My coworker was high and got away with it

[Volley88]

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.

[Julius Seizure]

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

You are starting to confuse me by posting this on every thread. I keep running into your comments and thinking I most have read this post before when I haven't.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

What were you doing snooping around like that; I think it's great you have so much time you can accidently look into someone's phone: you got karmed.

1. cell phones turn themselves off so you must have turned it on behind his back

2. now you have created a don't trust that person because I wouldn't

3. Do you seriously think us techies believe your story; you saw means you turned his phone on and looked at his text messages ...terrible.

The behavior is terrible. He sounds like an excellent nurse. Maybe nursing is not your calling: perhaps spy work.

"Has been working for our unit...," do you own the unit?

[TriciaJ, RN]

How did you see his phone? Do you normally look at his phone? Does he leave things for you to find? Did he set you up to look stupid?

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

I would NEVER trust you again if you were my coworker! You must want to be viewed as a good little employee by your manager.I usually am very understanding and allow others to be human but when you start messing with someone's ability to earn a living the claws come out! By the way even if he was high on pot it does not make someone unable to function.

[Avid reader]

Sounds like you are a nosy parker and have been found out. Could it possibly be you were set up and now everyone has become aware of your tendencies? What must your manager now think of you for embarrassing her and of course the entire unit knows especially re the end result of nothing found. If I worked there, I would be extremely guarded around you! Also, where did you learn such outrageous behaviors?

[Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN]

By the way even if he was high on pot it does not make someone unable to function.

Uh...yes? At least at the level expected for competent patient care.

[MissouriRN13]

This is what is wrong with nursing. Busy bodies who think they need to get in everybody's business. You should leave it alone.

[JKL33]

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.

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.

[Emergent, RN]

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.

You need to never look at anyone else's phone again, that's what you should do. That is indefensible behavior! MYOB!

[rescueninja1987]

If I were in his shoes I would be furious. I wouldn't be surprised if this came back to bite you later on. For what it's worth, I once reported the same concern to a nurse manager, but in my case the person was diaphoretic, flushed, shaky and wearing long sleeves in the summer. That is when you start bringing up the possibility of someone's being impaired, when you have reason to believe they aren't capable of providing care as they should. But this...this is just ridiculous. You go looking for trouble and you'll find it in a hurry.

[Purple_roses]

I'm surprised you reported someone over a snap chat that you saw while sneaking a peak at his phone. That's a serious accusation. You've probably made yourself a couple of enemies now.

[Julius Seizure]

"Has been working for our unit...," do you own the unit?

Not that I disagree with the rest of your post, but OP didn't say "my" unit. "Our" implies group, as in, it is the unit that belongs to all the nurses/techs/staff that work there day-to-day. That is typical phrasing. Even saying "my" unit wouldn't have been inappropriate because it can still mean "the unit that I work on day-to-day".