how comfortable would you be reporting staff (nurse/doctor) who seems intoxicated?

[I<3H2O, BSN, RN]

If a colleague came in to work and smelled of ETOH or seemed impaired somehow, how comfortable would you be going up the chain of command regarding this? Would you fear retaliation? Would you report it anonymously? Do you have a good enough repoire with your coworkers that you could say something directly to them?

Lots of questions...wanted to get a conversation going.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't say anything to the person directly but I would definitely report it up the chain of command. It is a patient safety issue. I would report it in person immediately but ask that my name be withheld if the individual is confronted (a good manager would do that anyway). Even if I did fear retaliation, I could not with good conscious NOT report it. Imagine if something happened to a patient under this person's care and you did not report your suspicions!

[south102001]

I definitely think in that situation that it's your duty as health professional to report that person. If it directly affects a patient then I think it's your duty.

[caliotter3]

Depending upon the circumstances, I might try to convince the individual that they should clock out and go home. If they refused to do this, then I would find it necessary to report the situation to the supervisor. You can't let the patients be subject to someone who is not safe to practice.

[wannabemw]

No prob here reporting...

I'd just do it in private to the correct person (& expect you'll prob have to document it in writing, maybe anonymously?).

It could be a life or death situation & possibly MY loved one that may be affected by the individual that is compromised!

Either way it is unethical & our duty to report.

Good Luck... your doing the right thing!

[rn/writer, RN]

Depending upon the circumstances, I might try to convince the individual that they should clock out and go home. If they refused to do this, then I would find it necessary to report the situation to the supervisor. You can't let the patients be subject to someone who is not safe to practice.

This might seem like a nice gesture, but it sets you up for retaliation. I would report to the next person up the chain of command and let them pass it further up or sort it out themselves as protocol dictates. I would not look the other way, nor would I do anything to confront the person directly. If you (generic) don't have enough sense to stay out of the workplace after you've been drinking, you may not have enough sense to take a well-meant suggestion or accept the blame if your choices land you in a heap of trouble.

It isn't the job of co-workers to protect people from their own stupidity. And some folks who have been offered a graceful way out have turned on those who tried to help them because they couldn't face the reality of their foolishness. Remember, impaired people, by definition, aren't thinking straight. You might get through to the person, but there's a better chance you'd end up trying to reason with the alcohol (or other substance). Not a good choice.

Patients and safe co-workers come first.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

As uncomfortable as it would be, I would find a way to set my own fears aside and report them using the chain of command. As was said it's our duty. If we allow this person to practice, and we know they are intoxicated then we're just as guilty as they are.

[lpnflorida]

When an employer came to work and during report it was noticed they smelt of alcohol, it was reported to the charge nurse who then went at that time to our Head Nurse.

When a doctor once showed up at the nursing station with red eyes smelling of alcohol it was the then Head Nurse who was informed, who then spoke to the Medical director of our unit a Pyschiatrist.

Turning a blind eye to it , would be enabling a potential problem , it is also potentially putting patients at risk .

For some individuals it is a one time occurence out celebrating a specific occasion. For others they are on the slippery slope, other they are into full blown alcoholism. Intervention has to start somewhere.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

Very.

You do realize, some states have regulations about this. If someone is found to be intoxicated and makes a harmfull mistake, they not only go after the intoxicated one, but everyone working in the area with the individual who should have reported it. I'm a travel nurse and I'm sure WA has some strict laws on this issue.

Even if my license isnt in danger, as in my home state PA, what do you have to gain by not reporting it?

[lindseylpn]

What if you don't report it and they kill someone. Knowing that you could have prevented it, will haunt you for the rest of your life!

[lpnflorida]

True Story,

years ago mom cut her knee badly and went to the emergency room on a friday night and needed/had stitches put in. It was a small local hospital and patient's primary care doctors were always called in as there were no in house doctors.

1 1/2 week later she she returned to her doctor who's words were " Who was the neophyte who put those stitches in? That is the worst job I have seen." Mom calmly said, you were, you told me they had called you in while you were out to dinner... yah he turned red, yes he quit drinking shortly thereafter..

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

Very comfortable.

What would make me feel uncomfortable, is if a patient suffered because of it.

Some things, you don't wait for.