under the influence at work/sleeping on the job

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2008

The 1st thing I think of is next time you see her sleeping call the charge nurse over and point in her direction and ask "do you want me to wake her up or do you want to do it?" At my hospital sleeping on the job is grounds for immediate termination.

Also be careful on who you tell her med history too, I think your balancing on the edge of hippa. We had an employee get writtin up and suspended for a few days because Employee A slipped on ice in the parking lot and ultimately broke her leg Employee B saw her fall and helped her to ER then told her unit, "be carefull out in the parking lot, suzy fell coming in and broke her leg"

kristenncrn · Apr 14, 2008

That is an awful situation and an awful reaction from your organization.

Honestly - if you are interested in advice - I personally would take some time to really think about this. And if at the end, I sincerely felt that this nurse was a danger and that I could not for whatever reason confront her directly or maybe gain the support of peers/social worker types that really understand this sort of thing (always my first choice) - then I would have to contact the state board of nursing.

I can't imagine being in that situation. Yuck.

Good luck!

ecnav · Apr 14, 2008

i have a co-worker that is 20 weeks pregnant and on all kinds of drugs: lortab, neurontin, ambien just to name a few. she takes them at work, falls asleep at the desk, i think she is dangerous. i spoke with the er director who told me that they are prescribed and she cannot do anything about it. i spoke with hr who inferred that i have something against this person, which i do not and i should stay out of it. ok, i am venting but i am afraid that she is going to hurt someone and then what?:uhoh21:

is she under the influence at work? is she endangering anyone - her child - herself - her patients - coworkers? is she in compliance with the governing policies of the facility and state nurse practice act? addiction is serious business too. maybe she is asking for help? you might speak with her - possibly an intervention by concerned coworkers? the cat's already out of the bag if you spoke with management. why would she choose to subject her fetus to abuse? so sad.

cafenurse1112 · Apr 14, 2008

you know, that is what is so bad. Everyone knows it, everyone has seen her taking these meds for quite some time, about 2-3 years. She even lost her Lortab at work one day and called the er dr asking for another rx, he gave it to her. The supervisors all know it but noone does anything about it.

cafenurse1112 · Apr 14, 2008

is she under the influence at work? is she endangering anyone - her child - herself - her patients - coworkers? is she in compliance with the governing policies of the facility and state nurse practice act? addiction is serious business too. maybe she is asking for help? you might speak with her - possibly an intervention by concerned coworkers? the cat's already out of the bag if you spoke with management. why would she choose to subject her fetus to abuse? so sad.

from what i was told, she tried to get off the stuff when she found out she was pregnant but the "pain" from her neuropathy was too much for her. she is being monitored by a dr for the pregnancy and he knows what she is on. i feel that sleeping on the job ( which is grounds for termination) is bad enough. she has to be "bothered" to be told there are orders up for her to do.

queenjean · Apr 14, 2008

If she has taken these for several years, it is doubtful they are causing impairment, unless maybe her dosages have been increased. You put the word "pain" in quotation mark--the way you present this, it appears you *do* have something against the nurse. You think she is faking about having neuropathy? Or you don't believe she is really in that much pain?

Many people fall asleep on the job; are they all taking Lortab, Neurotin, and Ambien? There are several reasons that could cause her to fall asleep at work (hello, pregnant!). If she's on these meds, there are several chronic conditions that she may suffer from, most of which could be exacerbated by pregnancy. If she is under the supervision of a physician, how can everyone assume this is an addiction or abuse issue?

Not that I think sleeping at work is acceptable, and I agree, when it happens you should document it, have someone else verify it, and call the charge nurse/supervisor. Your accusations that she is impaired are very serious indeed, and you should discuss this with your director. However, falling asleep and being on prescription medication does not mean that one is an addict or impaired or abusing medication (or her unborn child). I suggest you follow the appropriate chain of command, document any appearance of impairment, submit said documentation to your director and risk management, and then butt out.

wildmountainchild · Apr 14, 2008

:yeahthat:......For a loooong time I was on Vicodin b/c of continuing pain despite numerous ortho surgeries. Believe me, after a couple months of being on that stuff you aren't getting "high." You are just normal, but without pain....and a little constipated :stone. I did find that I was more "agro" and short tempered when I had to take pain meds...one of the reasons I worked so hard with PT to get off them.

You can be sure she isn't taking Ambien at work, and Neurontin doesn't really effect your mental capabilites. As the previous poster said, it does seem as maybe you are picking on her a wee bit. Document the sleeping on the job and then trust that her Doc and the management know of her condition and are treating it accordingly.

Nightbloom · Apr 14, 2008

When I was pregnant with my first child, I had extreme difficulty staying awake and I wasn't on any drugs... not even tylenol. The pregnancy just made me so darn tired. Was she sleeping on the job before she was pregnant?

november17, ASN, RN · Apr 14, 2008

from what I was told, she tried to get off the stuff when she found out she was pregnant but the "pain" from her neuropathy was too much for her. She is being monitored by a dr for the pregnancy and he knows what she is on. I feel that sleeping on the job ( which is grounds for termination) is bad enough. She has to be "bothered" to be told there are orders up for her to do.

Been listening to the gossip at work, eh.

cafenurse1112 · Apr 14, 2008

If she has taken these for several years, it is doubtful they are causing impairment, unless maybe her dosages have been increased. You put the word "pain" in quotation mark--the way you present this, it appears you *do* have something against the nurse. You think she is faking about having neuropathy? Or you don't believe she is really in that much pain?
Many people fall asleep on the job; are they all taking Lortab, Neurotin, and Ambien? There are several reasons that could cause her to fall asleep at work (hello, pregnant!). If she's on these meds, there are several chronic conditions that she may suffer from, most of which could be exacerbated by pregnancy. If she is under the supervision of a physician, how can everyone assume this is an addiction or abuse issue?
Not that I think sleeping at work is acceptable, and I agree, when it happens you should document it, have someone else verify it, and call the charge nurse/supervisor. Your accusations that she is impaired are very serious indeed, and you should discuss this with your director. However, falling asleep and being on prescription medication does not mean that one is an addict or impaired or abusing medication (or her unborn child). I suggest you follow the appropriate chain of command, document any appearance of impairment, submit said documentation to your director and risk management, and then butt out.

we know the falling asleep has nothing to do with her pregnancy, she was doing that before she became pregnant. They have "upped" her dosages as she states the pregnancy is causing her more pain. I have a problem with anyone who can talk on the cell phone for hours and surf the net, then complain their neuropathy is acting up and take some pills, falling asleep about 30 minutes later either at the desk or on a stretcher in an unused room with her cell phone set to go off for an alarm. I am following the chain of command. I hope she doesn't hurt someone or the hospital will not have a leg to stand on.

leslie :-D · Apr 14, 2008

i wonder is she's applied for, and is covered under the ada.

would likely afford her more protection, but i just can't see this being tolerated.

it truly boggles the mind...

leslie