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.
I'm not one to jump into confrontation here but seriously?! He could have been making jokes about "getting high" on his PERSONAL phone with HIS FRIENDS, which is HIS BUSINESS and not yours.
My friends and I make jokes to one another all the time about that stuff and none of us do drugs, and I do not even drink. Example: I've made jokes with my hubby after locking my keys in my car for the millionth time-"oh man I should really lay off all the drugs, babe, matter of fact I locked those in the car too!" And the reason why I say stuff like that (to people in my PERSONAL life) is because I do not do any drugs at all. So for all you know, he could have been being facetious and making fun of himself eating "edibles" that were not even drugs, because it was a ridiculous holiday.
Anywho, I suggest you worry about your own life and your own job. You did what you thought was right but now you would be taking it way, way too far, if you keep poking your nose in his business.
Sadly this does not "seem" the place to deliberate the absurd hypocrisy surrounding marijuana use/laws/morality etc...personally...I would much rather work with somebody that smokes a little weed than a drinker or even a cigarette smoker for that matter...also...ever seen a person "jonsing" for a cigarette...again the unabashed hypocrisy of our society is mind boggling...then again alcohol and cigarettes being legal and absolutely doing nothing but killing people keeps me in a good cardiac job ������
It is absurd, the drug scheduling laws have absolutely nothing to do with anyones' health. They were signed into law by Richard Nixon for the sole purpose of aiding law enforcement. Cigarettes and alcohol were specifically excluded as those who passed laws drank and smoked. The DEA, having failed miserably in making even a dent on their little war on drugs puffed up stats on opiates to wage their current war on doctors, doctors don't shoot back and have revenue to seize. Now everytime little Johnny overdoses we create a new law, Heaven forbid anyone ever take ownership of their addictions.
Astounded at your reported involvement in this, which is completely inappropriate. If you had a concern ("concern" means observing odd behavior and/or unsafe patient care and the like...) you would have a duty to inquire about it and then inform your superior or follow the chain of command if it is a legitimate concern, and then your duty is satisfied. You literally have zero business doing the things you report in the paragraph above, and I'm not one bit kidding. If others are so inclined, you actually could find yourself in hot water for having accessed lots of PHI without any legitimate reason to do so.
Unbelievable. If I were your manager I would ask HR to relieve you of your position.
Good grief these ppl are nuts. You did the right thing. As far as advice... you did what you could do and you could either leave it alone or you could report the behavior of Jon and the others to a higher authority. You could even do it anonymously if that makes you more comfortable.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Regarding the above post from Countrygirl: No one is "nuts" here. And I don't call people "nuts" who disagree with me; that adds nothing to the discussion.
Regarding the OP: She had no business running an investigation on her coworker. She was WAY out of line! It's up to mgt/administration and human resources to investigate AS THEY SEE FIT, period. She is out of line and out of her element. Her involvement should have ended at reporting it.
Again, I say, everyone in health care should be required to have continuing education, at least every 1-3 years, on addiction and diversion of medications. So many misjudgments and much misinformation among our profession is dangerous. To be able to recognize when a coworker may be in trouble, and possibly save a life, critical. This OP was not interested in anyone's wellbeing. She was being a busybody.
If OP knew he consumed pot right before work based on a Snapchat story that he knowingly sent to her, then she did the right thing by reporting it.
Lets educate you a bit; MANY things can be made with pot. How did the OP know for CERTAIN they were pot brownies unless she was partying with Jon and consumed some herself? Many people joke about being high without ever being high.
Critical thinking includes not taking action on an ASSUMPTION unless you have VERIFIED it with EVIDENCE.
"Jon" provided excellent care. Even helped Ms. Nosy with her patients. Showed no outward signs of being insanely high. The unfair manhunt on Jon concluded that he did nothing wrong to harm a patient, or complete his duties.
Sorry OP but not sorry. I've lived with high. When your "parent" is too high on perscription drugs and alchohol that she has you running around town at 3AM frantically trying to locate where the hell she is before she kills herself, THAT is high.
You were in the wrong. Keep your eyes to yourself and your personal opinions unless you can back them up with actual facts.
Enjoying a few edibles on the blessed day of 4/20 on your off hours does not mean you're high the next day.
I would truly hope that you have never smoked a cigarette, taken a sip of alchohol, or answered a text while driving with that attitude.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Good grief these ppl are nuts. You did the right thing. As far as advice... you did what you could do and you could either leave it alone or you could report the behavior of Jon and the others to a higher authority. You could even do it anonymously if that makes you more comfortable.
This post reminded me of something funny I read today.
"If you go to WalMart and you don't see any weird people, does that make YOU the weird person??"
This is different, usually the pack mentality the forms on internet forums has nurses vehemently defending pt safety, with the insistence that all potential pt safety issues are to be reported for investigation.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
This is different, usually the pack mentality the forms on internet forums has nurses vehemently defending pt safety, with the insistence that all potential pt safety issues are to be reported for investigation.
I think the difference here is there were no concerns for patient safety as the nurse had not exhibited any unsafe behaviors. Quiet the opposite actually. The "concern for safety" came from what could have been joking images on social media and laughing and winking with a co-worker. Being that we tend to work hard for our careers and so much can be lost with false allegations, I think that is why the pack this time is defending the nurse.
The OP did not list anything the nurse himself did in the present that was worrisome or made one believe patient safety was at risk.
:p 
:sarcastic:
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whatdayisit11to7Nrse
47 Posts
I'm not one to jump into confrontation here but seriously?! He could have been making jokes about "getting high" on his PERSONAL phone with HIS FRIENDS, which is HIS BUSINESS and not yours.
My friends and I make jokes to one another all the time about that stuff and none of us do drugs, and I do not even drink. Example: I've made jokes with my hubby after locking my keys in my car for the millionth time-"oh man I should really lay off all the drugs, babe, matter of fact I locked those in the car too!" And the reason why I say stuff like that (to people in my PERSONAL life) is because I do not do any drugs at all. So for all you know, he could have been being facetious and making fun of himself eating "edibles" that were not even drugs, because it was a ridiculous holiday.
Anywho, I suggest you worry about your own life and your own job. You did what you thought was right but now you would be taking it way, way too far, if you keep poking your nose in his business.