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.
Don't listen to these people!! You did the right thing!! If you see something, even unintentionally and personal, and it could affect patient care, you need to pursue it. YOU DID THE RIGHT THING.
You saw the edibles on his snapchat for goodness' sake. For all you elderly know-it-alls: SNAPCHAT STORIES ARE PUBLIC, it's like Facebook or Instagram. That's not snooping. Also, you saw his reaction to the individual at the end of the shift. It's very likely he was high. If it were my family he was taking care of and I knew there was suspicious behavior, I would be thankful to you, and that's all that matters.
There's not much more you can do at this point. But I will say it again: you did the right thing.
So reporting the concerns was the right thing to do. And there ended the right thing. No company wants one employee doing their own little investigation into their peer. HR departments have official channels to handle these issues via. It's likely by doing these things she was breaking the law- HIPAA, and possibly slander. Not to mention, ignoring her job duties. This is more likely than the "highly likely" outcome that he was high, as you say.
Watching him eat edibles on a snapchat story (snapchat stories are public...) is KIIIIIND of more than hearsay, if I do say so myself
Sorry, I just can't get past the elderly know-it-all's .
Unless the OP actually saw that Jon was impaired at work, it's heresay. I don't believe that my sister-in-law has the picture perfect life she posts on FB either, or the tongue-in-cheek pics my brother posts in Snapchat either.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
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??
If someone smiles, laughs or winks hours after eating the suspicious food it was a pot brownie.Duh!! :p
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??
You're right, you can't tell by looking at the brownie if it's a pot brownie. I gave OP the benefit of the doubt in that respect since she clearly labeled them as edibles, maybe there was additional information that explicitly denoted the brownies as pot brownies within the snap, such as a caption. Also, Snapchat stories are visible to the people you're following, and if OP was following her coworker then she wasn't looking through his phone, just checking her Snapchat updates.
So If I had a beer with dinner, then was working a day or two later, you would refuse that I take care of your grandma because of the IPA I had with dinner yesterday or the day before?
Are you having trouble reading? Or are you just trying to twist my words? For kicks and giggles, I'll repeat myself: my concern is with getting drunk before work, not outside of work on your own time.
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:p 
:laugh:
blondy2061h, MSN, RN
1 Article; 4,094 Posts
So reporting the concerns was the right thing to do. And there ended the right thing. No company wants one employee doing their own little investigation into their peer. HR departments have official channels to handle these issues via. It's likely by doing these things she was breaking the law- HIPAA, and possibly slander. Not to mention, ignoring her job duties. This is more likely than the "highly likely" outcome that he was high, as you say.