Scary Nurses

[NurseEmmy]

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?

[Marisette, BSN, RN]

Why does this scary nurse remain employed?

He must be filling a need within the department ? Is he the heavy lifter, the one who puts in the overtime, the one with the most seniority that will never leave the employer stranded ?

Is he the Mr. Congeniality who greets and complements management and people in positions of high authority?

Are the unhappy nurses informing management of what they see or are they gossiping and complaining amongst themselves ? Could be part of the problem.

What do you think? You probably know the answer.

[sideshowstarlet, BSN, RN]

Who knows? Maybe he's training his replacement and doesn't even know it...yet. Ohhhh, the element of surprise!

Possibly. But is he really skilled enough to be training people?

[sideshowstarlet, BSN, RN]

If one of his patients calls, wake that nurse up. It is one thing to take care of his patient while he is super busy. It's another to have to choose between doing his job for him while he sleeps or a patient going without quality care. Don't put yourself in the position of having to make that choice. Wake his butt up!

[Sour Lemon]

If one of his patients calls, wake that nurse up. It is one thing to take care of his patient while he is super busy. It's another to have to choose between doing his job for him while he sleeps or a patient going without quality care. Don't put yourself in the position of having to make that choice. Wake his butt up!

They just say "OK" and go back to sleep. Eventually the CNA begs for your intervention or the patient comes wandering into the hallway screaming- or both. The worst sleeper I worked with did get fired, though ...eventually. I wish I could sleep as well at home as some people do at work.

[sideshowstarlet, BSN, RN]

They just say "OK" and go back to sleep. Eventually the CNA begs for your intervention or the patient comes wandering into the hallway screaming- or both. The worst sleeper I worked with did get fired, though ...eventually. I wish I could sleep as well at home as some people do at work.

If the CNA is involved like that, they can be a witness that they tried to get the nurse to do something but the nurse went back to sleep. And it WOULD be nice to sleep so soundly.