I am a veteran registered nurse. I also stole narcotics from my hospital and my patients. Before you judge me, it took a lot of courage to write this letter to the editor to try and reach out to other affected nurses before their licenses are lost, or worse, before the drugs kill them. About 5 years ago, I was stricken with horrific abdominal pain. The multitude of doctors, including specialists, did all of the routine tests, but could not isolate the source of my pain. I was "branded" a drug seeker, an addict, and not thought worth anyone's time. I was sent to a psychiatrist to see whether my pain was truly physical. Finally, one day when I was considering suicide, I made a decision I was ashamed of, but I could not find anyone to address my pain. It is important for all nurses to remember that just because you cannot "see" a patient's pain, it does not mean it is not there.
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