My coworker was high and got away with it

[Volley88]

Happy 4/20 I guess?

This particular RN (I'll name him Jon) has been working for our unit for two years. We work in a MedSurg unit at a county hospital. Apparently, we DONT do drug tests at all.

Our morning was going fine, we both took report in the same area and had our breaks at the same time. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary (aside from saying "I'm sleepy/tired," but we all say it). Jon did one discharge and completed one admit. He helped me start an IV for one of my patients and cosigned my insulin.

It wasn't until lunch I noticed Jon's phone Snapchat(?) of him consuming edibles. I also saw Jon's text messages saying "he was still high this morning."

I immediately went to the charge nurse and reported my discovery. Our charge nurse was in disbelief and found it difficult to believe. We confronted Jon and he denied everything.

Our charge nurse discreetly followed up on his patients, and they reported nothing but excellent nursing care. We checked his charting and everything was within policy. We also checked all his pyxis pulls and there were no discrepancies. Lastly, we privately spoke to an MD that Jon was speaking to in the morning who also reported that his behavior was completely normal.

I apologized to Jon as there were no evidence of him being high towards the end of the shift. As we were leaving the hospital, one of Jon's friends (from another unit), came up to him and ask him about his 4/20. I saw Jon winked and nodded. I got upset and just left.

The next day, I reported it to the charge. She said to leave it alone since there wasn't any proof and no patients were harmed. I am not sure what else to do at this point.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Sorry I should clarify a few things

1. Jon is known to be the party go-er in our unit. All my unit does, is talk about partying and going for 4/20.

2. I have snapchat on my phone I saw him physically eating edibles on story.

3. I showed the charge nurse, but she doesn't fully understand edibles. I would assume he deleted it after I confronted him.

I noticed you neglected to explain how you happened to see his private text messages.

[Volley88]

I noticed you neglected to explain how you happened to see his private text messages.

To explain the text message. It was during our lunch. Jon's friend sent him a nursing related meme/photo. Jon showed me the meme/photo. Directly above the meme was a text message saying to his friend that Jon was still high at work.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

What should be best handled? I don't think I can live with my conscious knowing about my coworker's habits if (God forbid) something happens to our patients.

Find another job.

[Purple_roses]

Sorry I should clarify a few things

1. Jon is known to be the party go-er in our unit. All my unit does, is talk about partying and going for 4/20.

2. I have snapchat on my phone I saw him physically eating edibles on story.

3. I showed the charge nurse, but she doesn't fully understand edibles. I would assume he deleted it after I confronted him.

Ok, let's say he did indeed eat edibles on 4/20. And let's not get into the whole debate about whether or not we think people should use marijuana. Just because he ate edibles one day does not mean he came into work high; he has several people backing up the fact that he was a safe (even an excellent) nurse that day, indicating he wasn't high or unsafe. So really, you're trying to get a coworker fired for what he *may* have done on his own time (not company time). You're way too concerned about his personal affairs.

This is not concern over patient safety.

I would also like to add that I'm almost positive the charge nurse knows what edibles are.

[Purple_roses]

What should be best handled? I don't think I can live with my conscious knowing about my coworker's habits if (God forbid) something happens to our patients.

What in the world else is there for you to do? You saw what you thought was an issue and brought it to the attention of apparently everyone. You basically launched a full-scale investigation on this guy. What's left? Hand him a cup to pee in and demand he go down the street to a clinic that will do a drug test on him?

There is nothing for you to do here.

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

What should be best handled? I don't think I can live with my conscious knowing about my coworker's habits if (God forbid) something happens to our patients.

OP, you handled this entire situation inappropriately.

My mind is boggled that you think your behavior was appropriate to begin with?

You pretty much did everything you could to get this man fired over a Snapchat and a wink. From all reports, he did (and does) an exceptional job while on the unit. Even helps his fellow co-workers. In return, you retaliate by initiating the ugliest "investigation" I've ever seen on AN.

How could you live with yourself for potentially costing someone their job, their livelihood?

All that "investigation?" Have you ever truly seen someone under the influence of anything? It's not pretty. And it's heartbreaking. I had a co-worker come in under the influence of prescription drugs (when I was a teacher). My heart ached for her. My husband has had people he's worked with come in under the influence of alcohol, drugs, prescription drugs, etc. It happens. And you deal with it.

However, you are so far from appropriate that I hope never to work with you. God forbid someone come near you who has a cold and be "under the influence" of cold medicine.

[Julius Seizure]

What should be best handled? I don't think I can live with my conscious knowing about my coworker's habits if (God forbid) something happens to our patients.

Find another job.

Indeed. You can only control yourself. You reported your concern, it was investigated. You have no reason to have your coworker's personal habits affecting your own conscience. If you cannot separate the two, it might be in your own best interest to find a new environment.

[annabanana2]

I find it interesting that if Jon had come in and complained that he hadn't gotten a wink of sleep all night and was just so tired that nobody would've batted an eye, even though practising fatigued arguably presents a significant risk of harm to patients. But a whisper of suspicion that he might've gotten high the day before and it's a federal investigation even though he ostensibly provided nothing but excellent care. Sounds like this is less about your concern for patient safety and more a bit of moralizing about drug use.

[dagobah, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I will only say this...often I am seen eating in the break room, a LOT! What my coworkers don't know is I work out a lot, not weights but cardio. They often ask, "every time I come to the break room you are always eating! How do you stay so skinny?"

My reply, jokingly of course, is "I smoke crack for a high metabolism". Sometimes I say it with a straight face. someone who walks in may not see it as a joke, but they don't have the context of what has transpired before.

Will not comment on whether you were right or wrong, just telling from my experience when it's a long day for us nurses, we have a very dark sense of humor and someone's career can be ruined for assumptions!!!!

[MunoRN, RN]

It seems as though it's possible you're making more of a social judgment than a work-performance judgment. Working extra shifts or beyond your scheduled shift has been shown to adversely affect work performance, do you also go enthusiastically out of your way to find fault with someone's performance who's took an extra shift as you do for someone who used marijuana the day before?

[audreysmagic, RN]

My reply, jokingly of course, is "I smoke crack for a high metabolism". Sometimes I say it with a straight face. someone who walks in may not see it as a joke, but they don't have the context of what has transpired before.

Will not comment on whether you were right or wrong, just telling from my experience when it's a long day for us nurses, we have a very dark sense of humor and someone's career can be ruined for assumptions!!!!

Teenagers being teenagers, I have been accused by many of my patients of "smoking crack" when I tell corny jokes while passing their meds...it's turned into an in-joke with my usual crew on the unit. Hopefully no one who's floating hears us and takes it the wrong way... I take drug use seriously, of course (my hospital has a devoted detox unit), but sometimes a crack (pun intended) to save one's sanity is just that.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

I'm concerned at this scenario especially if he did not appear impaired.

This is founded on the premise of what would you do if a coworker appeared or was impaired? Would you bend over backwards to denigrate someone who actually needs medical attention?

Before making assumptions and accusations ensure the safety of the subject in your crosshairs, and of course that of the patients.