Here is my dilema. I am in an intern program that had over 50 applicates for 5 positions. The first day I was happy to meet the other four interns. Two of them graduated right before me, one grad was from another class but I worked with him so I knew how smart he was, the other nurse is from another town and has proven how very smart she is. The four of us were doing great in our classes and orientation but this one nurse just seemed to be lost. I tried to help but she just was kind of mean to me so I started to just ignore her. The others in class started to make fun of her. The instructor told us that we needed to cut her some slack because she has ADD. My son has ADD so I can understand how hard it is to sit there for 8 hours and try to pay attention especially with a handicap such as ADD. She told us she was on medication for her disability so I cut her some slack when she constantly fell asleep in class, text on her cell during lectures, and just got up and disappeared for over an hour as she said she had to go to the bathroom. I told the others to grow up and quit making fun of her when she asked questions like 'What is PEEP?, Where does the chest tubes go?, Why do we as nurses have to give baths...isn't that the techs job?'
Now here is my dilema, today she told me that she lied, She doesn't really have ADD. She just used it as a sympathy card to get the job and look like she was a super nurse that has overcome all the hardship of having a disability. If I talk to my manager and tell her this my manager is going to think I am being petty, I am being mean, or I am trying to get her fired so that I can apply for the positions that the other nurse has applied to and get them without the competition. The Human resource manager, and the other managers are not going want to admit that they were fooled by this slacker and I fear that the backlash will be only on me.
My concern is not the questions that she asks. Of course I have not experienced this situation or new grad first hand, but from my reading, this is what I gather. She is dishonest - lied about something, and then admitted that she did it for a very selfish reason, and to look like a supernurse. That is the scariest new grad - the one who wants to portray a know-it-all. She admitted to blaming all of her issues on ADD, and many instituations have core values, that they expect their staff to follow, including that they will "own their mistakes, be accountable, and correct them asap" I can guarantee that they do not have a core value of "make excuses..." If she doesnt have ADD, there may be something else going on, but if not...sleeping in class is highly unprofessional. Is she going to sleep in the middle of something critical that her patient needs to be frequently monitored for? She was "mean" when the poster tried to help her when she appeared lost, so she does not demonstrate the willingness to learn - very scary. Is she going to wonder off to the "bathroom" in the middle of a high alert medication drip, for an hour, when the patient should be monitored ( i dont know, im a new grad) say, every 15 minutes? Again, I am a new grad too and I have questions, lots, and maybe with orientation these are areas that will be addressed and she will know better than to neglect her patients when these distractions occur, but she has shown hostility to those who have tried helping her, and lack of integrity by lying, and then if she doesnt actually have a health problem, unprofessionalism by falling asleep (again...another health issue?) and wondering off for an hour? Did she miss important information in that hour, that as her patient, I wish she stuck around for lol?
I regret my earlier posting that said that she probably will fail, because if I am performing poorly, simply for that fact that I am a slow learner, I hope that an experienced nurse would form a professional relationship with me and help me learn. But if she is going to fail, based on her dishonesty, lack of professionalism, irresponsibility, and lack of caring to learn (because she was hostile to those trying to help), would you want her caring for your child while she was carelessly making big mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, accidents that occur with humans, but obvious carelessness?
My two cents. Please stay out of it. They already know her personality. If it is a classroom setting they see her enough. Especially when she went missing and is sleeping during class. Your class is small enough for the preceptor to NOT notice it. They are probably looking for a reason to fire her eventually and can't at this point becuause she has admitted to a disability. This makes them even more vulnerable. Don't worry, they are watching her closely. The "dumb" questions may be obvious but then again as your example stated perhaps she was trying to find out where the chest tube went; pleural space vs. lung.
The conspiracy theorist in me has to point out, what if she really does have ADD? If you report her claim refuting ADD then it makes it look as though you are the trouble maker.
That said, I would report it. It is significant and either way her behavior is less than stellar. Not knowing the program or personalities involved there may be some risk in doing this, but IMO it is a justifiable risk and even if your claim is false you should easily be able to make up any lost credibility.
I have to agree with axshusz, I could see her set you up -- you say she said "x" and then she produces 10 years of proof that she has ADD. Now who's in trouble?
Is it a HIPAA violation if you tell?
Believe me, aside from all the "nurses eat their young" stuff, we watch the newbies like a hawk. If she hits the floor, disappearing for an hour, acting crazy, etc., she won't be there long.
And I've got two nurse friends with ADHD. They don't act like that.
Too bad you don't have an annonymous reporting hotline. We had one where I worked as a tech. It was effective, and prompt, but sometimes it turned into a tattle-tail hotline for insignificant things when one wanted to hold a grudge about something...
I think you should stay out of it. So, if you tell she gets fired. And then what?
