nurse coming to work drunk

[nickola]

Recently one of the nurses on our unit came in drunk. She looked like she'd slept in her clothes, had foul breath, and was nauseous & pale. The nurse manager is her friend, and she put her in a room at the end of the hall, started fluids on her & gave her antiemetics- all on the clock. 3 hours later she felt better & was allowed to work the rest of the 12 hour shift, but was essentially useless. The rest of us felt very uncomfortable with this situation, and we wanted to report it, however, this nurse has been protected by the NM for a long time, and others have complained in the past- all the way to the top, to no avail. There is no one we can go to, & we all fear retaliation from the NM. Is this reportable to the BON? What is your take on this?

[SwansonRN]

SERIOUSLY?? Are you sure she was drunk? I would report that to the BON, that's bogus.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I would consult the BON ONLY after the chain of command is not attempting to pursue the matter. You can state that you were uncomfortable and your concern based on the Nurses's and patients safety.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Personally, I would report a safety violation to the Risk Management Officer of your hospital. Impaired nurses pose a huge risk to patients and to the facility.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Do you have proof the nurse was drunk? What you described could also be symptoms of an illness, and the nurse simply didn't want to call off. Second, what the nurse manager did needs reported as well- who gave the orders for the IV fluids and medications? No orders = practicing medicine without a license. Who paid for them? Not paying = stealing from the hospital. What you should do is report this situation (both parts) up the chain of command, with the support of other witnesses and any evidence you have.

[nickola]

No, we have no proof, although she did say she'd been out drinking all night & just came to work. (not sure that's good enough since her BFF is the manager)

[MunoRN, RN]

Sounds like someone who wasn't well enough to work, but at the same time it doesn't sound like we can assume she was drunk at work, it sounds like she drank the night before work and is now suffering the effects.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Sweet Wild Rose us correct...there are BOTH in serious trouble. If you have Risk Management, you usually can report anonymously EVERYTHING and they will start to investigate.

[nickola]

No orders for meds, the NM just gave them, as well as fluids, no orders. The nurse acted drunk, she said it had been 2 hours since she'd had her last drink, if so, she must've been plastered b/c she did indeed appear impaired!

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

If the NM thinks she is being her friend, she isn't. This will end badly.

[nursedanny614]

It's sketchy that the nurse manager would do that for her under the table.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Both the NM and the nurse demonstrated incredibly BAD judgement. The RN should have been either sent home if ill and if it is suspected she was still drunk it should have been reported to HR immediately. The worst part of this is that the nurse practiced medicine without a license,was complicit with falsification of a timecard and allowing a nurse that was impaired and/or ill to take care of patients and yes she took did steal hospital property. If this is reported and it should be I suspect both nurses will lose their jobs. I would report this above the manager ,of course.

What if something happened to the nurse in administration of the IV fluids..what was she going to do then..how would she explain that! Does she think she has so much power that the rest of the staff present would back her and not advocate for the safety of their patients. What if you needed that be for another patient. These are just some considerations because clearly this should not have happened! I do not understand why someone did not call the person above the manager at the time this happened..why did that not happen?