Intoxicated staff member

[tining, BSN, RN]

A colleague messaged me about a staff member she had assessed earlier in the year for suspicion of being intoxicated on campus. She did assessment and gave admin results - not diagnosing staff member. Flash forward and they now want her to testify at a hearing for this person. I am assuming to get their credentials reinstated.

Has anyone had to attend or testify at a hearing for this, was your experience and what what advice would you give?

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

Ooohh that's a pile of poop, is it not?

Did staff member admit to intoxication, pee in a cup or blow in a breathalyzer?

If none of the above I would be super uncomfortable about saying anything other than I was asked to do an assessment.

When in a meeting or hearing, my general advice is say three things: yes, no, I don't recall....

[tining, BSN, RN]

Not sure about admitting, did pee and blow

[guest464345]

... And this is exactly why, in cases of suspected substance use by coworkers, I will only take vital signs and call an ambulance if VS are unstable - that's it. No impairment assessments for me. HR can interview the coworker and arrange a clinic or lab visit if they think it's important. I am not interested in ending up in court, or in knowing the sordid details of what the other staff are up to!

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

Hot mess indeed! Under policy here, in the case of a student suspected under the influence, i am simply to report my opinion of whether or not the person appears in distress and record a set of vitals. That's' for a student. I don't believe that a protocol is spelled out for an adult. But since the genie is out of the bottle and she did assess, then she should simply refer to the facts of HER findings and those alone. I'd review the policy. If it doesn't specifically state a protocol for assessing employees, then that should be noted as well. Who administered the pee and blow?

[GdBSN, RN]

Stick strictly to the facts of her nursing assessment.

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

Well if called you have to testify. I would not offer opinions only facts and then only the facts as written in your documentation. It seems to me their case is either made or broken based on the lab results

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

This is REALLY a management issue, not a school nurse one. Health offices are not set up for it, nor are a lot of school nurses properly trained to do this kind of assessment.

[tining, BSN, RN]

A "district" nurse did the blow & pee. I will advise my friend.

Great advice all!

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

5 hours ago, tining said:

A "district" nurse did the blow & pee. I will advise my friend.

Great advice all!

yikes! I would separate myself from that one as quickly as possible! As a side note - this district nurse would NOT be doing any blow or pee. In a former locale, I was obligated to collect PEE on SUI students, which entailed shutting off water, pouring blue stuff into the toilet then boxing up the sample to go to the lab. No interpretation. Not what I was trained for. I didn't cry when I didn't have to do those anymore