What to do if you are going to need narcotics to work?

[PinkRocksLikeMe]

Hello,

I was wondering a couple of things. I have pseido tumor cerbri, fibro and intercranial hypertension. I have had several LP's with pressure in the high 40's. My vision is getting worse and my doctor is wanting me to get a shunt. The idea of a shunt at 1st didn't sound like something I wanted to do but with continued high pressures and headaches that are the worst DAILY the idea of the shint is looking better and better.

I was giving oxycodone to take when things get bad and I also take Lyrica for my fibro. I have been fortunate to not to have to take my oxycodone but a couple of times and it happened to be on the weekend I did not work but it got me thinking about what happens if I need to take one at night when I work the next day, or if I am at work (if you can even do that) hence my post.

Sad thing is this, I have heard how many people were I work sometimes jump to the conclusion a patient is drug seeking because they are asking for pain meds witen they cannot find anything wrong, for instance had a patient that had a suspected pseudo tumor, pt was headed to get LP, asked for pain meds before the procedure, the nurse was annoyed and made comments about why does she need pain meds for a LP, she is a seeker, etc I asked this nurse if she ever had a LP, she states NO, then I tell her I have and it is painful, and maybe just maybe the patient was hurting NOW , it is not like the pt was no allowed to hurt before the procedure after all pt came in for a headache. BTW, you can only dx a pseudo tumor through a LP doesn't show up on a CT or MRI.

Getting off subject here and I apologize, I just wanted to show bias to chronic pain even in the ER where people have ACUTE pain as well. Was wondering how many of you take pain meds, does anyone know you are taking them, what is the policy at your hospital?

Thanks in advance!!

Pink

[exp626]

You should check not only with your BON, but your employee health department. My hospital requires employees taking medications which may cause impairment to check with them and sometimes provide a copy of the prescription. They review each case individually. Better safe than sorry when your job and license are involved (and pt safety!). Hope you get well soon.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Let me add another perspective from someone who has worked with addicted RN's in a state program- be CAREFUL. My thinking is that if a person has a condition so painful that they have to work while taking narcotics, perhaps they shouldn't be working as a nurse in an acute care environment. No hospital ever wants it to become public that they hire nurses who must use narcotics. And my experience with nurse addicts makes me a little squeamish about nurses with pain issues working in areas with access to narcotics. The large majority of nurse addicts are folks with pain issues - not recreational users (very rare). You may not think you're impaired but only psycho-motor and intellectual skill tests can prove that to be true.