under the influence at work/sleeping on the job

Nurses General Nursing

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I have a co-worker that is 20 weeks pregnant and on all kinds of drugs: Lortab, Neurontin, Ambien just to name a few.:nono: 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:

Specializes in ICU/ER.
Been listening to the gossip at work, eh.

I can not agree more...you really need to watch yourself on this one. If I was the pregnant one who was being talked about my prescription drugs I would raise a fit about it. If like stated mgmt already knows, the er docs already know, what can you do about it? Best to MYOB on this one.

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I can not agree more...you really need to watch yourself on this one. If I was the pregnant one who was being talked about my prescription drugs I would raise a fit about it. If like stated mgmt already knows, the er docs already know, what can you do about it? Best to MYOB on this one.

i have to think it would be very hard to ignore a zonked out nurse...

it would be easier to ignore if she didn't interact w/pts. or put anyone in danger.

leslie

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Specializes in HCA, Physch, WC, Management.

I read complaints on these forums about co-workers all the time and I just can't believe the stuff that is tolerated. From sleeping, chatting and texting on cell phones, hiding in break rooms, surfing the net, shopping online, reading novels and magazines, painting nails, eating at the desk, putting on make-up, etc. I feel like I've heard it all. I do not work in health care right now. On a normal basis, no one is depending on my care for their health, well-being, and vitality but if I was caught sleeping at work, no matter WHAT the excuse was, it is an immediate termination of employment with no re-hire. That also goes for pretty much any of the other things that I mentioned previously. We are not allowed to have cell phones on at work. No sleeping, no reading of any material other than company memos, we cannot eat at the counter, we're not supposed to chat with our co-workers unless we're working on something while we're doing it. No personal phone calls at work, no texting, and we certainly can't use the computers for anything other than work related-matters. And to think... all I do is sell you your sodas, smokes, and gas, right?

I work with the most obnoxious pregnant woman on the face of the earth who thinks that no one else is in pain compared to her lower lumbar aches, no one can be sick because she is queasy, no one else can possibly be more tired than her, etc. and she manages to stay awake at work during her (albeit brief) shifts.

I work two jobs and go to school and I manage to stay awake through my AM job that is from 8AM-11AM, through classes from 11:30AM-3:30PM, and at my next shift at my second job from 4PM - 12AM. I just can't understand how sleeping at work is acceptable. It doesn't sound like she just dozed off while charting or something... Heck, even I sometimes zone out and feel like I'm sleeping while I'm listening to a nice little old lady prattle on about her day while she digs through her purse for change but come on... actually SLEEPING at work? That tells me she's genuinely tired (or maybe lazy?) and that's dangerous. I don't know about her but I can't function very well when I'm tired. Poor little neurons just keep firing and it's like a dead spark plug... nothing seems to happen!

Flame me all you want but I just don't understand making excuses for things that are not acceptable at any place of employment, let alone a job where people lives depend on YOU!

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Specializes in ICU/ER.
i have to think it would be very hard to ignore a zonked out nurse...

it would be easier to ignore if she didn't interact w/pts. or put anyone in danger.

leslie

I said earlier if she was found sleeping to call the house supervisor and ask "do you want to wake her up or do you want me to?" Sleeping on the job is grounds for immediate termination at most hospitals.

My point of talking about her prescription drug use to fellow co-workers, er docs and who ever else will listen should be avoided at all cost. That is a privacy violation and the OP could find herself in trouble over that one.

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My point of talking about her prescription drug use to fellow co-workers, er docs and who ever else will listen should be avoided at all cost. That is a privacy violation and the OP could find herself in trouble over that one.

ah yes, i agree.

op should just report the facts as she sees them.

keep it objective.

agreed.

leslie

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Specializes in Peds (previous psyc/SA briefly).

FYI - my point about peers was NOT to gossip about this nurse.

I still think approaching her directly with "I'm concerned by..." and saying specifically what you have directly observed is the most desirable choice.

You might find out you are wrong about some of your information and assumptions. Or you might find out that you are right. But you honestly and assertively addressed the issue.

If you have co-workers who have noticed the same who would honestly want to help the situation (rather than document a train wreck) - then involving them might actually help if this nurse is addicted or really needing help.

Of course, that may not be possible... I don't know the nurse in question. But I still say that if the OP honestly and truly believes that she is dangerous (without bias or rumor or innuendo) - then the BON would be a good choice. Then let it go.

And just a sidenote - I'm not sure what you mean by having pain then talking on the phone or surfing the net, but neuropathy is most common in the legs, right? Also, I work with a nurse on all those drugs and more... and she is simply a nurse who has a very painful condition. I'm taking your gut assessment that this is a drug abuse issue at face value... but if you are using the fact that she sleeps more while pregnant or that she can talk or surf the web even while in pain as your 'proof' - I'm not sure that's sound.

With respect.....

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Specializes in CNA.
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"

i mean really? come on that is rediculous!

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Specializes in ICU/ER.
i mean really? come on that is rediculous!

100% true and i agree crazy...

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As a RN (forgive me if my assumption is incorrect), isn't it your duty to report the use of narcotics by a health care provider while on duty? I don't think it's up to you to determine whether the individual is "addicted" or anything further, but if you are certain the individual is impaired from use of a controlled substance and do nothing I'm thinking you are risking your license.

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I personally think that the hospital needs to have her take medical leave until she is better.

I would bet $5.00 if she gets hurt at work the hospital is going to be responsible..and if she is so sedated she cannot stay awake, that is a huge liability that the hospital is accepting. You do not have to keep an employee working if their condition is not creating a safe environment for themselves.

What type of work is she responsbile for? I sure hope she isn't a nurse or responsible for transcribing things like orders and medication....again, if she is that sedated, then every patient in the hospital is put at risk...and the hospital has a legal responsibility to protect them.

Also, I feel she needs to be drug tested for the purposes that what is IN her system is consistent with the dosages that she is injesting...I would easily place a wager she is not taking them as prescribed.

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Specializes in Tele, Acute.

Ok, I can understand why she needs the meds, but Ambien at work?

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jere is a qick reply. She has neuropathy in her legs, walks around complaining and then takes it and zonks out about 30 minutes later. I did report my concerns to my ER manager and she told me, as I stated before, that she knew she was on all of it but since it was prescribed, she could do nothing. She did take a drug test in another ER incident and she was shocked to see what was in her system but she was able to come up with rx's for all of it so...........She was sleeping on duty before she was pregnant and everyone is wondering why she has not been terminated yet. next time, i will take a video of her on my cell phone and take it to someone. lets see what that does

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