Dangerous coworker and unresponsive management

Published

I have worked in a large hospital where one of my coworkers NEVER washed her hands or used gloves. She was repeatedly observed catheterizing a patient bare-handed after emptying another patient's suction canister. When this was reported to management and observed by them, nothing was done. I was counseled for poor peer interaction. I then contacted the state health department which inspected and cited the hospital. The nurse's behavior continues to this day. I became the object of the hospital's effort to terminate me by repeatedly finding any opportunity to counsel me, They even went so far as to accuse me of hacking into a computer (to which I had no access nor knowledge of its existence) to retrieve patient information. I resigned and moved away. Has any other nurse experienced similar problems?

Yes, there IS more to the story. This nurse was forced out of ICU because of her poor interpersonal skills. Our PACU was required to take her because of hospital policy stated that if we had an opening and she applied, we had to accept her. She would start Nitroglycerin drips on patient without consulting the anesthesiologist. She told a Black anesthesiologist to "kiss my lily white ass" in front of a room full of nurses, doctors, patients, and management; she told a patient to behave because "you won't like what I can do to you if you make me mad" loud enough for family members visiting at nearby bedsides to report it to the hospital administration yet she is still there. I resigned, the anesthesiologist refuses to talk to her, my team leader with 35 years experience retired early because she was sick of the out of control atmosphere of the PACU. Is that enough of the story?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Yes, there IS more to the story. This nurse was forced out of ICU because of her poor interpersonal skills. Our PACU was required to take her because of hospital policy stated that if we had an opening and she applied, we had to accept her. She would start Nitroglycerin drips on patient without consulting the anesthesiologist. She told a Black anesthesiologist to "kiss my lily white ass" in front of a room full of nurses, doctors, patients, and management; she told a patient to behave because "you won't like what I can do to you if you make me mad" loud enough for family members visiting at nearby bedsides to report it to the hospital administration yet she is still there. I resigned, the anesthesiologist refuses to talk to her, my team leader with 35 years experience retired early because she was sick of the out of control atmosphere of the PACU. Is that enough of the story?

Why is the BON not involved in this crap?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
yes, there is more to the story. this nurse was forced out of icu because of her poor interpersonal skills. our pacu was required to take her because of hospital policy stated that if we had an opening and she applied, we had to accept her. she would start nitroglycerin drips on patient without consulting the anesthesiologist. she told a black anesthesiologist to "kiss my lily white ass" in front of a room full of nurses, doctors, patients, and management; she told a patient to behave because "you won't like what i can do to you if you make me mad" loud enough for family members visiting at nearby bedsides to report it to the hospital administration yet she is still there. i resigned, the anesthesiologist refuses to talk to her, my team leader with 35 years experience retired early because she was sick of the out of control atmosphere of the pacu. is that enough of the story?

this is what happens when you have basically no administrative personell or a nurse manager that functions with any ethical guidance.they could care less obviously. have you tried to contact your hospitals compliance officer...or their risk management dept? did any of you guys contact the compliance office or risk management over this? (not saying that they truly function with any more ethics than the nm in this/any situation)...but...they might be able to help.if...this nurse had a hx of poor interpersonal skills,,....why in the world did they ship her off to your unit?she/he really sounds kinda dangerous...ordering nitrogtts on patients is a lil outside the scope last time i checked.i really think id have to notify risk management if i were you.....but ...keep in mind....thats what got me terminated! but....i mean....it sounds like you have no choice.you have to notify risk management...it doesnt matter that youve already quit. patients are still receiving care there.how...will you feel if you read in a newspaper that a patient died as a result of something this nurse did/didnot do. ???you need to notify that risk management dept/compliance office.. ...they need to be aware of what is going on.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My question is: Who's she friends with?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We had a nurse who was giving patients samples of medications without doctor's orders. When her manager found out about it, she lied and said one of our PA's had given her permission to do so.

One time she dropped equipment on the floor in front of a patient, then picked it up and USED IT on the patient. Turns out the patient was an RN who wrote a very long letter to upper management detailing her observations about this nurse's very poor infection control skills.

And yet another time this same nurse left lady partsl packing in a patient after a test.. the patient came back a couple days later thinking that she had a UTI because the smell was so bad.. lucky she didn't get toxic shock.

Plus this nurse would run around telling lies to and about all of her coworkers. "Dr. So and So says I'm the only one doing these tests right..." "So and so said she was mad at you about this..." I mean the girl was a just a NUT. But it took months and months of this crap before they could fire her, because we had to have so many documented checks against her otherwise she could have turned around and sued.. and she did pitch a fit when she was fired.. she claimed that the clinic was being discriminatory for about a billion different reasons.. the only thing we discrimitate against is bad nursing.

It's sad though, that it took so many months and so many documented HUGE errors before anything could be done about this woman, all because the clinic had to cover their butts and make sure that they didn't get sued.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ew Ew Ew!!! How do these people get through nursing, med, or PA school? I reported a CNA for not wearing gloves when changing the diaper of a resident with genital herpes. While she was doing it, I informed her of the patient's condition and offered her gloves, but she said no, that's ok.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med onc, med, surg, now in ICU!.

