I had the joys of working with my first drug seeking patient. He was admitted for kidney stones that he started getting from his chemo.
Seemed like this patient had some legitimate pain. For a little while I felt sorry for the man. And at first when he hollered for his pain medicine, I would get it for him.
About the third time he was on the light for his Morphine, I caught on to him. I mentioned my suspicion to my preceptor, who still had some doubts. I fucked around a bit getting his meds, and upon walking into the mans room, he was asleep. He told the aides he had 10/10 pain. I talked it over with my preceptor, who told me to give the meds anyways. This went on all day. He would be in excruciating pain, but asleep before we could get the meds out of the system. The night shift nurse that followed me supported me 110% that the man was a seeker.
When the doctor made rounds that afternoon, the patient was still complaining of 8/10 pain that was unrelieved by any intervention that anyone did. More medication was ordered. I stood my ground and said the man didn't need it, but again I was kinda tossed to the side.
I went and sat down with this man for a bit and talked to him. He told me where he was from, and I was shocked that he lives 5 counties away, and passed by 3 larger hospitals on his way to us. When I asked him why he said "he doesn't get the kind of care he wants at the other places". I passed this info on, and made note of it.
For 3 days he was laying in our hospital. Since yesterday was a holiday, the pharmacy wasn't open its normal hours, and they also didn't get any drug shipments.
I helped another nurse with his discharge today. I went with the doctor into his room when the morning rounds were being done. When his doctor told him he would be going home later, the man asked for a morphine prescription because "the last time I bought it, it was cheaper than the percocets, and, it's what I really like to take".
Needless to say, he was quickly thrown out on the streets without a prescription, and our ER is now aware that if he ever comes back he is not to be admitted. Sadly, this had to occur after he used every bit of morphine available in the hospital. We got real lucky that nobody came in with an MI.
And the preceptor and Doc apologized and applauded me for figuring him out quicker than anyone else did. Although to cover his own ass, the Doc did show me that the man did have multiple kidney stones- which were moving, and a few were passed by the time he was discharged. The rest will be passed without any meds, or with whatever he buys on the street.
Seemed like this patient had some legitimate pain. For a little while I felt sorry for the man. And at first when he hollered for his pain medicine, I would get it for him.
About the third time he was on the light for his Morphine, I caught on to him. I mentioned my suspicion to my preceptor, who still had some doubts. I fucked around a bit getting his meds, and upon walking into the mans room, he was asleep. He told the aides he had 10/10 pain. I talked it over with my preceptor, who told me to give the meds anyways. This went on all day. He would be in excruciating pain, but asleep before we could get the meds out of the system. The night shift nurse that followed me supported me 110% that the man was a seeker. When the doctor made rounds that afternoon, the patient was still complaining of 8/10 pain that was unrelieved by any intervention that anyone did. More medication was ordered. I stood my ground and said the man didn't need it, but again I was kinda tossed to the side.
I went and sat down with this man for a bit and talked to him. He told me where he was from, and I was shocked that he lives 5 counties away, and passed by 3 larger hospitals on his way to us. When I asked him why he said "he doesn't get the kind of care he wants at the other places". I passed this info on, and made note of it.
For 3 days he was laying in our hospital. Since yesterday was a holiday, the pharmacy wasn't open its normal hours, and they also didn't get any drug shipments.
I helped another nurse with his discharge today. I went with the doctor into his room when the morning rounds were being done. When his doctor told him he would be going home later, the man asked for a morphine prescription because "the last time I bought it, it was cheaper than the percocets, and, it's what I really like to take".
Needless to say, he was quickly thrown out on the streets without a prescription, and our ER is now aware that if he ever comes back he is not to be admitted. Sadly, this had to occur after he used every bit of morphine available in the hospital. We got real lucky that nobody came in with an MI.
And the preceptor and Doc apologized and applauded me for figuring him out quicker than anyone else did. Although to cover his own ass, the Doc did show me that the man did have multiple kidney stones- which were moving, and a few were passed by the time he was discharged. The rest will be passed without any meds, or with whatever he buys on the street.
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