working while on pain meds?

Duck · Jun 24, 2005

i was wondering if anyone could tell me about working while taking pain meds for chronic pain? are you allowed to work? i have searched my nurse practice act and it doesn't specify. it's very vague. i tried calling BON, could get no where, they just stated you have to be "safe". ????
anyhow, i have had two herniated discs diagnosed in 2004, and now have three herniated lumbar discs. for the past year, i have taken darvocet, then progressed to lortab/ultram/skelaxin when i am off work. today i went to see my spinal surgeon, who put me on duragesic patches. i will be scheduled for a discogram next week, and possibly fusion if the disks are found to be "leaking".
i have been able to work a few days a week and suffer through my shifts, then go home and take my meds. i am off the next few days, so i can see how i react to the duragesic. i was wondering though, if i am even able to go to work while taking such a strong med? or if i have to notify my employer? i obviously won't go if i am feeling out of it. but if i am feeling fine and pain-free, am i able to work? it would be wonderful if i didn't have to suffer so badly through my shifts anymore and i could be free from the pain.
just wondering if anyone has any advice for me. i am an lpn and work in geriatric rehab. thanks for anyone who can offer some advice!

I don't know where you work, but generally, you are not allowed to work if impaired. You may want to explore this with an attorney who specializes in nursing matters.

rehab nurse · Jun 24, 2005

i had read here somewhere on these boards that there were nurses working while on pain meds/duragesic patches. i haven't been able to locate the threads again (though i am still looking). but i was hoping someone here could tell me about their own experiences. i have left a message for a lawyer, and like i said, my BON was of no help. i'm just a nurse who wants to take as good care of myself as i do my patients.

thanks for your reply, duck.

begalli · Jun 24, 2005

you are not allowed to work if impaired.

But is she really "impaired?" When the meds are taken, the outcome should be functionality, not impairment.

I have no idea what the answer is to this question. I wish you luck in your quest to find the answer and in dealing with your chronic pain, rehab nurse.

rehab nurse · Jun 24, 2005

But is she really "impaired?" When the meds are taken, the outcome should be functionality, not impairment.
I have no idea what the answer is to this question. I wish you luck in your quest to find the answer and in dealing with your chronic pain, rehab nurse.

thanks begalli for your reply. i sure didn't think i am impaired when i take my lortab. now if i take a muscle relaxant, yes, i am all loopy/drowsy. but the ultram or lortab, to me just feels like it takes away the pain (somewhat). however, my judgement of my own functioning while on narcotics may not be the same as someone else's. and i haven't taken them while at work to know if people would think i am "impaired". to tell you the truth, my functioning in the physical parts of my job sure is strained when i am in so much pain.

anyways, begalli, thanks for your wishes. i haven't talked to you since my dad was in CVICU remember? back in march i talked with you about all things ICU and you were such a help to me! btw, my dad is doing great now!

elizabells, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2005

thanks begalli for your reply. i sure didn't think i am impaired when i take my lortab. now if i take a muscle relaxant, yes, i am all loopy/drowsy. but the ultram or lortab, to me just feels like it takes away the pain (somewhat). however, my judgement of my own functioning while on narcotics may not be the same as someone else's. and i haven't taken them while at work to know if people would think i am "impaired". to tell you the truth, my functioning in the physical parts of my job sure is strained when i am in so much pain.
anyways, begalli, thanks for your wishes. i haven't talked to you since my dad was in CVICU remember? back in march i talked with you about all things ICU and you were such a help to me! btw, my dad is doing great now!

This is one of those things that I think everyone has to feel out for themselves. Me, for instance, used to be in tip-top shape w/ 10mg hydrocodone, but recently it makes me all loopy, so I suffer through clinicals with my li'l bottle of advil. I also hate the headaches from the Norco, but that's another issue. However, if I start to have a panic attack, I'm just fine w/ 0.25mg Xanax. We all react differently. Good for you for trying it out on your day off!

