Issues @ work with coworker

[SDALPN]

Hi! I'm currently working a case f/t. We have a new nurse that I oriented that is new to private duty. I spent a few days with her teaching her about trachs, feeding tubes, and all the basics about private duty. A few weeks later she has decided to bring politics in to a case that never had it before. It was a quiet, mostly drama-free case until she came in. She has hospital experience and I guess she thought she would have to bring the politics with her. I gave her every tool I could to help her succeed. Even gave her my cell number so she could call/text me with any questions when I went on vacation or was off. She turned around and started playing games. I was the one that got her on the case to begin with as the mother wanted my opinion on who to put on the case. At first I thought that other than lack of experience with trachs, that she was great. Then all of the sudden she sent me a text asking me why I backstabbed her. I never did a thing except tell the supervisor what a pleasure it was to work with her. Then she took a day of mine by manipulation. So the office called me and told me that they were putting her on a day and pulling me off because I had OT. But I was scheduled!! The office told me during that call that they had already talked to this nurse and she would be working that day. So next thing I know the nurse texted me asking "Who is working tomorrow". Even though she knew...she was playing around. So then she started politics with the parent trying to make me look bad. Well now the parent has been "cold" to me the past couple of weeks. Well last week the nurse got a DWI and I had to cover her shift for her while she was in jail. Well that gave me more OT and the agency pulled another day from me and she got her hours back as she had been scheduled. The agency didn't and doesn't know about the DWI....the agency will shoot the messenger!! So basically I lost OT for covering for her and keeping my mouth shut while she got her hours back. Well I went back to work after a day off and see that this nurse has decorated the patients casts....thats great, except on the underside where its hard to see she wrote "my best nurse is, (nursesname)". Excuse me?!?! Really?!?! So tonight I see that she has friended the parent on facebook. So then I see that the mom had something nasty to say about me because I did my job like I'm supposed to and she didn't like it. Unfortunately, there are no other cases with work available right now. I'd ask the agency to put me on another case or at least move some of my hours to another case. I can't afford to lose any hours. But I don't want any trouble by staying on the case either.

This other nurse is wrong on soooo many levels. What do I do?

[SDALPN]

Would the agency still feel that way if the informer is informing them that one of their employees is a felon, and that the parent of the client (no matter how "friendly" they've become) would not be too thrilled that this is the nurse the agency trusts her child with?

Report her, anonymously, if you insist. If they find out it was you and they deem you a troublemaker, walk away with your head held high, knowing you did the right thing.

It would be ideal to do it that way. But if I walk away, there is no other work around here right now. I'd lose my home and everything. Its only me. I wouldn't have anywhere to go if I became homeless.

But yes the agency would still view me as the troublemaker if I informed them that they have a felon taking care of children. One of the parents is a felon so I don't think that would bother them too much that they have a nurse that is a felon.

[SDALPN]

How long ago were the drug charges?

They were about 10 years ago.

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

No, let the BON do it's thing. I don't think it will take too long once they find out about the DUI, did you mention the drug felony as well?

[SDALPN]

Just want to say thanks for all the advice and great ideas! If anyone else has any other thoughts...keep em comin'! Enough is enough with this nurse!

[caliotter3]

I've worked for at least one agency where reported insurance fraud was only handled because the managers had to deal with the problem. But you can guess how the person was treated who informed them about the rampant illegal activity. As I saw it, they much preferred the presence of the nurses engaging in fraud. The nurse who reported was not exactly treated with respect. No good deed goes unpunished.

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

Actually, if the drug charges were 10 years ago, she could have been in a program and completed it, it's usually around 5years..so that may be irrelavent now, but still, the DUI is a big thing. She certainly should not be taking care of little kids in their homes without supervision...(she needs the supervision)...

[caliotter3]

Politics. Smile sweetly at the client's mother and let your words be honey from your mouth. At some point, inform her that you will be very happy to pick up any future open hours. After all, it isn't like you don't know it is a matter of time!

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Felony drug charges, DUI, friending the kid's parents on Facebook, talking about you and then posting negative things about you (defamation of character?), ......

This can bite you big time by association- if this chick tries to set up a way to divert meds from the kid, how do you know you won't be the target? Then it's she said- she said....

The ethical lack of boundaries about "friending" any patient is pretty bad. It sets up unspoken expectations from the parents... and will not end well for you.

Keep track of everything you do and say. Write it down w/dates & times. You don't have any witnesses, so your own documentation is the best you can do. If you can get out- do it.:) Protect your license....

[caliotter3]

I've read here several times that nurses in diversion programs are normally prevented from working in home health.

[SDALPN]

Felony drug charges, DUI, friending the kid's parents on Facebook, talking about you and then posting negative things about you (defamation of character?), ......

This can bite you big time by association- if this chick tries to set up a way to divert meds from the kid, how do you know you won't be the target? Then it's she said- she said....

The ethical lack of boundaries about "friending" any patient is pretty bad. It sets up unspoken expectations from the parents... and will not end well for you.

Keep track of everything you do and say. Write it down w/dates & times. You don't have any witnesses, so your own documentation is the best you can do. If you can get out- do it.:) Protect your license....

It was the parent who said the negative things, not the nurse. But I could do no wrong in this parents eyes until this nurse came.

Yeah, I'm worried about what else this nurse will do. I'm concerned about being a target for her misbehavior. I will be trying to get out of this case ASAP! But gotta have hours or I'll be homeless. Cant have that either.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

I've read here several times that nurses in diversion programs are normally prevented from working in home health.

It would make sense because of the restrictions on handling controlled substances....

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

I've read here several times that nurses in diversion programs are normally prevented from working in home health.

Cali, this is absolutely true for the Florida IPN, I would suspect it true of others as well.

However, we don't know if she is in a program--yet!...I would imagine-if this state is anything at all like FLorida--that she will be in one within the next 12 weeks....maybe a little longer for all of the red tape...she would need all of the evaluations, etc. But it should be coming...and bye bye home health...if she has to go to rehab..bye bye working anywhere for about 6 months.....