My co-worker stinks like gin every morning!

Good Morning, Gil · Mar 11, 2012

So you've addressed this in the past? Good. This is definitely a patient safety issue. If you can smell the liquor a mile away, she's definitely practicing nursing impaired even if she doesn't act impaired. Anybody else who doesn't drink regularly would look/act more impaired than she is, but this impairment is her normal.

You're going to have to address it again. I don't know how well you know her, but if you're close to her and feel comfortable bringing it up, then you could talk to her first? And, you need to tell management, as well. You have a duty to protect the patients in her care, and address the situation. This puts you in an awkward position, but ignoring the problem only has potential ramifications for her patients.

Unfortunately, addiction in nursing is not rare, which is why we have to waste our fentanyl syringes in the sink, etc. Sad. I hope your co-worker gets the help that she needs, but in the meantime, she can't be coming to work drunk.

diligent-trooper · Mar 11, 2012

My friend told a story about a unit manager that seemed to have the same issue. They were quite happy when it even meant the unit manager would fall asleep in the office. That way the unit manager would not come out and make a mess of the established routines and policies of the unit. I think all management should drink!:cheers:

Perpetual Student · Mar 11, 2012

Does she smell like she was up too late drinking or like she was hitting the bottle on the way in? Has this been her pattern for most of the time you've worked with her? Does she still function consistently well?

If management is aware and she isn't obviously impaired I wouldn't bring it up again, but I like to avoid drama. A patient will eventually complain and that might force management to take it more seriously. However you cut it, it's an ugly situation.

It's quite sad that she apparently has such a severe drinking problem. I hope she's able to get the help that she evidently needs.

Lynx25, LPN · Mar 11, 2012

My friend told a story about a unit manager that seemed to have the same issue. They were quite happy when it even meant the unit manager would fall asleep in the office. That way the unit manager would not come out and make a mess of the established routines and policies of the unit. I think all management should drink!:cheers:

Awe... mine drinks RedBull ALL DAY LONG and sprints around like a manic bunny.

On topic, that's a very awkward situation, and I suppose the only real way to prove anything would be a breathalizer.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 11, 2012

My comment is that its been allowed to go on for 15 years!!!!????

sapphire18 · Mar 11, 2012

I would address it again. Even if she's not impaired, the smell is a problem, and if I were her patient I would definitely make it known to important people that my nurse smells like booze. Yuck.

netglow, ASN, RN · Mar 11, 2012

Someone I know was accused of drinking when, it was the spritz she used in her hair that had a slight similar scent to it. She "looked" tired too. She had a family member in critical condition and her faced showed the exhaustion and worry. I still remember her telling me about it. They were unusually cruel to her I believe because they were looking to find a problem... I will always remember the person who put her through that, and, it's not good to be on my radar.

OP, I'd just try and keep your own nose clean unless you see real evidence of impairment. Those in glass houses...

Merlyn · Mar 11, 2012

I would address it again. Even if she's not impaired, the smell is a problem, and if I were her patient I would definitely make it known to important people that my nurse smells like booze. Yuck.

Is her patient care suffering? If it is, Time to go though the chain of command again. It is the hardest thing in the world to accuse someone you have work with of being unfit for duty. Maybe, and I know this is hell, just ask her if she drinks before work and why?

DemonWings · Mar 11, 2012

Thats scary, I know if I were her patient it would make me pretty nervous. I think you should do as many posters above stated, you need to move it up the food chain.

It is possible that shes not drinking the day of, but the night before. However a nurse who is hungover everyday is an issue as well, I dont drink these days but when I did in my younger days hungover may as well have been drunk for me, I always felt off.

The alcohol is probably seeping out of her pores. If my husband has one drink after work I can smell it on him, not his breath but he littlerally sweats it out, and its disgusting to me.

Hope she gets the help she needs and her patients get the care they deserve from a nurse with all their faculties in check.

pawsomepooch47 · Mar 11, 2012

My comment is that its been allowed to go on for 15 years!!!!????

She has worked at my hospital for 30 years and as long as I've known her this has been a problem. As an aside, her mother was also a nurse at our hospital, also drank on the job(I'm told) and eventually died of liver failure(I took care of her!) I work in a hospital in an alcohol soaked small town and I think the culture revolves around ETOH so much, they don't even know it's bad behavior some times. (I am not from there.) Like I said she disappeared for several weeks after the first time I (and others) complained. Slowly we are back to square one and apparently none of our supervisors have a sense of smell.

pawsomepooch47 · Mar 11, 2012

Is her patient care suffering? If it is, Time to go though the chain of command again. It is the hardest thing in the world to accuse someone you have work with of being unfit for duty. Maybe, and I know this is hell, just ask her if she drinks before work and why?

I could NEVER address her directly. We aren't the best of friends to begin with, for obvious reasons.