It's not like pt safety is at risk-- she is a new grad. I don't like what she did but I wouldn't judge anyone I hardly know, she told you a few things & leave at that. It seems like she has some real issues. But don't we all have some issue. Noone here is perfect & we've all done things at one time that we are not proud of. I am not condoning her behaviour. But in the end she will dig her own grave. Someone who is a slacker can't get away from it for long
I'd move on & focus on your new job. There is lots to learn, you will have bigger issues to deal with then this. Trust me--I'm a new grad too.
How can it be said that Pt Safety isn't an issue? Yes, she should have a preceptor, but that preceptor is not going to be with her 3 months from now when she chooses to take a short cut, or give a scheduled med that has contraindications.
It may sound petty, but cost is an issue too. While the hospital "wastes" 2+ months training this cheater they could have cut their losses and brought in another candidate, one with integrity.
If I were you I would stay out of it. Reporting it will might make you appear petty and jealous or look like a troublemaker and who knows if they will actually do anything about it. What I do suggest is that if your hospital has an anonymous tip line to report problems with safety issues, employees or management then you could call that tip line and give the information and let it be investigated from there but otherwise I wouldn't go out of my way to report it. I understand the duty you feel to report this dishonesty but its most likely just going to cause more problems for you, when this person gets caught hopefully they will be fired.
All I'm saying is that unless you've SEEN her provide unsafe care, there is no way for you to know that she will. And her comments about chest tubes and stuff makes her sound like half the new grads I precept-some learn slower than others, but they get it. You will find after you have been around awhile that there are nurses and even NM all over the hospital who don't know what they are doing and don't care to learn. If you are not her boss, who are you to judge how good she will become. I see this in new grads all the time, and no offense please, but it usually has to do with someone trying to make their self look better equipt for the job. Almost all new grads 'get it' soon enough, Some of the ones that appeared to be inadequate or uncaring in the beginning I would trust my kids to now. Get yourself some good experience during this time and let the proper people worry about her
You said that very well and you are so right!!! Don't get involved--it is not your business!!! Concentrate on what you need to do to become an excellent nurse.
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.
Lying on your application is grounds for termination. You have 90 days to get someone out of your facility without having to go through due process. This woman does not sound safe and I would not want her to take care of me. I would speak to someone about this and soon. The problem with waiting is that she may do harm to a patient in the meantime. I don't know what your relationship is with your manager yet. You might want to sit down with the HR person and tell them what you know and leave it at that. Then they can decide what to do. Were I the manager of this unit I would want to know this information immediately.
Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.
I would just leave it alone. How do you know they hired her b/c she had add? Maybe she interviews well and they would have hired her anyway. If she is as bad as you say, she will be found out in the end. If you go to HR or anyone else with this you are going to look like a "butinski" for lack of a better term. Just myob and let her do what she will.
I would just leave it alone. It really doesn't concern you. If you just let her be, she will soon enough drown herself, if you get involved it will somehow come back to hurt you. You are not her boss, and it will be her word against yours. Just worry about you, you do not need to babysit another grown up. Just my
MissBrittanyRN
246 Posts
My concern is not the questions that she asks. Of course I have not experienced this situation or new grad first hand, but from my reading, this is what I gather. She is dishonest - lied about something, and then admitted that she did it for a very selfish reason, and to look like a supernurse. That is the scariest new grad - the one who wants to portray a know-it-all. She admitted to blaming all of her issues on ADD, and many instituations have core values, that they expect their staff to follow, including that they will "own their mistakes, be accountable, and correct them asap" I can guarantee that they do not have a core value of "make excuses..." If she doesnt have ADD, there may be something else going on, but if not...sleeping in class is highly unprofessional. Is she going to sleep in the middle of something critical that her patient needs to be frequently monitored for? She was "mean" when the poster tried to help her when she appeared lost, so she does not demonstrate the willingness to learn - very scary. Is she going to wonder off to the "bathroom" in the middle of a high alert medication drip, for an hour, when the patient should be monitored ( i dont know, im a new grad) say, every 15 minutes? Again, I am a new grad too and I have questions, lots, and maybe with orientation these are areas that will be addressed and she will know better than to neglect her patients when these distractions occur, but she has shown hostility to those who have tried helping her, and lack of integrity by lying, and then if she doesnt actually have a health problem, unprofessionalism by falling asleep (again...another health issue?) and wondering off for an hour? Did she miss important information in that hour, that as her patient, I wish she stuck around for lol?
I regret my earlier posting that said that she probably will fail, because if I am performing poorly, simply for that fact that I am a slow learner, I hope that an experienced nurse would form a professional relationship with me and help me learn. But if she is going to fail, based on her dishonesty, lack of professionalism, irresponsibility, and lack of caring to learn (because she was hostile to those trying to help), would you want her caring for your child while she was carelessly making big mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, accidents that occur with humans, but obvious carelessness?