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?
Do you have a statute you can point to that states nurses have a duty to report drug diversion? May we see it?
In general, state law does not hold nurses responsible for ratting out diversion. Your own employer's policies may vary. Rather, institutions are often required to submit a report to the state for suspected diversion following an internal investigation, not nurses. It helps to know what you are talking about, instead of spewing out a bunch of boo-hooray like "Nurses have a DUTY blah blah blah dgnsdfklgnjsdlkgads."
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.
So you are saying to let them fly so they might hurt or not give pain medications to a patient who really needs them and MAYBE that nurse will get caught? I disagree because now they may kill themselves with and OD and during the time they are stealing the drugs patients that really need them may suffer. I have worked with nurses on IPN and do not treat them any different than others. I am responsible for my patients and when they are not getting their medications then I have neglected my duties.
@Emergent, do you have a union at your workplace? If so, can you contact them with your concern about your colleagues potential substance abuse problem? The union can take steps to help ensure your colleague receives the help they need, while maintaining their privacy and reputation.
Nothing personal against you, but with that statement, you're basically demonstrating that you are really ignorant. Care to expound?
Some (but definitely not all) hospitals will indeed take a rehabilitative approach to nurses who divert for the first time. Not everyone loses their job. Usually management wants to see the nurse has gotten treatment for their addiction, is in an assistance program, and basically demonstrates that they are trying to do the right thing after having been confronted.
However, it puts management in a harder position to do that when everyone on the unit knows about the diversion and starts talking about it. Not sure what's hard for you to understand.
No, I'm not demonstrating ignorance. Not by a long shot. Your post is complete and utter nonsense.
And by the way, this isn't the "first time" for the nurse in question. The OP stated that he had already had a restricted license for this very thing.
@Emergent, do you have a union at your workplace? If so, can you contact them with your concern about your colleagues potential substance abuse problem? The union can take steps to help ensure your colleague receives the help they need, while maintaining their privacy and reputation.
The matter is now out of my hands. I'm told that pharmacy and my manager are going up chain of command with this problem. The union can also get involved as they see fit. I pray for the most positive outcome possible.
If substance dependence is considered a disability in your state, the union can help see that his rights are as protected. Hopefully the union can ensure he gets some type of sick leave and/or disability benefits to undergo rehabilitation.
The matter is now out of my hands. I'm told that pharmacy and my manager are going up chain of command with this problem. The union can also get involved as they see fit. I pray for the most positive outcome possible.
On your conscience be the consequences. Prepare yourself for the guilt that you may rightly have awarded yourself.
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
I don't think it's helpful to someone to keep diversion a secret. If someone is diverting narcs they probably have a serious problem that they need help with. People can die of overdose or potentially harm another person.
Or know that you may have saved a life; a patient or the coworker.
Right. One thing I forgot to mention, Emergent? It was very hard to report. But once it came out that they were diverting, I felt NO guilt at all. Because they got help.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Stick with the facts when you report it. Don't go on about your suspicions, that could get you into trouble. Let management investigate, you don't have to prove anything. What you're doing is making it clear you won't witness unless you actually see the waste. Also, that your coworker pulls out drugs for your patients without you asking him/her.
This is what I was thinking. If OP chooses to report it, do not preface it with "I think Nurse X is diverting because..." Simply state "I think you should be aware that Nurse X has been pulling narcotics for my patients without my request, and then asking me to waste them with him/her."
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
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.