On my last prac, I went to a nursing home with a really bad reputation. The nurses there didn't wear gloves. They ran out while we were there because all of us, as students, have it drilled into us to wear gloves no matter what. There was one morning when a woman had wet the bed in the night, but it wasn't her day for a shower (!) so all she got was a wipe down with a wet cloth. Bad enough, but the nurse was wiping her perineal area with no gloves! Ew! And they wiped the residents' bottoms without gloves as well. I showered someone wearing gloves and goggles, and I was asked if I was "expecting trouble", because noone there wore PPE. Luckily this place is being closed soon to be rebuilt, and all the residents will get to go to better facilities.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, let me see if I can add fuel to the fire.

In this same large midwestern hospital, part of a chain with the same name, I observed a doctor walk around the PACU checking the names on each patient's chart. When he recognized a name that was familiar, he logged into the confidential computer medical file data base to learn more about the patient's current reason for being in PACU. He then came over and spoke to her about why she should have sought his surgical services instead of the doctor who was treating her. Finally, he reached for her chart (it was my patient) to review it further. I took the chart away and told him that HIPPA requires "need to know" access. He told me he could do anything he wanted because he was a doctor. All of this happened directly in front of the Nurse Manager. She did not report him.

I also routinely found "wrong surgery" evidence. Allow me to explain. The patient received surgery on the extremity that needed repair but the consent was for the other appendage. This constitutes "wrong surgery" and is considered a sentinel event reportable to the feds. Every time I would point out the mismatch between the surgery (evidenced in the OR report) and the consent, Risk Management would tear out the consent form and shred it in front of me with the remark, "the consent must have gotten lost".

I would find that the operative report would list a D&C or hysterectomy for a male. When the CRNA assigned to the case and who was responsible for the final OR printout was asked to edit the op report, she would tell me she was too busy.

Specific ASA numbers are assigned to the risk level of each case. ASA 1 are for healthy people, ASA 2 are for folks with a condition such as asthma, diabetes, etc. ASA 5 is for organ donor - dead when we are finished harvesting your organs. I found several cases where a healthy young person had been assigned ASA 5, obviously a mistake beacuse ASA 5 do not come to PACU to be awakened. When I pointed out the error to my Nurse Manager, the CRNA, and Risk Management, I was told to "get a life" a stop nit picking on the little details. I was even referred to Employee Assistance for my "obvious emotional problems".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
well, let me see if i can add fuel to the fire.

in this same large midwestern hospital, part of a chain with the same name, i observed a doctor walk around the pacu checking the names on each patient's chart. when he recognized a name that was familiar, he logged into the confidential computer medical file data base to learn more about the patient's current reason for being in pacu. he then came over and spoke to her about why she should have sought his surgical services instead of the doctor who was treating her. finally, he reached for her chart (it was my patient) to review it further. i took the chart away and told him that hippa requires "need to know" access. he told me he could do anything he wanted because he was a doctor. all of this happened directly in front of the nurse manager. she did not report him.

i also routinely found "wrong surgery" evidence. allow me to explain. the patient received surgery on the extremity that needed repair but the consent was for the other appendage. this constitutes "wrong surgery" and is considered a sentinel event reportable to the feds. every time i would point out the mismatch between the surgery (evidenced in the or report) and the consent, risk management would tear out the consent form and shred it in front of me with the remark, "the consent must have gotten lost".

i would find that the operative report would list a d&c or hysterectomy for a male. when the crna assigned to the case and who was responsible for the final or printout was asked to edit the op report, she would tell me she was too busy.

specific asa numbers are assigned to the risk level of each case. asa 1 are for healthy people, asa 2 are for folks with a condition such as asthma, diabetes, etc. asa 5 is for organ donor - dead when we are finished harvesting your organs. i found several cases where a healthy young person had been assigned asa 5, obviously a mistake beacuse asa 5 do not come to pacu to be awakened. when i pointed out the error to my nurse manager, the crna, and risk management, i was told to "get a life" a stop nit picking on the little details. i was even referred to employee assistance for my "obvious emotional problems".

omg!!!!!this needs to be reported beyond the unethical risk management office.you need to report this to the state.....and keep records of everything ( that doesnt have mr numbers visible), copies of your evals, etc etc.you will be protected under qui-tam (hope its not msp)from retaliatory protection.these are patients.....people for gods sake. they have thoughts, memories, families...things that make them so special to their families and friends.......what you are describing.....places that in jeopardy.write down the dates, occurrances, keep detailed records...but most importantly......speak up.tell your story.these are people.it is obviously bothering you greatly ( justifiably so!) my advice too is to tape record your conversations with the nm and rm re: clarification as to why they "tore out" the real consent for surgery etc etc ....bc unfortunately they later may be either too intimidated to speak the truth from realistic fear of loosing their jobs ...or just may flatly lie about it.but this is obviously bothering you bc you "see" how it is affecting patients.............so gather your evidence ( and dont reveal it all to anyone).....and do the right thing.speak up for your patients...but be prepared!just imo!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion