at least attempt to believe that they made an honest mistake and help them back on their feet.

I could ramble on and on, maybe I am nieve in ways,but I believe!

Have a great day!

I have said before I am an impaired nurse. There were two instances though when I found medications (metformin and insulin on me). The metformin got d/c'd so I didn't give it, it was in my pocket. I checked my pockets before I left found nothing. However when I washed my scrubs I found metformin in my dryer, still in package. Second time with lantus I did not check pockets was in rush since husband was sitting outside waiting for me for 4 hours after my shift ended, had two of my patients code within 90 minutes. When I realized at home lantus was in there I took it back. Mistakes happen it does not suggest you are a bad nurse, had bad training, it just means you made a mistake. Its like how many nurses have accidently gone home with PCA keys? I remember my mom did when in high school, she turned right around and took them back.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
what would you do if that particular nurse went on an loa,got herself straightened out and came back,how would you be toward that nurse?

On a simple LOA, I wouldnt trust her at all.

If she went through the Impaired nurse program, I still wouldnt trust her , but I would be a little more accepting.

Once a trust is violated, That trust has to be earned back. And I really mean they have to earn it.

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I think regardless of what nurse does, LOA or Impaired Nurse program I would be more watchful of her and the MAR for my patients as well as hers.

For me though I wonder what nurses I work with should do? I work for a large health system and when go back to work I will be going to an entirely different hospital, and per BON the only person who will know and monitor Random drug screening is my unit manager and director of nurses. I think it is my responsibility though to ensure that I administer drugs, and waste drugs completely by the book, even if the nurse I work with does not feel it is necessary.

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

When it comes to nurses stealing drugs i have very little tolerance.

Stealing meds to feed an addication is an unforgivable breach of trust. If you are unable to go to work and not steal drugs then do the right thing and leave the profession and seek help. You have a responsibility to your patients and to the hospital. When you steal drugs you let down the hospital, the nursing profession, your patients and yourself.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.
That's theft, and I'll bet it's more than a pair. Multiply what you take by all the employees with access to them, and you get increased costs that make higher healthcare insurance rates..........:o

it's only 1 pair every once in awhile.. i don't think i'm the cost of high insurance rates..lol... it's my cats fault... i've been trying to potty train them for years .. but they love that litter... lol.... lol ... i will go to my boss and confess my sins... our security guys are cute and they can feel free to frisk me before i leave work... lol.. have happy holidays..

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