If you had a strong suspicion of a coworker's diversion of narcotics, how you handle it?
I'm talking, a nurse in the ER who habitually walks into the room with narcotic drawn up on your patient, right after you medicated, so then you have to waste with him. He has a history of being on a restricted license. He's a great nurse, very experienced, works a ton of OT.
It would probably financially ruin his life to get in trouble again, I don't know how many chances they give people. He functions very well on the job. Is it really the right thing to snitch on someone like this?
I guess your message is tough love, ponymom, but your "of that ilk" and "drugpig" really rubs me the wrong way. As does the "wishy washy" and "sniveling".
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Buck up, Why are you the one crying and upset? Why are you the one considering counseling (on your own time and unpaid no doubt)? Why are you the one worried about wrecking some drugpig's career? Why are you the one who must worry about "social repercussions) because this bozo is taken out of service? Why must you feel the need to feel anxious?
Listen, I have been directly involved in the end of two careers and probable end of one before it even got started (in RN school). because I was very sure of what I myself, I was dead-on right.
Those types do not belong in health care. As for their coworkers, would they really want someone of that ilk caring for their loved one? That is the way you must look at things.
Stop being sniveling and wishy washy, get pissed at the problems this selfish loser has caused. You have nothing to be ashamed or negative over. It is out of your character.
Wow. This is not what Emergent needs to hear, and you are so off-base when it comes to health care professionals with addiction issues. There have been many who have been able to deal with their addiction and return to health care.
Perhaps you see yourself as God's avenging angel when it comes to addicted nurses, but your scorched earth policy isn't helpful to Emergent, nor to nurses struggling with this disease.
I saw some really terrific nurses lose their licenses due to addiction. It doesn't make me angry. It makes me sad, because they had so much more to give.
Buck up, Why are you the one crying and upset? Why are you the one considering counseling (on your own time and unpaid no doubt)? Why are you the one worried about wrecking some drugpig's career? Why are you the one who must worry about "social repercussions) because this bozo is taken out of service? Why must you feel the need to feel anxious?
Listen, I have been directly involved in the end of two careers and probable end of one before it even got started (in RN school). because I was very sure of what I myself, I was dead-on right.
Those types do not belong in health care. As for their coworkers, would they really want someone of that ilk caring for their loved one? That is the way you must look at things.
Stop being sniveling and wishy washy, get pissed at the problems this selfish loser has caused. You have nothing to be ashamed or negative over. It is out of your character.
Very uneducated about addiction, mental health and such a lack of compassion it's so sad.
Would you be selfish if you had diabetes? Of course not, but it is your responsibility to handle it.... But it is a lifelong process!
My dad always said that doing the right thing when it is the easy thing shows nothing about a person's character. It's when you do the right thing even though it is hard or it costs you personally that the person's character shines.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I'm feeling very tearful and upset about this. I was actually considering going to talk to the employee health person about this, unheard of for me. They offer some confidential counseling I've heard.
Not only do I feel like I'm wrecking someone's ability to earn a living, but I am paranoid about the social repercussions for me if word gets out that I turned in one of my own. I feel very anxious.
You did the only right thing; you elevated your concern to the proper authority. Let them handle it. Remember, if this person is innocent, nothing will come of it. The audit will be clean.
BUT if he is indeed relapsing, you are saving him a road to hell mired in addiction/use/pain and possible harm to himself or others. I actually feel sympathy and sorrow for him, if he is using. I don't feel disgust or disdain. But I also care that no patients, staff or innocent others be harmed by his addiction, if indeed, he is active in it. My heart aches about the whole situation.
You are not in the wrong. You did the right thing.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I don't care about RN Dynamic.
Part of me is angry that this nurse was playing me for the fool. He put me on the spot with these wastes. Part of me doubts myself, that I AM a fool to doubt his integrity.
He's a veteran to the unit, a highly seasoned ER nurse. This is an inconvenient blow to our staffing, if this turns out to be true. His social standing is higher than mine. I feel like I'll be viewed as troublemaker.
