Be sure to know your call schedule!

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Drinking and being on call for the OR don't mix- and can get your license suspended at a minimum while you face charges.

Federal charges filed filed against nurse accused of drinking

The nurse in question says he forgot he was on call, was drinking at a casino, and was called in for emergency surgery. He did indeed work after drinking, has his license suspended, is facing federal charges since he worked at the VA, and I'm sure more disciplinary action will follow.

Had he been smart, he would have said he was unavailable for call. Then he'd only be facing disciplinary actions from his (former) employer instead of looking at losing his license and being charged with federal crimes.

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Not good. Forgetting he was on call was bad..... Going in after drinking was just plain stupid and dangerous.

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Not that I intend on trying it (or even drink that much) but just how much is the limit for something like this ? Is the limit different if youre on call vs scheduled for work regularly ?

IE im just curious if someone goes out to dinner and has a glass of wine then gets called in shortly after if that will get you screwed.

I mean this guy was drinking at a casino and "forgot" he was on call so I realize thats a totally different circumstance.

Is the same standard/limit applied to surgeons/anesthesiologist as well ?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Not that I intend on trying it (or even drink that much) but just how much is the limit for something like this ? Is the limit different if youre on call vs scheduled for work regularly ?

IE im just curious if someone goes out to dinner and has a glass of wine then gets called in shortly after if that will get you screwed.

I mean this guy was drinking at a casino and "forgot" he was on call so I realize thats a totally different circumstance.

Is the same standard/limit applied to surgeons/anesthesiologist as well ?

My thoughts? I worked damn hard for my license. I'm not going to have something go wrong, get tested, and have issues just because I had a drink (or two). If I'm on call, I'm 100% sober. If I'm working, I'm 100% sober. My personal philosophy. Other people I work with feel differently. They might have that glass of wine with dinner. It's their license, not mine.

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.
My thoughts? I worked damn hard for my license. I'm not going to have something go wrong, get tested, and have issues just because I had a drink (or two). If I'm on call, I'm 100% sober. If I'm working, I'm 100% sober. My personal philosophy. Other people I work with feel differently. They might have that glass of wine with dinner. It's their license, not mine.

No mind altering substances (besides coffee!) when on call. That's a pretty hard and fast rule, IMO. I've been known to have a sip of wine or whatever for a toast, but that's it. And if you have a scheduled shift, same rule applies- no amount of inebriation is acceptable. I think a glass of wine with dinner 2-3 hours before your shift is probably okay, but alcohol makes me tired so I wouldn't do it regardless. I often like to have a beer in the evening, but when I worked nights I would just have a beer in the morning when I got home instead :)

I am sure my kids' bus driver was less than impressed, the time she pulled up at 8am to see me sitting on the porch drinking a beer haha!

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I am sure my kids' bus driver was less than impressed, the time she pulled up at 8am to see me sitting on the porch drinking a beer haha!

HAHAHA!!! I had a nice chuckle to that statement... But you know what they say... It's five o'clock somewhere...

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Not that I intend on trying it (or even drink that much) but just how much is the limit for something like this ? Is the limit different if youre on call vs scheduled for work regularly ? /QUOTE]

I don't drink on call. Ever. Like others have said, I worked really hard for my license so why would I want to risk that? I also typically don't drink during the week either (I work M-F). I may occasionally have one drink if I go to dinner with friends but that's it.

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When I was a travel nurse I went out to dinner with my wife one night and had a couple pints of beer. Upon returning home there was a message on the answering machine reminding me I was supposed to be at work. Somehow I made a mistake. I immediately called and apologized for the mix up stating I would be unavailable that night. The charge nurse was very forgiving and nothing came of it.

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