Never thought I'd see this on the unit...

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Specializes in NICU.

So I'm in charge last night, I'm at the desk talking to our clinical coordinator and a few other nurses, when all of a sudden - all of us notice a "rather distinctive drug smell" coming from down the hall. We all look at each other like "are you really smelling what I'm smelling...???"

So we walk down the hallway - and sure enough - the closer we got to one of our parent rooms (where by the way - a set of parents were staying overnight WITH THEIR BABY IN THEIR WITH THEM), and the smell got stronger and stronger.

At this point, most of the other nurses on the unit have noticed it too - all the way down to the far end of our unit. So we call security up to our unit. As soon as they set foot on the unit - they both start sniffing the air - they noticed it immediately.

Long story short... security went into the parent room (with our clinical coordinator). At first the parents denied it. However, once mom and dad were split up - mom confessed to smoking it in the bathroom. They were asked to leave for the night, the baby was brought back into the unit room. Our manager was called - and she said for us (or security) not to call the police on them (why - we have no idea). We also paged our social worker on-call for the night.

Baby was supposed to go home today. Not so much anymore.

I mean come on... it's one thing for parents to come in off the street reeking of that - but to do it on the unit, with your baby in the room with you.... seriously. :confused: :nono:

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Specializes in Level III NICU.

We heard of a parent smoking it up in empty rooms on the PP unit recently. And we've had people smoking cigarettes in the vistor bathroom that is right outside our unit, shared with L&D. What is wrong with people??

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).
:smokin::sasq:
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Hey, if people can have sex in their room:rolleyes: . . why not light up too? :smokin:

Seriously though - poor baby. These people are so self-centered.

steph

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Specializes in NICU.

We had someone smoking CRACK in the conference room last year. Must admit, not sure how someone identified that smell from down the hall, as I was told it happened, but maybe that's just because I've never smelled it.

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Specializes in NICU.

Wh ha?

We had a dad bring an open bottle of vodka to his baby's bedside. It was in a brown paper baggie because that doesn't look suspicious at all:bugeyes:

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Pretty amazing. And not in a good way!

I see CPS in their future!

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All I can think is OMG are you serious??? People DO these things??? I think I need to pick my jaw up off the desk now...

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Specializes in Level III NICU.
All I can think is OMG are you serious??? People DO these things??? I think I need to pick my jaw up off the desk now...

Oh yeah, people do that. And more. You won't believe it til you see it. I think we should all get together and write a book. Although we'd have to make it a series, it wouldn't all fit in one book!

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Specializes in NICU.

Unfortunately, the smoking is more of a problem in the hospital than WHAT they were smoking!

CPS doesn't get involved if mom is only positive for cannabis. At least, in this part of the world.

Sad, isn't it!

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Specializes in NICU.

Well - the baby ended up going home with the parents 2 days later. I wasn't here for it, so I don't know all of the details.

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