I have no idea what I or my fellow nurses should do now. Three separate times the same nurse was impaired on night shift to the point she could not function, did not pass meds, was unable to give report at shift change. It was noted all three times by different staff who relieved her. All staff involved went to DON, who gave this nurse a couple of days' notice that she wanted to see her on a certain day after her shift had ended. Of course the nurse made sure she was in good condition to talk to the DON.
Same nurse stole current prescription meds, when oncoming nurse asked where the meds were the nurse said they were in her car and went and got them. This was turned into same DON who came in 36 hours later to talk to this nurse.
Under the Nurse Practice Act we are required to report these things, which we did. The nurse is still there, still impaired. I do not know if the Administrator knows of these issues or not. I do not believe she does. I think it is our responsibility to tell her, knowing full well we will then have targets on our back from the DON. I can live with that.
