I just posted this on another forum, but thought you all would be interested in knowing about this too:

I'm a new RN grad, and you wont believe the horror stories I've heard in nursing school about RN's that falsify med records saying they gave their patients the drugs and then they would either take them while working or save them for home. If the doctor writes a script for 1-2 prn oxyís and then the patient doesnít want them, you are supposed to "waste" these meds down the drain or in a disposal. However, itís easy enough to stick one or both of them in your pocket and say that you did give them to the patient. Youíre supposed to get another RN to sign off with you anytime you 'waste' a narcotic, but, there are still ways around this apparently. RN's are one of the leading professions in this country that are addicts. It is so easy to falsify records to get narcs in hospitals. Now, I've never heard of someone fishing through a sharps container, thatís a new one for me. But, I have heard of RNs with IV hep locks in their thighs/stomachs and just shoot up half the morphine instead of giving it to the patients. Or give their patients half the dose and then give themselves the other half. There are alot of RNs that loose their license this way. It is getting tougher to do this now with all the new computer systems, etc, however, it still comes down to the RNs word against a groggy, doped up patient whether he got his pain meds or not. I havenít started working in a hospital yet, but our local hospital just busted 2 RNs for stealing narc's this way. Apparently they were taking out 2 pills as the order was written by the MD, then only giving the patient one and pocketing the other. After the MD noticed the patient not getting pain relief as he should be getting from 2 pills, they started questioning and watching her apparently. Anyway, yes, nursing is a leading profession for drug seekers/addicts. In my opinion, hydro schedule III is bad enough to get addicted too, but these nurses have access to Schedule 1 and 2 drugs so you can imagine how quickly they can be addicted. Plus not only are they compromising themselves, careers, etc, but they are leaving these poor patients in pain for hours b/c they document the drug was given and then the MD will not give anymore to the patient for several hours. Itís sad and scary some of the stories Iíve heard in this topic.