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?
All actions have consequences. You have every reason to be feeling the way you do.
If I told you in plain English what I think of your latest contribution, my post would likely be zapped into outer space by the moderators. Suffice it to say, you are wrong. And not being very pleasant.
Do not feel bad in the slightest- I wish I had quit my job the day I crossed that line. Instead I had reasons why it was ok.
As far as the negative comments towards addicts- well we walk among you- and do need compassion. It is the well meaning nurse who judges people harshly that makes us want to stay silent.
I remember being in a meeting for select nurses that were to be shining examples to other nurses throughout the hospital, to lead us to Magnet. The speaker took some special time to tell us that nurses who steal drugs were the worst people on the planet... This was really early on in my diversion- There was no way I was going to come forward after that.
Had she said the truth, which is good nurses find themselves in trouble, that we could come forward and the system would help us to keep our employment, licenses, and that we could be treated for substance issues... that could have stopped the problem from getting to the point it did.
We need to stop treating this as a moral failing, and treat it as the health issue that it is.
Yes, we always reported diversion to both the organization and to the board of nursing or licensing, who had programs for rehab. What that did was bring accountability to the person's actions, get clean and dry, and keep your job and your license. We were fully committed to rehabbing employees if they were willing to make the journey to drug or alcohol freedom. One time.
Out of curiosity, If you were a nurse that legitimately had to waste a syringe of narcotics that you had drawn, how would you properly do it?
There are some areas where this is common, recovery room, etc... This is where the trust of coworkers comes in, and the suspicion if it is done too much. You could always institute a policy that you waste on withdrawal from the vial- this can make a lot of work though if the patient has a PRN order.
I would say the biggest tool in discovering this would have to be the pharmacy records- is a person withdrawing a lot more than others on the unit?
I got away with it because I figured out the pharmacy never ran these reports... I also knew the hospital had invested in the inexpensive package for electronic charting, and the systems didn't talk to one another. Those two things literally made the pyxis a vending machine for drugs.
The other thing to keep in mind is that if there is a will, there is a way...
Yes, we always reported diversion to both the organization and to the board of nursing or licensing, who had programs for rehab. What that did was bring accountability to the person's actions, get clean and dry, and keep your job and your license. We were fully committed to rehabbing employees if they were willing to make the journey to drug or alcohol freedom. One time.
I mostly agree with this- one thing that surprised me was that I had to enroll in the program right away- fine to enroll in rehab, but the work requirement is what got me... I had to go back to work to complete the program... this was the best/worst thing for me.
An income was great, and it did lead to a slip up, which was great for me while I was in the program. So I guess I am glad I had more than one chance while going through the program.
I am out of nursing now, I will only go back when I am sure I can handle it (as I am finished with the work part of the requirement). Sadly I had always wanted to become a CRNA prior to my addiction, I now know this is such a dangerous place for me that I will not put myself there...
The other thing to keep in mind is that if there is a will, there is a way...
True that. Which is also why the OP was correct in what she did. If her suspicions are correct, and she just "had a word" with the individual, they would simply move on to another method.
I am over 2 decades recovered and every once and a while am still floored at the outrageous methods that doctors, nurses and pharmacists come up with to get what they "need".
Incidentally not one person I know has self reported to their board that had a choice. Meaning their employer was going to report them because they had been caught. Being monitored is no picnic.
Indeed it is an illness. No one need feel OK about diverting drugs from patients including the people who do it. It would be delusional to think that was OK. The compassion for where the disease takes people, stealing and worse.
We shouldn't shoot our wounded -- meaning our fellow nurses who are suffering. We don't have to co-sign their BS either. Diverting drugs, not OK. Involving colleagues in covering it up, not OK. Impaired on the job, not OK. By shooting our wounded I mean gossip, judge etc.
Do we really treat them with as much care and compassion as someone who say, has cancer. Even if they relapse? Probably not. There are aspects of addiction that are hurtful (lying, stealing and so on). So it is not exactly the same. It is a big ask to be treated the same. We don't have cancer and we do morally repugnant things. It's a fact.
People are allowed to feel what they like. I don't know what their personal experience is of alcoholic or addicts. I do know they don't want a drunk or high nurse looking after their mum. I agree. I also know the public and the law agrees. I agree.
It is also pretty rare for an addict to go back to their place of employment and make amends to colleagues and such. That is a great pity. The ones I know who have done it are the most amazing examples of sobriety.
True that. Which is also why the OP was correct in what she did. If her suspicions are correct, and she just "had a word" with the individual, they would simply move on to another method.
I am over 2 decades recovered and every once and a while am still floored at the outrageous methods that doctors, nurses and pharmacists come up with to get what they "need".
Incidentally not one person I know has self reported to their board that had a choice. Meaning their employer was going to report them because they had been caught. Being monitored is no picnic.
Someone had a funny feeling about me one morning... I wasn't even high at the time... I remember feeling particularly guilty/lost in thought at that time, she must have seen it on my face...
They really need to make the self reporting process easier and much more friendly- instead of "thats aggravating" and "you can lose your license". It should be "Thank you for coming forward" and "we are going to help you through this".
Oh, and being monitored is terrible at times- I have to remind myself though that it is better than dead, and better than being a slave to a drug... but overall I am very grateful to be monitored.
Her name is on it. If the diverter is caught then she is complicit. Forget all the ethical reasons to report! (I know you can do that!) She needs to cover her own doopah.
You all can spew and crow but his is what is real. Congratulations; someone who finally sees. The first time OP said she suspected and was compliant with this nurse I thought the above...even to the point of writing in to a forum for advice
A NS classmate and coworker was diverting for nearly a year when I busted him in the act. He ultimately lost his license.
MY PATIENTS suffered due to his actions, and I sleep very well at night knowing I don't have to deal with him anymore. I would do it again in a second, and I have no pity for a person diverting narcotics. If I have a strong suspicion of diversion, I'm reporting it. Period.
For the record, I was a street drug abuser at a younger age. Thank God pharmaceuticals never were my thing. Addiction is a terrible thing - causing additional suffering to patients is inexcusable.
On your conscience be the consequences. Prepare yourself for the guilt that you may rightly have awarded yourself.
Thank the dear Lord I don't work with you!
A NS classmate and coworker was diverting for nearly a year when I busted him in the act. He ultimately lost his license.
MY PATIENTS suffered due to his actions, and I sleep very well at night knowing I don't have to deal with him anymore. I would do it again in a second, and I have no pity for a person diverting narcotics. If I have a strong suspicion of diversion, I'm reporting it. Period.
For the record, I was a street drug abuser at a younger age. Thank God pharmaceuticals never were my thing. Addiction is a terrible thing - causing additional suffering to patients is inexcusable.
macawake, MSN
2,141 Posts
If I told you in plain English what I think of your latest contribution, my post would likely be zapped into outer space by the moderators. Suffice it to say, you are wrong. And not being very pleasant.