I was a PICC nurse for a little over a year. I worked with 3 teriffic women, one of whom was my supervisor. One was a very, very close friend. So I thought. We went to school together, we had get-togethers at her house, we worked for 9 hours a day together and as women, we TALKED.
I made the mistake of mentioning that I occasionally took vicodin for back pain. Never took it at work and my rx's were for 24 tablets that lasted me over a month. In fact, when I first started working there I was in physical therapy for a weird shoulder blade/trapezious pain. They knew this when I started. I NEVER called in sick, ever. On a friday while at work I became suddenly very ill, abdominal cramping like you wouldn't believe and diarrhea. I thought it was my appendix or a stone, so they nicely let me go get checked out. It seemed to resolve then returned over the weekend increasing again on monday and now I also had hematuria. So I asked to leave work -they were all concerned and understanding-I went to an er where they did a ct-negative, just a bad UTI. I called in sick the next day due to my pain and still having diarrhea. My boss texts me that I'm a vicodin addict, etc. Totally out of the blue and unprofessional. She made me come in to "talk" even though I was still ill and I BEGGED her for a private meeting. But when I came into work, my boss and 2 co-workers decided I needed an "intervention" and went into how I had changed, etc. Now I had also told these so called friends of mine that I thought something was wrong and that I might have depression that both my physician and counselor told me I did. These RN's went into how my stomach pain was similiar to withdrawl symptoms and I retorted with "they are also signs of depression". Anyways, it was awful. These friends completely turned on me. I even offered to take a drug screen then and there, my supervisor "poo-poo'd" it, saying there was no need. I ended up quitting due to that and other allegations that were totally false. I was worried about my license being at risk. It's a small company, there's not really an HR and my supervisor and one of the co-workers laughed and joked often about how they smoke weed-daily. Should I have stayed? Should I sue? LOL. I still have nightmares about the whole situation. what's your opinion?
Fishy fishy. If the er released you then there must be nothing wrong
And if I'm not mistaken, picc is a place for newborns to recover from physical dependance to narcotics. The docs/nurses are trained to watch for these signs. Half the moms who come visit try to get high. I know the place well. And I know that the staff is highly intelligent and sharp. They are hound dogs for addictive behaviors hence you gave multiple reasons for red flags. Denial is also part of addiction. ....not trying to upset you, but I think you know what the issues are here.
What area of nursing are you in that you wouldn't know what a PICC is?
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
You don't seem to be too torn up and it would appear there's a lot more to the story that you have conveniently left out. What are the other allegations? Why would it be ok for you to take Vicodin, with a script, and they "smoke weed?" Why would you then still feel you had to quit? What else do they have on you to prompt your resignation?? ???? Something is afoot here.....
I have to admit, I thought the "LOL" was odd, and I had the impression there was more to the story.
In any case, I play things close to the vest. Never, ever disclose information like that to people you work with. Your co-workers are generally not your BFFs.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
There is something odd about it. The one particular co-worker cannot seem to do anything wrong. I had been warned about her and chose to ignore it. I am coming to terms with the whole situation but I was unemployed-with NO PAY- until I got a new job 2 days ago. I was afraid that if I made a mistake putting a 4 inch needle into someone's arm and nicked an artery or nerve they would say "oh look, she's an addict" and that was where my license was in jeopardy. The false allegations were of fraud-my co-worker forged my name on consent forms my boss knew it but suddenly I had told her it would be "ok" to do so I ran. When I brought up how they smoked weed they said what they did at home on their own was their business. I said if I take a vicodin when I get home and then am off 14 hours before my next shift how is that so bad? They couldn't answer.
I'm sorry, but I just do not understand this post.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Fishy fishy. If the er released you then there must be nothing wrong
Why is it fishy? First , they did find something wrong. A UTI. Second, she could have something wrong that the docs missed. Third, when you leave the er, you aren't cured of your UTI, you are starting treatment for your UTI.
That And if I'm not mistaken, picc is a place for newborns to recover from physical dependance to narcotics. The docs/nurses are trained to watch for these signs.
Half the moms who come visit try to get high. I know the place well. And I know that the staff is highly intelligent and sharp. They are hound dogs for addictive behaviors hence you gave multiple reasons for red flags.
Denial is also part of addiction. ....not trying to upset you, but I think you know what the issues are here.
I sure hope calling in on a Monday or having acute onset of stomach cramps isn't "multiple red flags" for addiction! They'd need to be doing interventions day and night if those were the only two things that were present. It seems by the way you worded that - you've decided the OP really is an addict and is in denial? She asked them to do a drug screen! What I think is a heck of a lot more fishy - they told her she did not need to have a drug screen done in order for them to determine that she is an addict.
The stomach cramps as signs of withdrawal as opposed to about a gazillion other things that cause stomach cramps is a huge leap and pretty silly as they won't allow her to get screened in the first place which, if they wanted the intervention to accomplish it's goal - you would want to have.
there is something odd about it. the one particular co-worker cannot seem to do anything wrong. i had been warned about her and chose to ignore it. i am coming to terms with the whole situation but i was unemployed-with no pay- until i got a new job 2 days ago. i was afraid that if i made a mistake putting a 4 inch needle into someone's arm and nicked an artery or nerve they would say "oh look, she's an addict" and that was where my license was in jeopardy. the false allegations were of fraud-my co-worker forged my name on consent forms my boss knew it but suddenly i had told her it would be "ok" to do so i ran. when i brought up how they smoked weed they said what they did at home on their own was their business. i said if i take a vicodin when i get home and then am off 14 hours before my next shift how is that so bad? they couldn't answer.
i don't understand this - what does performing an im injection have to do with slandering a person???? anyone could inadvertently cause harm.... why would you be afraid to be called a drug addict (which would make most people very angry to be called something they are not) and let them know that's slander.....
but on a sidenote, if you used a 4 inch needle for an im injection, something else is wrong.
Specializes in Emergency Department, House Supervisor.
Wow, you are getting some support and some grilling here. I have a couple of comments.
First...you could have applied for workers comp...depression due to stress. That would shut them ALL up. I have been there. In CA we have a state disability program and I was able to stay off work, keep my benefits and get almost my entire wages due to depression for a year. I used that opportunity to get a Masters degree and now use THAT to fight the ignorant musings of those who think that they are doing people favors by doing UNmoderated interventions.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I don't understand this - what does performing an IM injection have to do with slandering a person???? Anyone could inadvertently cause harm.... why would you be afraid to be called a drug addict (Which would make MOST people very angry to be called something they are NOT) and let them know that's slander.....
But on a sidenote, if you used a 4 INCH needle for an IM injection, something else is wrong.
I still say there's something amiss here.
Despite my note to addeycakes I think so too. I just felt like maybe that one was a bit too blatantly saying she made the whole thing up - what would the point be to do that? Sigh. There was some stuff about forging names on consent forms and other disjointed parts of the story. The part about the nicking an artery perhaps meant that even if she were able to clear her name and gone back to work with the same people she still would have felt as if they were scrutinizing her every move, ache, pain and gripe? Maybe she will come back and explain. It occured to me last night that PICC was probably PICU - I think we've got that one solved anyway!
I don't understand this - what does performing an IM injection have to do with slandering a person???? Anyone could inadvertently cause harm.... why would you be afraid to be called a drug addict (Which would make MOST people very angry to be called something they are NOT) and let them know that's slander.....
But on a sidenote, if you used a 4 INCH needle for an IM injection, something else is wrong.
Mulan
2,228 Posts
What area of nursing are you in that you wouldn't know what a PICC is?
Are you a nurse?