BYOB at work?

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. What would you do if you caught another nurse doing this?

    • 11
      Mind your own business, this happens all the time.
    • 52
      Report it, there is no place in nursing for this activity.

63 members have participated

Need your excellent, expert advice! Recently while at work, it was brought to my attention that another nurse had brought beer FROM HOME and gave it to a vulnerable adult in our Special Care Unit as a 'treat'.

Nurse was on duty at the time and is not a friend or relative of this resident.

Resident has no doctor's order for alcohol whatsoever.

Thoughts? Actions? I was told to ignore it because this nurse has been doing this for years.

(Later I'll tell you what I did).

Specializes in Geriatrics.

I would report it!!!! Consider it a med, what if something bad happens and an investigation starts and it's found out that you knew about the alcohol consumption? CYA CYA CYA CYA

I always wonder about reliability and motivation in cases like this. What was the person who came to you with this information hoping to accomplish and how accurate and complete was their version of events?

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
(Later I'll tell you what I did).

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I think I would have suggested this nurse request the order for PRN alcohol from the MD. Our medical director was pretty relaxed about giving this out for our LTC residents if requested. That facility is my only experience with LTC, so I don't know if it is like this everywhere.

I always wonder about reliability and motivation in cases like this. What was the person who came to you with this information hoping to accomplish and how accurate and complete was their version of events?

You have a good point here Sour Lemon, so I'll explain more. The person who came to me was a scared and angry C.N.A who was very worried about the resident and what she had just witnessed. She knew it was wrong but was very worried that if she reported it there would be retaliation. She was right.

She was absolutely right to come and tell me about it. I was able to intervene and report it. There is absolutely NO PLACE for this in nursing, period.

Alcohol is a legal drug and a whole handful of adverse events could arise from the administration of alcohol to this resident. The least of which is that this resident is a vulnerable adult.

The idea by some of my co-workers that, "Well it was JUST a beer, don't get so excited" really saddens me.

I think I would have suggested this nurse request the order for PRN alcohol from the MD. Our medical director was pretty relaxed about giving this out for our LTC residents if requested. That facility is my only experience with LTC, so I don't know if it is like this everywhere.

Ah, but you see, you maybe missed the part about bringing the beer FROM HOME.

People just don't seem to be understanding that part.

Every facility I have ever worked in has orders for one patient or another who can have an alcoholic drink while in-house.

My issue is the idea that a nurse would ever think it was ok to bring alcohol FROM HOME and administer it to a vulnerable adult. This resident is unable to make decisions for bathing, dressing or grooming. Not ok. Not ok in any way shape or form. Just thinking about it this morning makes me upset all over again.

Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.
Ah, but you see, you maybe missed the part about bringing the beer FROM HOME.

People just don't seem to be understanding that part.

Every facility I have ever worked in has orders for one patient or another who can have an alcoholic drink while in-house.

My issue is the idea that a nurse would ever think it was ok to bring alcohol FROM HOME and administer it to a vulnerable adult. This resident is unable to make decisions for bathing, dressing or grooming. Not ok. Not ok in any way shape or form. Just thinking about it this morning makes me angry all over again.

What did the nurse say when you talked to her?

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I LOVE THIS PHOTO!!! Saving it.

So here's what I did. I snuck outside and made sure this nurse's car was unlocked. Then I grabbed two big bags of fermenting BM and urine filled briefs and I hid them under the nurse's back car seat. Then, I went online and I signed this nurse up for every dating site I could find under titles like, "Sasquatch needs a mate", "Dating in the Himalayans", "The Russian Penninsula is calling you for Love".

THEN, I registered this nurse for as many political online forums I possibly could and listed the nurse's phone number and requested calls DAY OR NIGHT.

THEN, I registered the nurse with the Foreign Legion.

THEN, I caught a wild racoon and turned it loose in the nurse's car.

I'M TOTALLY JOKING I DIDN'T DO ANY OF THAT.

I simply wrote it all down as it happened and reported it like I should and then got on with my shift because I was BUSY!!

What did the nurse say when you talked to her?

Not much. Looked at the floor.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Ah, but you see, you maybe missed the part about bringing the beer FROM HOME.

People just don't seem to be understanding that part.

.

No, we didn't miss it; we understand it just fine.

Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

CNA saw it. Let the CNA report it. I think your concern is larger and wider (who brings ANYTHING from home to give to a patient???)

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