The other night, the day shift nurse who was leaving looked rather "off"....glazed eyes, appeared unsteady, had a general "stoned" look. When I asked her if she was OK, she said she had taken 1/4 of a benzo that morning, and she still "felt" it. Keep in mind that this was at 2300 when we spoke. This RN has a lot of seniority, and is well respected. Another colleague noticed her odd behavior, and agreed that something was "off".
I ended up letting the supervisor know, because overall, it did not sit right with me.
But now I feel badly. Could 1/4 of a benzo really leave someone looking like that 12 hours later? Would you have done the same in telling your supervisors?
So I guess its safe to say you only posted this receive confirmation that you did the right thing...and that you really didn't want to know what someone else would have done in this situation. If you didn't want an opinion, you shouldn't have asked for it. Making accusations of drug use is a serious action and unless you really sat down and talked with her, you really don't know what is going on with her. Is she on any other meds that would increase sedition? Did she only sleep 1 hour last night? How long has she been taking this medication? I'd be angry as hell if someone decided to go to a supervisor without really talking to me and allowing me the opportunity to fess up if need be.
No need to be so harsh, Snippy.
It is not my job to interrogate my coworkers on what medications or how much sleep they are getting. And for the record, I did not make an accusation of drug use.
So I guess its safe to say you only posted this receive confirmation that you did the right thing...and that you really didn't want to know what someone else would have done in this situation. If you didn't want an opinion, you shouldn't have asked for it. Making accusations of drug use is a serious action and unless you really sat down and talked with her, you really don't know what is going on with her. Is she on any other meds that would increase sedition? Did she only sleep 1 hour last night? How long has she been taking this medication? I'd be angry as hell if someone decided to go to a supervisor without really talking to me and allowing me the opportunity to fess up if need be.
I had my best friend, whom I NEVER suspected of anything, die from a substance overdose. She had issues at work, came to work intoxicated, and this was one that NO ONE would have suspected. She was a GREAT nurse. So compassionate, kind, and a hard worker.
I had my best friend, whom I NEVER suspected of anything, die from a substance overdose. She had issues at work, came to work intoxicated, and this was one that NO ONE would have suspected. She was a GREAT nurse. So compassionate, kind, and a hard worker.
You just never know.
I'm truly sorry for your loss that would have been devastating. I can see now why you'd see it as so important that a superior be notified if something was out of sorts to co-workers. Guess it just comes with a persons own judgement call.
I agree that "you just never know", BUT unless I'm missing something, this nurse had just completed a 12 hour shift and could just be having an off day. I'm sorry to say it so plainly, but in my opinion the OP is a rat. This had nothing to do with patient safety because the nurse was leaving. If she was just coming on, I STILL would talk to her first and if something were amiss, I'd give HER the opportunity to go to the supervisor herself! If she didn't, then I would! I believe you should never say something behind someones back that you won't say to their face. This was not a patient safety issue, it was gossip. I'd love to know what the OP said to the supervisor. I work with enough "well meaning" nurses to know when someone is concerned and someone is a rat, I think I smell the latter. I think the OP just wanted someone to cosign her BS....sorry, not gonna do it.
So this nurse worked all day in this condition and nobody noticed until it was time for her to leave? I find that odd, she should have been sent home or asked to go home if she wasn't feeling 'right'. If a nurse cannot safely care for their pts than they have no right to be there. There is more to this story as we don't know her side to this. Hopefully it works out or she gets whatever help she needs.
So this nurse worked all day in this condition and nobody noticed until it was time for her to leave? I find that odd, she should have been sent home or asked to go home if she wasn't feeling 'right'. If a nurse cannot safely care for their pts than they have no right to be there. There is more to this story as we don't know her side to this. Hopefully it works out or she gets whatever help she needs.
The colleague I mentioned noticed something in the evening. When I came on, this colleague came to me and asked me to assess the situation.
I assure the previous poster, I am not a gossiper-type. I go into work, get my job done and leave. I have never had to deal with this type of situation in my life.
