'Impaired Nurse'.....other reasons?

[suzy253, RN]

Hi all.

I'm helping a friend doing a powerpoint presentation on the impaired nurse. So far it's going well but I wanted to add some medical reasons that may mimic the s/s of an impaired nurse. I've got a good reference for hypoglycemia.

In your experiences, do you know of any other medical conditions?

Thanks so much to the AN community!!!

[Jolie, BSN]

What about atypical seizures?

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

What about atypical seizures?

Both my seizures occurred at work. . . . which I guess is good. Better to have them in a hospital. Than behind the wheel of a car or when I'm taking a bath.

steph

[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

extreme fatigue/sleep deprivation

bad reaction to otc meds (esp. cold meds)

"alcohol" breath from ketoacidiosis

psychosocial and/or psychiatric problems (yes, nurses have them, too!)

[mianders, RN]

I know of a nurse that started slurring her speech and losing her balance at work. She was taken to the ER and was eventually diagnosed with a brain tumor.

[NurseCard, ADN]

So, are you looking for conditions that may make the nurse appear intoxicated when she is not? Or just ANY condition that could cause a nurse to be impaired in her work?

There is a TON of things that could cause a nurse to be "impaired". Poor situation at home that is causing the nurse to not be able to concentrate on her work. Severe headache. Illness.

But I think you are looking for the former. So... hypoglycemia and poor reaction to prescribed or over-the-counter are good ones. Exacerbation of mental illness such as manic depression, schizophrenia, etc.. Severe fatigue. Trying to think of something else that hasn't already been mentioned!!

[NurseCard, ADN]

I know of a nurse that started slurring her speech and losing her balance at work. She was taken to the ER and was eventually diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Yeah, lots of impending or existing neurological conditions, perhaps. Multiple schlerosis. TIA. Impending stroke.

[wildmountainchild]

Severe depression causes psychomotor retardation that can mimic being under the influence of depressants. Likewise personal stress or trauma.

Also, I'm VERY sensitive to caffiene. I know of a girl who is even more sensitive than me. She had an energy drink once, and if I didn't know better I would have sworn that girl was on crack.

Someone above metioned atypical seizures...I remember reading a case study once of a woman whose whole life had been characterized by aggressive, antisocial behavior. Because of this she had difficulty keeping jobs and maintaining relationships. She ended up in the ED for some reason and the doc decided to do an ECG. It ended up that she was having near constant seizures focused around the amygdala. She was put on anti-convulsants and her entire personality changed. She became responsible, caring, dependable.....like her other family members who had shared her upbringing. I'm in Yosemite right now or else I could give you the name of the book I read. It was a neurology text.

Undiagnosed head injuries. Frontal lobe lesions. Being on long term steroid therapy for autoimmune disorders (RA, lupus, etc) has a side effect of making one very aggressive.

Don't forget that nurses can legitimately be on prescribed narcotics AT work. However, if they appear intoxicated they may have accidently OD'd or be having a bad drug reaction. Those who are on long term opiods for chronic pain rarely get "high" off thier meds....they should appear perfectly normal at work.

[AnthonyD]

TIA (or stroke)... had a nurse a few years ago that seemed disoriented, etc... turned out to be a TIA.

[lyceeboo]

Thyroid storm. Hyperthyroidism or too high a dose of synthroid can look like the nurse is on amphetamines. Hypothyroidism with it's mental sluggishness can look like someone is on sedatives.

I've never passed out or fainted before last Monday. I fainted at a friend's house. Went to the ER and I was severely dehydrated from a recent bout with diarrhea.

[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

severe depression causes psychomotor retardation that can mimic being under the influence of depressants. likewise personal stress or trauma.

also, i'm very sensitive to caffiene. i know of a girl who is even more sensitive than me. she had an energy drink once, and if i didn't know better i would have sworn that girl was on crack.

quote]

which reminds me--i just remembered how i react to albuterol! same as "on crack"...jumpy, hand tremors, agitated, and unfocused. that is why i avoid smoke--i hate taking an updraft!!

:monkeydance:

[MEME123]

Myasthenia Gravis.