Advice needed - Should he be fired?

[melissa_rn]

I am a new grad and new nurse manager. We have a nurse working with us who has 18 years experience. He works 2nd shift which starts at 2:30pm. Probably 85% of the time he is late (arrives at 3:00 or later, sometimes up to 2 hours late). In the last month he has called in sick less than an hour before his shift starts 3 times. I have talked to him about his tardiness at least 4 times since December.

He is very very smart and has great assessment skills. He is NOT very good with computers, which causes a problem when it comes to documentation since our system is computerized. He does not always chart on patients, even when I know something has happened to them on his shift.

The other nurses avoid working the shift before him because they can pretty much guarantee that they will have to stay late waiting for him to show up, and they don't like to be on-call when he is working, knowing that he has a high tendency to call in sick.

Ordinarily I would have no problem with letting him go, but my facility is down 3 full time nursing positions (and we only have 7 positions available). We unfortunately depend on agency nurses a ton which really impacts continuity of care.

What should I do?

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

So, you have had some really good advice here. What decision have you made? Have you taken any action? I am curious because it seems that slackers like this always get more chances than a hardworking, dedicated nurse. Why are screw-ups more tolerated than a honest mistake by a hardworking nurse? :angryfire

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

He needs to be fired obviously. He knows he can get away with this kind of thing because he's been there for 18 years and you're short staffed, and he gets away with it.

Has he been written up for not following procedures? If not, at the very least start writting him up. Then be consistent wtih all the employees. If he's not the only one late, then write the other employees up too, etc.

Good luck. These situations are tough.

[MandyInMS]

Yep,yep...he needs to go..the best nurse in the world isn't worth a toot if they aren't dependable. Follow P&P..document..keep copies of verbal/written warnings and then say seeee yaaaaa :)

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

What action have you taken? Was this a real case or was this posted just to see how working nurses feel about situations like this? I am truly interested because I know someone who was canned for less tardiness than this.

[witnurse]

What action have you taken? Was this a real case or was this posted just to see how working nurses feel about situations like this? I am truly interested because I know someone who was canned for less tardiness than this.

My situation was real. late every shift for 8 plus years!! I would like to hear your experience.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Not me, I am a 15 min early kind of nurse. A LPN I used to work with was late everyday for years, said she had an excuse from the boss d/t home problems, finally another nurse was late everyday for a week because of a road falling in and creating havoc . She was written up by this same boss for being late, well she took the boss and this LPN to the Administrator. LPN was fired on the spot, boss was given warning to NEVER allow only one person to be late and then write everyone else up for being late when a natural disaster had taken place. Was not a pretty sight. Boss was crying and saying she was sorry. LPN threatened to take her to court for harrassment.

[melissa_rn]

So, you have had some really good advice here. What decision have you made? Have you taken any action? I am curious because it seems that slackers like this always get more chances than a hardworking, dedicated nurse. Why are screw-ups more tolerated than a honest mistake by a hardworking nurse? :angryfire

I finally did it - adios to this nurse. I feel bad, he was a nice guy, but the other nurses have thanked me and I believe I have earned their respect. (A very unpleasant conversation, though!)

[prmenrs, RN]

A+ for courage!!

[NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN]

i finally did it - adios to this nurse. i feel bad, he was a nice guy, but the other nurses have thanked me and i believe i have earned their respect. (a very unpleasant conversation, though!)

b r a v o ! ! ! ! ! ! !

:balloons: :melody:

these are for you. :flowersfo that could not have been an easy thing to do. keep us posted on how things are going. (during all you free time with the piles you have on your plate, that is. :chuckle )

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

I I have earnedfinally did it - adios to this nurse. I feel bad, he was a nice guy, but the other nurses have thanked me and I believe their respect. (A very unpleasant conversation, though!)

You should be proud you finally told him to hit the road. I know morale will improve, not to mention patient care. I hope you continue to do the right thing for staff and patients. It really pays off in the end.