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What do you think of younger nurses going out to party the night before a shift on duty :eek:

julielpn, AAAHHHHH, what a deep morale dilema!!! Agree with the BON suggestion, wish I had some more wisdom to add.

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Originally posted by Julielpn

Hmmm... how about a DON who says to "Call me!" if you need anything, but she never answers her phone because she's out partying.

or...

Sweeps it under the rug when a patient's liquid narcotic is gone and replaced with water....

Interesting place I work in.....

Nurses and DON alike all go out to "party" together....wish I had someone to report it to and it wouldn't jeopardize my job.....

You can keep working in a place like that? Report to the administrter and call the BON.

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I think that if it doesnt compromise their work on the job, and is legal, its no ones business what they do during their TIME OFF.

I had to laugh about the "young nurse smelling like alcohol, or worse yet-sex". while i agree that NEITHER are professional, i wouldnt really want to work with an "old nurse that smelled like aspir-cream or bengay" either.

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Originally posted by Julielpn

Hmmm... how about a DON who says to "Call me!" if you need anything, but she never answers her phone because she's out partying.

ahhhhh... once I was on assignment at a nursing home, only nurse in a 60 bed facility, not entirely familiar with the place. The off going charge was going to be on call and said that line, and "I'm only 5 minutes away, I'll come right over!"

Wellllllll, huge accident down the road caused a power outage, no backup generator (had to be started by hand), the maintenance guy wouldn't answer his page, I had all these patients (I think it was 12!) on compressors for their O2 that of course shut off with no power.

The only way to find out who needed portable o2 was to look at my note sheet and the Kardex. With a flashlight. Then find O2 tanks spread throughout the facility, also with a flashlight. Wellllll, I called that nurse (who had said she was 5 minutes down the road), and she just told me what to do, which was what I was already TRYING to do ... in the dark ... not really knowing who was what and where the tanks were. "Tank" God for those CNA's, who at least had a clue. We made out ok but it was REALLY hairy!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I think it is NONE of your business unless it affects her job performance, professionalism, or safety is compromised, really.Why do ya ask?

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Specializes in Pediatric Rehabilitation.
Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

I think it is NONE of your business unless it affects her job performance, professionalism, or safety is compromised, really.Why do ya ask?

ditto! and this comes from a non-partying OLDER nurse. What someone does in their OWN time is no business of the employers..unless it has an impact on the job performance. As someone previously stated..

nurses who stay up late hours watching tv or surfing the net ;) are just as "unsafe" as the partiers. As for the smell of alcohol or sex..no worse than the smell of cigarettes or strong perfume. Yes, this from a smoker :D

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Ditto and ditto. I would not want someone telling me what I can and cannot do in my own spare time. Of course, if a coworker confided in me that she spent her nights stalking little boys, or setting fire to public buildings, then I might feel just a little bit obligated to do something about it!

Otherwise, our spare time is our own, and as long as we do our job safely, and look and act appropriately (that includes smell as well!!!) then it is no one's business.

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Originally posted by zoeboboey

Be careful when you say "only a ... " whatever! These are the guys and gals who are our eyes and ears and often know the patients better than WE do! We'd be SKEWERED without them!

I have to agree with you and unfortunately I still hear it. The post reminded me of when I worker as a scrub tech and a patients family asked me as I was walking out of the O.R., "are you the nurse?....to which I answered, "No, I'm only a tech"........lol..........don't even know why I said only, but I did. Well, my director of nsg happened to hear this and she called me aside. She told me "never say that you are only a tech or only this or that....that we are all important and to take pride in your field no matter what your job is".........Smart lady:) lol...That is something that has always stuck in my mind. Same lady who always told us, "that there is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid answers"..........I ran into her recently,,,,,,,,,God Bless Her, 90 yrs old, still driving, volunteering in the hospital and enjoying her life to the fullest.

JUDE

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Originally posted by BrandyBSN

I i wouldnt really want to work with an "old nurse that smelled like aspir-cream or bengay" either.

Asper-Cream and Ben-Gay are not going to impair a nurses judgement and ability, like drugs and/or alcohol.

I am a fairly young nurse, but due to the extremely physically demanding nature of my job, I apply Ben-Gay to my nursing-damaged back daily.

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Originally posted by zoeboboey

Re the nurse with alcohol on her breath, though -- it is possible that she denied having more than a glass of wine the nite before but really had more; if she had a problem she would most likely deny it.

Not likely even remotely possible. It was my mother. RN, BSN. The best nurse I know. But I do agree there are many nurses (and laypeople) Who would not admit they have a problem.

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Originally posted by Hellllllo Nurse

Asper-Cream and Ben-Gay are not going to impair a nurses judgement and ability, like drugs and/or alcohol.

I am a fairly young nurse, but due to the extremely physically demanding nature of my job, I apply Ben-Gay to my nursing-damaged back daily.

Drinking a few beers at dinner is not going to impair my ability at work THE NEXT DAY either.

and using whatever cream you want to isn't the point. Sweat, ETOH, smoke, sex, creams, whatever... the point of that is that none of it smells very nice.

BTW I use icy-hot, but no where my patients can smell me.

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Specializes in Step down, ICU, ER, PACU, Amb. Surg.

I concur with Brandy, nurs4kids, Smilingblu and roxanne.....what is done out side of the work place, as long as it is not affecting the work performance in house is nunyabusiness. All I ask is if you go out and party like a rock star, clean up and look and smell professional before coming to work. I worked with and was (still am) dear friends with 2 nurses that partied like it was nobody's business. And let me tell you, they did not smell like they had partied hard and were 2 of the best darned nurses I ever worked with and with whome, I would trust my life and that of my loved ones because they were top notch at what they did and knew their crap and provided professional, high quality care. And I am proud to say that I joined them a time or 2......However when pt drugs are missing that is a different story as the pt is suffering in the end and it should be reported. However, in light of some stories shared here (and of one I know about personally) I would implore all to make sure you have pretty darn good evidence before making a report that could ruin a career and the management should get facts and evidence to back their judgements before acting and making complete and total jack***es out of themselves. Y ou know what they say when you assume something..........

Christie

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