when your patient is a nurse

[aeauooo]

A couple of months ago a patient was admitted to my unit with a diagnosis of overdose. The patient's urine tox was positive for a number of drugs including at least one illicit substance.

The ED nurse made a big stink that this patient was a nurse and that she was going to notify the state board that the patient had been admitted with overdose and a positive tox screen.

Aside from the fact that I found the ED nurse's behavior to be self-righteous and extremely offensive, I also believed that by contacting the state board to 'narc' on this patient she would be violating the patient's right to confidentiality.

Let me add this caveat; I am a recovering alcoholic. I got sober after a colleague, who is also a recovering alcoholic, came to me and told me he thought I had a drinking problem.

How should we advocate for our colleagues who have substance abuse problems?

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

I am a firm believer that people have the right to do whatever they want in the privacy of their own home, or 'off duty' and not putting any others at risk. I am not the moral police, or big brother, if someone wants to drink or use recreational extras and they are adults, so be it. If it were the teacher or bus driver and they were on their own time, who am I to pass judgment ? now if they left the bar to drive the bus, different story of course.

As far as the OP is concerned, the ER nurse has a lot of nerve to pass judgment and potentially rat her fellow nurse out to the BON. If she was truly concerned or caring she would assess her needs and help her with some MSW, EPA, rehab, whatever resources, assistance she could, not try to effectively ruin her career/life like some holier than thou.

I think the nurse needs to be ratted out for her callous and almost hurtful behavior/actions.

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

I have a question. What would anyone do if a police officer showed up, in your ER, out of uniform, drunk or high? Would you report him to your local law enforcement agency? I understand the concern of HIPPA but it is either blamed for not doing something or used as an excuse for not doing something. I really don't know if reporting a nurse for a drug over dose or illict drugs, even when she is not working, is a violation of HIPPA. I would think that protecting potential patient trumps her right to privacy. But I don't know. But I do know where to find out the answer.

Woody:twocents:

I don't understand how you are protecting the "potential" patient. Are you going to interview the cop or nurse, say when is your next shift, decide if they will be "intoxicated or high". Oh, if they're off for a couple of days, its ok,??? .... or are you also assuming they do this every day, and are 'under the influence' while on the job as well ??? No one who serves the public may ever go above a 0.8 or use narcotics even if they were prescribed because of the 'potential' patient?? Maybe one should be more concerned about treating the patient rather than the nurse/cop/doctor/teacher.....fill in the blank.

So if you do know where to find out the answer, please share