under the influence at work/sleeping on the job

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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 Tele, Acute.

:bluecry1:

What business is it of yours what meds she is on?

She was sleeping on the job, thats all you should be concerned about. Period.:uhoh3:

:bluecry1::bluecry1::bluecry1:

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I had posted before about the pregnant nurse I was working with who is sleeping on duty for years, reported, on lortab, mabien, neurontin etc..for her pregnancy. Anyway, she was written up a few weeks ago when she was found asleep on duty AGAIN by the house supervisor, written up by a PA for her lousy work.

Last week, I was working with her and she FELL ASLEEP AGAIN!!!! I wipped out my camera phone and taped her, slumped over, wrapped up in blankets unconscious at the desk!!!!. I showed it to the ER director when she came in. As it turned out, this was the same day she was having her evaluation.

She was informed that more than 2 people reported her sleeping and that she was taped but noone told her who did thw taping. Now, if I had a bad eval and was told this, I would lie low. What did this girl do? She called EVERYONE she could think of and told them what happenned, calling in to the ER even when she doesnt work, texting people at all hours of the night and creating a very difficult work environment.

I called my boss and told her that her unprofessional attitude is creating a hostile work environment and she stated that she would go to HR to discuss this. Since then, NOTHING!!! This woman is STILL ON THE SCHEDULE and still working!!!! MY GOD!! What does soemone have to do to take care of this situation?

My husband told me that I should just say nothing and do nothing, I told my boss that her first excuse for sleeping on the job was she was going through a divorce. Then, it was that she was a newlywed, then that she was pregnant. The next thing will be that the baby is keeping her awake. When does it end?

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Specializes in Telemetry.

unbelievable. first, where does she find the time to sleep. i barely get a lunch break. and who takes care of her patients?

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Specializes in NICU.

Where I work, this would have ended when the house supervisor caught her sleeping on the job. Terminated. For obvious reason there should be NO tolerance for this sort of thing.

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Specializes in LTC.

I've worked with a few people that got caught sleeping on the job...One aide, he wasn't a wonderful aide to begin with. Plus he had a previous back injury which just screams L&I claim especially as an aide in LTC where there is heavy lifting. Also he was NOT comfortable doing so many things (peri care on female residents), which really was a problem. I think they just used the sleeping as an excuse to get rid of him...Then we have this nurse who is frequently caught sleeping. She's been working for the facility for 20 plus years. Nothing is being done about it. Aside from that issue she knows her nursing stuff. I can bet she never WILL be fired either.

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Sounds like they are afraid of a lawsuit. Keep documenting. If things don't improve after you send more documentation to the manager, go up the change of command.

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I heard that they were afraid to fire her as she is 36 weeks pregnant, afraid of a lawsuit, I cannot imagine why, the evidence is there and for Thankful nurse, NOONE watches her patientsm they just sit there, orders to be donem blood needed, etc. We stopped doing her work, thinking that the obvious result would get her out the door. My supervisor just called me and asked me to work 1p-7p on Sunday, no help wanted by me on nights because that girl will be working and she doesnt want any trouble.

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When I worked as an aide at a LTC, I was asked to pull a double shift one night (3-11, 11-7). Well, everything went ok until it was time to get the residents up. They had received 2 call-ins for the oncoming day shift so patient load got heavier-no problem. Well, a night-shift aide and I were working on getting our residents up and we had one left (1 assist, very pleasant) and so I said that I would start getting the next shift up and she could come help when she was done. After I had gotten another 8 residents up, I took one out to the dining room and the nurse asked "where is patient A". I told her the night aide should have had her out there by now but I would go see what was going on. Walked into the resident's room where I found her still in nightgown and asleep with aide sleeping in the recliner :devil:. I quietly got the resident up and as we were walking out the door, the aide awoke and...giggling as if she were a child..said "oops. I can take her to the dining room if you want." I didn't say a word and took the resident to the DR. Told night nurse and day nurse what had happened and that I would NEVER help the night shift out again. I then went and found the aide and pulled her aside and told her how I upset I was. She continued to giggle as tho' it were no big deal. So I walked into the nursing secretary's office (which also housed the assistant DON and infection control) and told her that I would never be staying or coming in early to help the night shift out. They all agreed that I had a right to be upset and the assistant DON said she would take care of it. The aide continued there for the remaining two years that I was there so who knows how the situation was handled. :banghead:

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First off i think this lady is really pushing her luck. Don't let it get to you too much, soon enough she'll be gone. Excuses only last so long. But I have a question. One of my friends works at a hospital on the night shift and she says that occationally during their breaks the staff will "shut their eyes". What does everyone think about that? their pts are taken care of and it technically is their break so i suppose they can do what they want, but what does everyone else think?

:heartbeat

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I personally think that if they are shutting their eyes in a break room, it would be ok as this is their break-time. Now, I do not think it is professional if they are doing it at say the nurse's desk or in a family lounge. Just my opinion.

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Specializes in Rehab, Neuro, Travel Nurse, Home Care.

I can't believe this lady still has a job!!! Are the nurses in the union? Maybe if you guys are unionized then it's hard to fire her. I would just stay in my own little world if I was working with her.

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Specializes in NICU.

This would be in violation of my BON's Standards for Professional Conduct, and would be subject to disciplinary action....WAY above whatever the institution thinks or does.

If I really felt like she was a risk to patients, and the institution didn't care....I'd write it up. Not doing so gives me a share in the liability.

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