Specializes in ER/ MEDICAL ICU / CCU/OB-GYN /CORRECTION.
"It is not my job to interrogate my coworkers on what medications or how much sleep they are getting."
You sure come across as quite sincere and without malicious intent. Allow me to share with you however that I feel it is your responsibility to a coworker you feel is impaired or worried about their ability to drive to state such. Also I thin that if your reporting someone they have the right to know this (unless you are afraid of this person). It is more of the right thing to confront and be upfront with what you feel are your convictions and not passive in her presence but aggressive when she leaves. This is what you need to do then I agree with reporting but as a human being they also deserved to know your planned actions involves them their license and all of the possible things to come. This to me is the ethical and moral thing to do.
Since concerned about her ability to operate a motor vehicle how would you feel if she was killed or killed someone else without saying anything or helping her to arrange a ride home? WOW if one is concerned to report to a supervisor then to me it is their job and the ethical thing would be to be proactive about a coworkers safety as well. You said were concerned.
You sincerely did what you feel was the right thing to do and I hope this all resolves for everyone.
The colleague I mentioned noticed something in the evening. When I came on, this colleague came to me and asked me to assess the situation.
I assure the previous poster, I am not a gossiper-type. I go into work, get my job done and leave. I have never had to deal with this type of situation in my life.
Again, why would another nurse come to you instead of going to THAT nurse??? OMG....this is why I can't stand working with mostly women AND I AM A WOMAN!! This is gossip! You don't go to another nurse, you go directly to the source of your concern! I swear if I was this nurse and found out that you two reported me without ever giving me the opportunity to explain, I would go ballistic. Ugh....nurses...when will we learn?
^.~ Spectator now, I think everyone knows my point of view already.
To me I :-
1. Don't think the OP was aiming to be malicious
2. Due to personal experience don't agree that just because a person 'appears' stoned or out of it. Actually are. Nor are incapable of working, so should not be treated as such without more justification.
3. Believe you can approach a supervisor for a concern...as that is what they're for. Although it may be common courtesy to speak to the nurse involved first.
Let the discussion continue :)
And to the OP I hope everything works out great for all of you, this other nurse and yourself ^.~ Take care!
I must also comment on some of the very negative responses here. I have no ill will toward anyone I work with, including this nurse. I am not the confrontational type. I have never reported any coworkers for anything, ever. I'm not sure if I would call this "reporting", even. The superior I went to is someone I trust. I did not accuse anyone of stealing or being under the influence of narcotics.
Let's say the next shift she works, she is still "loopy" or whatever, and she makes a grave med error. It is then discovered she is impaired. Then word gets out from the other colleague who came to me voicing her concerns, that we had previously discussed being suspicious of something. Does that not make me responsible to a degree? When you say I should have confronted her.....I went to her and asked if she was feeling OK, and she responded with "No" and told me about the benzo she took and the reaction to it. What more could I ask? I'm not her superior, and I don't feel like she was in a state to be questioned. She was literally swaying when I was speaking with her. She left the med cart in such disarray, which is completely out of character for her. She is the type that will stay on hour past her shift to get everything done.
I am almost certain that had I been the only one to see this in her, I would not have said anything (which I am almost ashamed to say), because I am not the type. But being another colleague was involved and worried, I felt like I had a responsibility.
I am much too busy at work to have time to gossip or think of ways to get people fired.
I guess I am not understanding what allowing the nurse to explain would accomplish. It does not matter what reason there is for impairment, it is still impairment. If the OP and the other nurse she spoke to suspected another nurse of being impaired, the proper thing is to report it to the supervisor and let him/her handle it. The OP should not have gone on a fishing expedition to try and get to the bottom of things...that is the manager's role, not the co-worker's.
Ginger80
85 Posts
No need to be so harsh, Snippy.
It is not my job to interrogate my coworkers on what medications or how much sleep they are getting. And for the record, I did not make an accusation of drug use.
But thanks for your opinion.