impaired nurses

[Trondheim]

Wondering if any one has had experience in having to report an impaired nurse and what the process entailed. Thanks.

[Rexie68]

I wish someone had answered, because it would be nice to know how others deal with it. I went to a DON once with that concern and was told "you'd better be absolutely sure before you make that accusation." Well gosh, how can I be 100% sure? I didn't want to accuse, just wanted to express my concern and have someone else check it out...to get another opinion. Pretty much I was ignored. In one facility it was a running joke that the pts all got pain meds every four hours when one nurse was on, but didn't need as much when the rest of us worked. We all thought she/he was pocketing the meds but had no proof, and administration looked the other way.....till the state came in and busted her. *sigh* She was a good nurse( I truly believe she gave the pain meds to those who were in pain but took the meds that weren't needed by the pts):uhoh21: with a problem and it would have been nice to get her help before she lost her license......she was in denial.