butterflynurse03, RN · Jun 24, 2005

Question: Do your pain medications impair you? Are you completely lucid, awake, aware, with no side effects from your medication? I ask because many meds, even non-narcotic meds, can impair a persons performance. Therefore, logic dictates that if the medicine you are on, regardless of its name or pharmaceutical class, does not cause you any difficulties, the you should be able to use them while working. Check with your hospital legal department or your EAP department. Consider notifying your manager that you are on long-term medication and discuss with them this issue. In reality, this information is private and protected by HIPA. This is an issue between you and your doctor, who I assume knows that you are a nurse. Impairment is a broad term and again I stress that many things can cause it, not just narcotic meds. Let's add stress, lack of sleep and any number of other possibilities that can impair your performance. Search your soul and ask yourself what you feel is the right thing to do.

begalli · Jun 24, 2005

anyways, begalli, thanks for your wishes. i haven't talked to you since my dad was in CVICU remember? back in march i talked with you about all things ICU and you were such a help to me! btw, my dad is doing great now!

I sure do remember! I'm so happy to hear your dad's doing well. Sometimes a little surgical tune-up on the ole ticker works wonders! :coollook:

I have a lot of appreciation for what butterflynurse03 is saying. That's some darned good advice!

butterflynurse03, RN · Jun 24, 2005

I sure do remember! I'm so happy to hear your dad's doing well. Sometimes a little surgical tune-up on the ole ticker works wonders!
I have a lot of appreciation for what butterflynurse03 is saying. That's some darned good advice!

thank you.....

rehab nurse · Jun 24, 2005

the meds i have been taking (lortab, ultram, toradol sometimes) did at the first few doses make me a little groggy, but i never took them at work. i have been taking narcotics for over a year now, but only taking them on my off days from work. the people i work with are pretty out-of-date in their knowledge of pain management, and they think the majority of our post-op pt's are "addicts" just because they ask for pain meds! i am not keen on talking to my manager, because i am afraid of information being spread around. i work in a nursing home (a rehab section built onto one, we actually function separately, but under same management) not a hospital (though i will transfer to our nearby hospital when i complete my RN, hopefully next year sometime). my doc knows i am a nurse, i work with him on the floor every day! he always gets mad when he sees me suffering when i am at work and asks why i don't take what i have for pain (prescribed by him). i feel i shouldn't have to suffer any more than my co-worker who takes 1200mg of neurontin, 50mg of elavil, and 100mg of ultram to get through her shift.

i am leaning toward starting to take the meds while i work, especially since it is taking so much time to get the pain under control when i do get home. and all the PT's i work with feel so bad to see me suffering when i am with my patients. they tell me i wouldn't let my patients suffer as i do, so why would i let myself? the pain is just pulling me into another depression, and i don't want to be in that situation anymore. thanks so much for your reply!

Question: Do your pain medications impair you? Are you completely lucid, awake, aware, with no side effects from your medication? I ask because many meds, even non-narcotic meds, can impair a persons performance. Therefore, logic dictates that if the medicine you are on, regardless of its name or pharmaceutical class, does not cause you any difficulties, the you should be able to use them while working. Check with your hospital legal department or your EAP department. Consider notifying your manager that you are on long-term medication and discuss with them this issue. In reality, this information is private and protected by HIPA. This is an issue between you and your doctor, who I assume knows that you are a nurse. Impairment is a broad term and again I stress that many things can cause it, not just narcotic meds. Let's add stress, lack of sleep and any number of other possibilities that can impair your performance. Search your soul and ask yourself what you feel is the right thing to do.

rehab nurse · Jun 24, 2005

I sure do remember! I'm so happy to hear your dad's doing well. Sometimes a little surgical tune-up on the ole ticker works wonders!
it sure has done him good! he can chase after my two preschoolers now with no problems...he actually is better off than me, who hobbles from my back pain!
and you still have me dreaming of working in CVICU someday, i so loved the environment while visiting my dad.

butterflynurse03, RN · Jun 24, 2005

Do what you need to do to make your life liveable. Remember that one of the first rules to controlling pain is not letting it get out of hand. I think of pain as a tiger that must be tamed. Once you tame it, you still must show it who is boss, yes? So too is it with pain. Get it under control and keep it there. I also think there is no harm in going ahead and starting with the pain clinic sooner than later. Do something for you so that you can do the things you want to do for your patients.