Also, I was considering going back to this as my primary job. It's a social minefield of course, as it is, with many strong personalities. This makes me feel vulnerable. and insecure.
That is the sad nature of addiction. The practicing, using addict lies. It's what they do. Most are good people at heart, doing things no normal, rational person would do. Notice I said rational. Because active addiction is anything BUT rational.
He is not out to play you for a fool. That is not on his radar. He is only after the drugs he "needs" to feed his horrible craving. An addict will do anything to anyone to get what they need. Addiction hijacks a healthy brain and changes the whole composition and chemistry, and makes an addict into someone even their closest friends and family don't recognize. That is the sad essence of addiction.
I have been on the receiving end of an addict's lies, manipulations and theft of personal property, myself, on a very personal level. All that aside, my heart was broken, as was my spirit. I felt betrayed, angry, broken and completely disheartened.
I had to learn a lot about addiction and how it works, and how it affects others. And I had to learn a lot about forgiveness.
I guess in all my ramblings, I am trying to say, he was not "out to get you" and use you.... it was NEVER EVER about YOU at all. It was not personal.
Go easy on yourself, and if you cannot reconcile your feelings, try some counseling.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
All of this illustrates our sorrowful lack of education about addiction and the health care provider. EVERY school of nursing and medicine should have a mandatory unit on this very subject, as well as required continuing education.
A lot of this (like the situation we are discussing) would be caught sooner, more people helped and angst and anxiety on the parts of staff witnessing such things relieved. We would actually better recognize potential diversion/addiction in our colleagues, know what actions to take, through what channels and do so sooner, potentially saving lives and cost to other staff, patients, and companies.
Your Damn skippy I would report him. It is something that is not up to me. you could be possibly looking at more trouble if you knew something and did not report it.
Your patients are your top priority and if your coworker is working while impaired they cannot provide safe care. Years ago, I was working with a nurse, who eagerly volunteered to cover me while I took lunch. Something about her offer felt strange, but I agreed and she covered my patients while I went to lunch. When I returned, I saw that she had documented that she administered narcotic pain medication to one of my patients. I knew that this particular patient did not want to take pain medication. I went into the patient's room and asked her if she received pain medication form the other nurse and the patient stated "I did not take anything from that nurse". A few minutes later, the nurse in question came to me with a TPN bag and told me she was having trouble setting it up, She had completely contaminated the IV line and the TPN but continued to try to give it to the patient, I asked her to leave the room, I took down the IV and called pharmacy and reported that the TPN had been contaminated. Then I went to my charge nurse and reported that I believed that the nurse had diverted narcotics from my patient and I also reported the unsafe manner in which she was administering the TPN. The nurse was immediately investigated and removed from the floor and she admitted to taking the drugs and was fired. I have never regretted my actions, she could have caused sepsis or killed a patient. And, who knows what she was doing when people were not watching her - So yes, it is your duty to report and protect your patient. Also, it may be the straw that finally gets the nurse the help he or she needs.
Check your state's nurse practice act. In some jurisdictions the failure to report an impaired colleague is professional misconduct for which you can be disciplined. It is also irresponsible to allow a coworker to have a problem & not intervene because it can endanger everyone. Nurses have a responsibility to provide safe work environments for their patients and should also have some duty to each other so they don't find their colleagues dead from an overdose.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Buck up, Why are you the one crying and upset? Why are you the one considering counseling (on your own time and unpaid no doubt)? Why are you the one worried about wrecking some drugpig's career? Why are you the one who must worry about "social repercussions) because this bozo is taken out of service? Why must you feel the need to feel anxious?
Listen, I have been directly involved in the end of two careers and probable end of one before it even got started (in RN school). because I was very sure of what I myself, I was dead-on right.
Those types do not belong in health care. As for their coworkers, would they really want someone of that ilk caring for their loved one? That is the way you must look at things.
Stop being sniveling and wishy washy, get pissed at the problems this selfish loser has caused. You have nothing to be ashamed or negative over. It is out of your character.
Unhelpful, unsupportive, post rife with unnecessary name-calling and general ignorance.
Magsulfate, BSN, RN
1,201 Posts
And "selfish loser"