I work with a 78 year old RN. She's been an RN for about 58 years. While I was amazed at first, I really wonder how safe this is. I followed her once and found she hung the wrong IV bag on a patient. Fortunately it was very close, but still it was an error. I have a feeling, she gets the easier patients, but still I question safety. I've heard she has done other things involving other nurses. I'm all for people working and not completely retiring, but working in such a demanding job as a nurse you really need to be on your toes.....
I just had a patient crash on me. Fortunately I caught him in time and turned him around. Well he was in the same room as the a patient the nurse above had. My patient was coming around to the point he called me via his call bell. I went in quick to make sure he wasn't in need of anything. He said he was fine, but said "that lady just fell." It was the RN above. She brushed it off, but said her knee hurt a bit, but she'd be fine. I was thrilled my patient was able to take care of us as he could have gone the other way!!!
Anyway, I let the charge nurse know she had fallen, but was okay for the moment, but thought a heads up wouldn't hurt as we were already short. Well, I didn't realize it was such an issue. She had to fill out forms, go to the ED and was ready to kill me. I've never been looked at in such an evil way in my entire life. My husband said she was just mad because at her age she probably wants to appear trouble-free. This is making her look less than perfect. I suppose he's right, but should I have kept my mouth shut? It seems like you can't win. I'm sure my patient mentioned it to others and then I would've been asked why I DIDN'T say tell them. I really thought it wouldn't hurtl anyone to know and just give her a bit more help when possible if her knee started hurting more during the rest of the shift.
Do you think it's safe to have RNs nearly 80 years old working on such a demanding floor? Thanks
Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.
Whether it's a drivers license or a nursing license, there's a responsibility to public safety that makes holding that license a privilege and not a right. I so much want to say that this nurse deserves special treatment and there's no issue with a lighter patient load. But if patient safety is at stake, we have to report impaired nurses. Impaired doesn't necessarily denote chemical. If you believe a nurse is working impaired, it is your responsibility to report it. Be careful here though. You really want to consider this with the utmost care for her sake and yours. She has earned my respect just for hanging in there this long.
It's been awhile since I posted this thread and am surprised at all the responses. I do see many comments from those who seem offended, but to be honest, since posting this, I have seen and found out many other issues involving this nurse. Patient safety is the #1 concern and she really should not be practicing as she does. If she wants to work, a less hands on position should be found for her. She continues to make mistakes, management is aware yet she is allowed to continue to work on an extremely busy med/surg floor. It's just not right. It's tough where she does have so many years experience and that is perhaps what is so different than a new grad or younger nurse, but in either case, if they are doing things that jeopardizes patient safety, they should be talked to or given a more appropriate position for them.
It's been awhile since I posted this thread and am surprised at all the responses. I do see many comments from those who seem offended, but to be honest, since posting this, I have seen and found out many other issues involving this nurse. Patient safety is the #1 concern and she really should not be practicing as she does. If she wants to work, a less hands on position should be found for her. She continues to make mistakes, management is aware yet she is allowed to continue to work on an extremely busy med/surg floor. It's just not right. It's tough where she does have so many years experience and that is perhaps what is so different than a new grad or younger nurse, but in either case, if they are doing things that jeopardizes patient safety, they should be talked to or given a more appropriate position for them.
Perhaps a supervisory postion with less hands on nursing would be appropriate if she is continually making mistakes due to vision, etc...
It's been awhile since I posted this thread and am surprised at all the responses. I do see many comments from those who seem offended, but to be honest, since posting this, I have seen and found out many other issues involving this nurse. Patient safety is the #1 concern and she really should not be practicing as she does. If she wants to work, a less hands on position should be found for her. She continues to make mistakes, management is aware yet she is allowed to continue to work on an extremely busy med/surg floor. It's just not right. It's tough where she does have so many years experience and that is perhaps what is so different than a new grad or younger nurse, but in either case, if they are doing things that jeopardizes patient safety, they should be talked to or given a more appropriate position for them.
If you really feel/think that she is that unsafe, why haven't you or why don't you report her to the BON?
I think this is definately a management issue, though obvious departures from safe nursing practice should be reported. I don't want to be offended-and am not- but it is very hard to read through the lines of a typed post and figure out whether the mistakes this woman has been observed making are indicative of age-related impairment, or if they are mistakes that many nurses would be caught making if kept under close surveillance. Either way, patient safety should be paramount and management should be kept informed of true errors. On a side note, my mother is an almost 70-year-old nurse, but now works in a public health capacity due to physical pain, not cognitive impairment.
wonderbee, BSN, RN
1 Article; 2,212 Posts
Whether it's a drivers license or a nursing license, there's a responsibility to public safety that makes holding that license a privilege and not a right. I so much want to say that this nurse deserves special treatment and there's no issue with a lighter patient load. But if patient safety is at stake, we have to report impaired nurses. Impaired doesn't necessarily denote chemical. If you believe a nurse is working impaired, it is your responsibility to report it. Be careful here though. You really want to consider this with the utmost care for her sake and yours. She has earned my respect just for hanging in there this long.