My coworker was high and got away with it

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Happy 4/20 I guess?

This particular RN (I'll name him Jon) has been working for our unit for two years. We work in a MedSurg unit at a county hospital. Apparently, we DONT do drug tests at all.

Our morning was going fine, we both took report in the same area and had our breaks at the same time. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary (aside from saying "I'm sleepy/tired," but we all say it). Jon did one discharge and completed one admit. He helped me start an IV for one of my patients and cosigned my insulin.

It wasn't until lunch I noticed Jon's phone Snapchat(?) of him consuming edibles. I also saw Jon's text messages saying "he was still high this morning."

I immediately went to the charge nurse and reported my discovery. Our charge nurse was in disbelief and found it difficult to believe. We confronted Jon and he denied everything.

Our charge nurse discreetly followed up on his patients, and they reported nothing but excellent nursing care. We checked his charting and everything was within policy. We also checked all his pyxis pulls and there were no discrepancies. Lastly, we privately spoke to an MD that Jon was speaking to in the morning who also reported that his behavior was completely normal.

I apologized to Jon as there were no evidence of him being high towards the end of the shift. As we were leaving the hospital, one of Jon's friends (from another unit), came up to him and ask him about his 4/20. I saw Jon winked and nodded. I got upset and just left.

The next day, I reported it to the charge. She said to leave it alone since there wasn't any proof and no patients were harmed. I am not sure what else to do at this point.

Sounds about right, as we say in AA when we point our finger at someone else the remaining fingers all point back at us.

@ Kooky Korky, 4/20 has become an informal sort of 'holiday' for pot smokers. The idea is they all light up on 4/20 (more so than usual.) Edibles are food laced with marijuana AKA Alice B. Toklas brownies.

In California the pot smokers were really excited this year given it was legalized November 2016...well, excited for pot smokers, they were not getting off the couch to have smoke-outs that I'm aware of.

Not sure how to edit the post so I can add my clarifications, but reposting this.

Sorry I should clarify a few things

1. Jon is known to be the party go-er in our unit. All my unit does, is talk about partying and going for 4/20.

2. To explain the text message. It was during our lunch break. Jon's friend sent him a nursing related meme/photo. Jon showed me the meme/photo. Directly above the meme was a text message saying to his friend that Jon was "I am still high at work."

3. I have snapchat on my phone I saw him physically eating edibles on story. (EDIT) With the caption "Happy 4/20"

4. I showed the charge nurse, but she doesn't fully understand edibles. I would assume he deleted it after I confronted him.

I wonder if this was a joke on his part (the Snapchat/text stuff). I have some inside jokes with my close friends that, if taken out of context, render me someone who should not be allowed in public at all.

I really did have to laugh out loud over this (bold) as I am sure that if someone were to randomly go through my phone they'd be wondering about me too! And I've definitely had enough Girls' Nights Out that have left some of my kind wondering if they should 528 my butt, although none of it involved illegal drugs.

On a side note I had no idea what "consuming edibles" would be that would be drug-related, I was thinking "what the heck else does one consume if not edibles???"

Once again, I learned something unfortunate today.

Specializes in MDS/ UR.

I see the allure of living off the grid.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

First and foremost....I have trouble wrapping my head around the current ob cession with sharing everything online...whether or not it "stays". I have been very clear to my kids what is acceptable as public information.

I have been a nurse for a very LONG time and although I have worked with people who were impaired at work...they were taken aside by management PRIVATELY with NO involvement of staff even if they reported it.

Making accusations against another staff member should have more evidence than some online Snapchat/FB pictures of the staff member eating a brownie with a tag line of 4/20. Accusing another nurse of being impaired at work is a serious undertaking especially when you think of the consequences if you are wrong and the accused looses their job and license.

As a nurse and manager if I received a report of another nurse being impaired I would NEVER involve the staff. Legally, the accused employee has rights of privacy. If the "investigation" included the OP the accused staff member could have a leg to stand on for litigation.

Although I believe the OP followed their conscience and reported what they felt was an issue...I think that, in reality, a few pictures; winking in the parking lot; and a picture eating a brownie with a tag line of 4/20...does not make anyone guilty of being impaired at work. So what if he had a text "I'm still high" that is NOT proof of impairment. The charge nurse and/or supervisor that included the OP in the investigation and questioning the MD very unprofessional.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

MODERATOR NOTE:

Some posts have been deleted.

Allnurses promotes lively debate....this means you are free to disagree with anyone on any type of subject matter as long as your criticism is constructive and polite. Additionally, please refrain from name-calling. This is divisive, rude, and derails the thread.

Our first priority is to the members that have come here because of the flame-free atmosphere we provide. There is a zero-tolerance policy here against personal attacks. We will not tolerate anyone insulting other's opinion nor name calling.

Our call is to be supportive, not divisive. Further posts will be deleted and points assigned

This. Think twice before getting involved in speculation of this nature. I've worked with people who have often joked around, even for the ears/eyes of a third party. That does not mean that what they are talking about actually did, or will, happen.
his job and career and this mess happens to regular patients all the time.

OP I think you did the right thing. He should have been reported. Better safe than sorry. If he is posting on social media of eating edibles, he did it to himself.

Stupid question... I'm typing on my phone right now. The screen is maybe 2.some"×4.some" Looking at a picture that size or smaller, how in hades do you distinguish a pot brownie from a Betty Crocker brownie??

Careful. Next investigation may involve Betty Crocker.

Specializes in ICU.
Not sure how to edit the post so I can add my clarifications, but reposting this.

Sorry I should clarify a few things

1. Jon is known to be the party go-er in our unit. All my unit does, is talk about partying and going for 4/20.

2. To explain the text message. It was during our lunch break. Jon's friend sent him a nursing related meme/photo. Jon showed me the meme/photo. Directly above the meme was a text message saying to his friend that Jon was "I am still high at work."

3. I have snapchat on my phone I saw him physically eating edibles on story. (EDIT) With the caption "Happy 4/20"

4. I showed the charge nurse, but she doesn't fully understand edibles. I would assume he deleted it after I confronted him.

far fetched. If I saw a white powdery substance on someone's countertop with a description of the picture saying it's time to hit the slopes, I am not going to jump to conclusions they are about to do lines of cocaine. It could a a flipping joke and that white substance can be flour.

In short, mind your own business because it can get you caught up in a lot of unnecessary heartache.

If you are upset he did not invite you move on.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Not sure how to edit the post so I can add my clarifications, but reposting this.

Sorry I should clarify a few things

1. Jon is known to be the party go-er in our unit. All my unit does, is talk about partying and going for 4/20.

2. To explain the text message. It was during our lunch break. Jon's friend sent him a nursing related meme/photo. Jon showed me the meme/photo. Directly above the meme was a text message saying to his friend that Jon was "I am still high at work."

3. I have snapchat on my phone I saw him physically eating edibles on story. (EDIT) With the caption "Happy 4/20"

4. I showed the charge nurse, but she doesn't fully understand edibles. I would assume he deleted it after I confronted him.

You just don't get it; this is NONE of your business.

+ Add a Comment