Scary Nurses

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Aug 16, 2017

Let's not forget to state that the nursing management practices allowing this are just as (or more) scary, and "incompetent" in their own way. If these practices are known and allowed to continue, the management is complicit in the malpractice.

cyc0sys · Aug 16, 2017

We have several dangerous nurses where I work. Everyone knows who they are. Management even jokes about it. I reported one of the most dangerous ones to the BON and nothing happened to her. I eventually convinced her that direct patient care wasn't her thing. It was the only way to get rid of her. She's not a bad person. She's just a really crappy nurse. She has moved on to indirect care position and is happier for it.

I blame a lack of accountability and quality management but it seems to be every where, not just this facility. There also seems to be a passive-aggressive sadistically competitive element that allows these people to exist as well. For example, some people use them as examples of what not to do, be, or validations for their positions e.g. Risk Managers, Trainers, etc.. Others seems to love the drama and those feeding the rumor that plays out between shifts.

It's definitely one of things I hate about nursing. Dangerous people don't last in the military for obvious reasons.

Sour Lemon · Aug 16, 2017

So...where do you work that a nurse can even entertain the idea of sleeping for hours on the job? I'd like an application. Cause I can't apparently take even 15 minutes to eat my lunch. This just sounds really exaggerated.

It's not. They're actually out there. I've come across four in about seven years, so it's not a common occurrence. It does happen, though. We even had one that would leave the hospital to "buy groceries" or "go to the bank". When no one could find her and her patients kept calling, other nurses stepped up and took care of their needs. They assumed that the assigned nurse was simply "very busy" with a patient somewhere ...not that she was out shopping.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Aug 16, 2017

If this nurse is as bad as he sounds, I'd be willing to bet that this facility has a hard time finding and keeping decent employees.

I worked for a facility were I was given report on a dead person. This was before bedside reporting. This patient had been dead for while. Nothing happened as a result of this to my knowledge. The same person kept coming back to work for years. This was the same one that charted on lines and tubes that the patient didn't have. We couldn't get enough nurses, even with agency staffing, so I have a feeling we were going on the old breathe in the mirror and if it fogs we will take (and keep) them approach to hiring.

BedsideNurse · Aug 16, 2017

I know; you wonder who has the time for that? It is hard to scrape up 15-20 minutes, and often you can't even do that, much less take hours to sleep. That being said, I've absolutely seen nurses shopping online, on Facebook, or on dating websites for *hours* Also sleeping on and off for 1-2 hours of their shift (not while on break). The reality is that no one has time for that so something has to give, and it has to be patient care. Granted these often these ppl are rockstar paperwork people and would have charting and admissions done in no time flat, but even still, the patients aren't being turned or checked on like they should be (or it's falling onto other nurses around them and that sucks when everyone is busy). It's weird. I can't imagine going to work and doing that but it does happen.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 17, 2017

I am at a loss. Why do we continue to allow scary nurses to continue to practice? Why do employers continue to keep these nurses around? The nurse "training" me right now sleeps for several hours during the shift. He also leaves the floor to go "food shopping" on other units. The charge nurses have reported it to admin, he admits he has been written up several times for sleeping and having a bad attitude, and yet he still remains. I have also found out that due to his neglect a sentinel event occurred and he was banned from working on a unit for a long time because of it. The same behaviors continue so obviously he hasn't learned a darn thing. In fact they are now training him for tele patients.. I just don't get it.
He's toxic.
He's dangerous.
Other good nurses are quitting because of him (myself included once I find another job).
We all make mistakes. The fact that the issues remain despite the event baffles me.
So why do bad nurses keep their jobs?

The way I'm reading this is that you're on orientation. You don't like your preceptor, and you've heard some gossip (or dug some up) about him having been involved in a sentinel event some time in the distant pass. (This may shock you, but even awesome nurses get caught up in a sentinel event from time to time.) You make a good point about sleeping on the job being bad, but you haven't said what else is so horrible about him. (Leaving the floor on the night shift to go "food shopping", chatting with friends on other units, doing fast laps around the building or stair climbing is pretty common on the night shift. As long as his patients are covered, I don't see the problem.) You said he's "toxic", but you haven't supported that conclusion.

We all make mistakes, and good nurses are involved in sentinel events -- and may even have caused them. If you weren't there at the time, how do you know the same issues remain?

The thing is, you don't know where he is on the disciplinary continuum, and your manager can't tell you because disciplinary matters are confidential. It could be that she's waiting for one more write-up so she can fire him. Or it could be that he's the CEO's nephew and will have a job until hell freezes over. I know at least one screw-up who kept his job long after he should have been terminated because he knew where a couple of bodies were buried. The union wasn't active in that hospital, and the manager was powerless to terminate him, although she did give it a good try at finding him another position where he couldn't do as much damage.

You probably don't really know all that much about his nurse and his "issues" or why he still has his job. So keep your feelings to yourself and let it roll off your back.

NuGuyNurse2b · Aug 17, 2017

I know; you wonder who has the time for that? It is hard to scrape up 15-20 minutes, and often you can't even do that, much less take hours to sleep. That being said, I've absolutely seen nurses shopping online, on Facebook, or on dating websites for *hours* Also sleeping on and off for 1-2 hours of their shift (not while on break). The reality is that no one has time for that so something has to give, and it has to be patient care. Granted these often these ppl are rockstar paperwork people and would have charting and admissions done in no time flat, but even still, the patients aren't being turned or checked on like they should be (or it's falling onto other nurses around them and that sucks when everyone is busy). It's weird. I can't imagine going to work and doing that but it does happen.

No, I'm aware of those activities at work. People leave for cigarette breaks, use the phone for personal business, etc. But sleeping for hours...I find that hard to accomplish. Maybe it's just my floor is too busy.

kwright8706 · Aug 17, 2017

That is unfortunate to hear. I feel some of these nurses are often not let go simply because they have many years of experience, especially if they have been on a particular floor for 10+ years.

Scottishtape · Aug 17, 2017

I've asked this several times. In THREE different facilities, I was given the exact same answer:

"We need warm bodies".

Aloe_sky · Aug 18, 2017

So...where do you work that a nurse can even entertain the idea of sleeping for hours on the job? I'd like an application. Cause I can't apparently take even 15 minutes to eat my lunch. This just sounds really exaggerated.

I work in the icu and ccu....it is VERY POSSIBLE and it DOES happen.

NurseEmmy · Sep 6, 2017

I can tell you I am not exaggerating. While I was in "orientation" for this role I am far from a newbie nurse. I have worked night shift for some time and can understand the need to take a quick nap, run stairs, etc. This behavior is clearly beyond that. It's downright neglectful, and it makes the rest of the nurses on the unit cover his patients. It's absurd. I told those who complain to me to speak up if they are unhappy with the situation. I am not going to make a big deal out of the situation because clearly it isn't going to change, but it still upsets me. Patients deserve better and so do the rest of the nurses on the unit. I am busy enough with my own patients, I don't need to be covering another nurses while they get paid to sleep.

KeepinitrealCCRN · Sep 6, 2017

sentinel event due to neglect should be immediate termination also where i work if you are caught sleeping (totally unacceptable) immediate termination.