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.
For all you elderly know-it-alls: SNAPCHAT STORIES ARE PUBLIC, it's like Facebook or Instagram. That's not snooping.... Last edit by esrun77 on Apr 24 : Reason: Forgot to tell the old people about snapchat
Unbelievable. After I read this, the OP is not the one I'd be worried about. Here we have a nurse (you) who is totally disrespectful of "elderly know-it-alls" and "old people". I sure hope you don't treat your elderly patient like this. I am certain I don't ever want you to be my nurse. And yes, I'm 61. I've also been around the block a few times. Does that surprise you? I bet it does.
The only thing that ran thru my head the whole time reading this was, "Why were you even looking in this man's phone to start with?" As stated by many others, if nothing was suspected, let it go, unless it's real legit. Otherwise, asides from all that, last I checked, your patients should be your concern. None of us get paid top dollar to be playing Nancy Drew, snooping in our coworkers personal affairs.
You "figuring out he was high" based of a Snapchat/text on his personal phone is wrong to begin with. Secondly, after you voiced your concern to a charge nurse or higher up, why were YOU part of any further investigation? You stated that WE checked his notes, interviewed his patients, and looked through his Pyxis dispenses... This all seems like you're going out of your way to try and get him in trouble... Where I work, this is a big no-no, and if you did that to me or one of my coworkers, your next couple of months would definitely be pretty tough...
Mind your own freaking business! Who do you think you are? Go to work, do your job and leave. You saw something on his phone and you assumed the worst. You are a perfect example of what is wrong in nursing. Nurses turning on nurses. You have no clue what you could have done to his career based on a assumption. You need to THINK before you SPEAK. Do us all a favor and find another career!
I think you should actively pursue this so your coworkers and HR can see what kind of snake in the grass you're acting like. If you don't have proof, stop being such a busy body. It is people such as yourself that hold nursing back as a profession constantly undercutting one of your own. If they were high and you had concrete proof then you might have a case, but clearly you are just acting like a child.
You don't have any proof so leave it alone and you spoke too soon. Concrete proof is your best source and its not there. It will catch up to him and one time may not be evident but over time, it will impair judgment and if he thinks nobody can catch him... well he will get caught one day. So protect yourself and don't set up people to go against you. Just take care of yourself and make sure your patients are taken care of.
No, she didn't! She got into someone else's business based on a Snapchat pic! If she was so sure ,why did she let him help her with hanging an IV? She also put a pt at risk! That makes her an accomplice. How about that? OP needs to stop and go get a life! After the investigation , nothing was found and yet she won't stop. Why is she so desperate to put her coworker in trouble? This stinks of jealousy. If she really dislikes what she saw on Snapchat, the simple solution is to stop following him and block him. I don't even believe any of this had anything to do with pt safety. I couldn't help but notice that they went on lunch break at the same time, they happened to be leaving the facility at the same time and one of them is following the other on Snapchat.#justsaying#ðŸ˜
That's horrible. So pretty much everyone covers for each other when they are not in the right state of mind? Even though "Jon" seemed fine that day, what about the day he isn't? Then what?
Don't come to work high on any substance period! Then you won't have to worry about losing your job/career.
Do that on your own time, not the patients time.
What proof do you have that he was high other than "He was eating edibles on his snapchat" or "he texted his friend saying he was." It literally makes no sense. You're focusing too much on what Jon is doing outside of work which has nothing to do with you, did you miss the part where the OP said he completed his assigned work, and even a little more than he was suppose to? You're so worried about Jons work not being safe for his patients, yet the OP is running around the hospital watching every move Jon is making while HER patients are not being taken care of which is something she's doing on her PATIENTS time, not her PERSONAL time.
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
Wow, your behavior makes you sound like a real jerk. I'd never want to work with someone like you ever. Your behavior makes you sound totally paranoid and nosey. If I was your coworker I would write you up and let you know about slander, you can be sued for making false clamis about someone. You have no evidence other than circumstantial that he was high and why the heck were you snooping on his phone?
John might be now be watching for the perfect moment for you to f up and throw you under the bus and feel pretty good about it afterward.
I too have a medical condition and have been accused of being high on more than one occasion. I HAVE been drug tested and ALWAYS test negative. I have lost jobs in the past and right now may lose a job because of this. Do I have resentments......HELL YES!!! My life as nurse has Ben challenging due to my health issues......I just hope those who have accused me never have to go through what I go through every day. Karma is a *****!
Malia BSN, RN
8 Posts
Unbelievable. After I read this, the OP is not the one I'd be worried about. Here we have a nurse (you) who is totally disrespectful of "elderly know-it-alls" and "old people". I sure hope you don't treat your elderly patient like this. I am certain I don't ever want you to be my nurse. And yes, I'm 61. I've also been around the block a few times. Does that surprise you? I bet it does.