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'm not sure you are following me. I don't have a hospital, or policy. This is a hypothetical situation based on peoples comments. So for the sake of argument, you drew it up correctly, as a prn for your patient, and when you returned into the room they changed their mind. You now have a plain syringe with narcotic in it. According to the nurses in this discussion, they will not waste it with you, and you already threw the ampule in the sharps container. If noone will waste it, what do you do with it?
Not trying to insult ANYONE as per my comment (#183). In my organization, we do not have keys and even when deployed in austere regions of the world, LPNs are/were not allowed to carry such keys. Apologies to those that feel offended. We are all entitled to our own opinions but there will be times (like my post) that some will feel otherwise. Carry on.
I agree, I believe a nurse would give herself the drug and waste iv fluid. I would not put my name as a witness to a wasted narcotic that was cheating a patient. I worked with someone who was being monitored and she had a specific person assigned to her.
if true this is a candy store with lots of temptations. Don't turn a blind eye, he should not be medicating your patients unless you are at lunch, etc.
I think it means she's rather you say "people that use drugs and claim they administered it to a patient when instead they administered it to themselves' instead of 'diverters'.
Okay, well, then can you speak more plainly, please? Because I have no idea what this post means...
Specializes in Antepartum, Labor & Delivery, PostPartum.
Go to your manager. He/She may already be aware that something is wrong with this nurse. This actually happened to me and I reported it and they just "watched" that nurse, but couldn't do anything until they "caught her red-handed." She eventually left the hospital and is working elsewhere now. Stand up for yourself and your patients....also, help your coworker because obviously he is in some sort of trouble.
First and foremost, before"turning any Nurse in", triple check yourself. This is that persons' lively-hood and possibly making an assumption that could be wrong can take that persons' job and career away. Also, understand that just because someone has been in a Nurse Monitoring program, he or she may not have a substance abuse or diversion problem. Here what IS happening....True Fact: Many Nurses have a complaint filed, ie; suspicion. The downhill spiral begins. Your Nurse Monitoring agency in the State get's your name and circumstance. Guess what? It's almost easier to say ok....get an eval, do drug screens, etc., than to pay crazy amounts to a lawyer, have your life on hold, sometimes for years to attempt to prove your not. Now, here is another reality. Some Nurses do have an addiction illness, and some Nurses will steal medication for addiction and for profit. I have studied the monitoring program as well as the Nursing Board in my state. It seems to be easier to go ahead and have someone monitored, even if it is only hear-say; protect the community. This is where changes need to be made; help those who need the help. And remember, addiction treatment is a HIGH money making business. Most Nurse Monitoring programs are in place to make money too...now that is a hard pill to swallow! So, please make certain before accusing, turning in and/or judging, get your own facts straight. We need each other! If you are aware of someone who DOES have an addiction illness, it is our responsibility to protect our patients too. Give it to management and let them investigate. Falsely accusing a Nurse could have you facing the Board, even though you have good intentions.
I think it means she's rather you say "people that use drugs and claim they administered it to a patient when instead they administered it to themselves' instead of 'diverters'.
Yes! Truth! However, in my post, I did specify that if you are suspecting a nurse might be diverting, these are some things you might watch for! If you do these things, and are not under suspicion, then, no worries! I myself often wear long sleeves to cover up a large birthmark on my left arm!
Not disagreeing with your post but I think it should be pointed out that some of these behaviors are normal.
I potentially could be seen as a suspected diverter when I'm actually:
1-in financial need
2- have IBS
5-have small pupils and am shivering d/t prescribed stimulant medication
Give it to management and let them investigate. Falsely accusing a Nurse could have you facing the Board, even though you have good intentions.
That is exactly what the OP did, and it's exactly what many posters encouraged her to do. She never said she was going to insist he was diverting, and people supporting her never told her to accuse him without evidence. They told her to take it to management and pharmacy so that they could audit the narc dispensing behavior on that unit and investigate further.
And remember, addiction treatment is a HIGH money making business. Most Nurse Monitoring programs are in place to make money too...now that is a hard pill to swallow!
This is the same thing that alcoholics claim when they are charged with DUIs, 'it's a money maker' remember that addiction is a disease that entails denial and deflection.
wolf9653
209 Posts
I'm not sure you are following me. I don't have a hospital, or policy. This is a hypothetical situation based on peoples comments. So for the sake of argument, you drew it up correctly, as a prn for your patient, and when you returned into the room they changed their mind. You now have a plain syringe with narcotic in it. According to the nurses in this discussion, they will not waste it with you, and you already threw the ampule in the sharps container. If noone will waste it, what do you do with it?