Sex in the workplace.....what do YOU think should be done?

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · May 7, 2012

Recently, at our small community hospital, the only hospitalist on the 7p-7a shift wasn't answering his pager when a CCU nurse was looking for him about a patient. After several attempts to reach him, she went looking for him, thinking he might be sleeping(that's allowed) Upon hearing voices behind the sleep room door, she summoned the Nsg supervisor, who found the door to be locked. She in turn got a maintenance man to unlock the door. Behind the door, she found quite a sight. The hospitalist and an off duty nurse. She was naked, he scrambling for his clothes. Both are married--not to each other.
She was given a mere 2 days suspension. He works for a physicians group that staffs hospitals, and we have not seen him since.
She has worked for the hospital for many years. What do YOU think should happen to her?

From the way you worded the post, it seems you don't believe her punishment was severe enough. But really, why do you even care? Did it affect you in any way?

DizzyLizzyNurse · May 7, 2012

It would depend on the hospital policy.
And how the manager will deem to interpret it and enforce it.
In most facilities , the nurse would be out the door. And the BON would impose fines and possible suspension for lack of good moral character.
I am surprised at previous posts that make light of this.The nurse clearly has moral issues and lack of judgement.

Fire her. Her presence in the hospital (by keeping the hospitalist away from his primary duties) indirectly affected patient care. Also, there are many unemployed nurses out there that would be more than happy to take her job and take it more seriously.

Um it takes 2 to tango. I love that the nurse is "Keeping him away from his duties" instead of calling the doc responsible. If she (who wasn't even on duty) gets punished the doc should DEFINITELY also receive punishment.

If they want to cheat on their spouses that is their decision. It's not up to the hospital or their coworkers to make moral decisions for them.

Also why didn't that nurse just knock?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 7, 2012

I still can't believe all the people here who are defending their behavior. I suspect some people in this thread who have done exactly what this couple did.
There is a time and a place for everything and having sex at your place of work is unacceptable....unless you are a Media star. What is wrong with some of you?!?

Nope....I have never found the alley cat, I'll do anything that moves, my type. Have I ever dated a MD? Yes once.....only at home, away from the hospital and when he was NOT on call. It was still a pain and his beeper was the primary female in the relationship. NOt for ME!

kweklove · May 7, 2012

Hahahaha

netglow, ASN, RN · May 7, 2012

I'm with the "high-five" group. Pretty sure that the "RN on a mission" was seriously PO'd that she wasn't the one in there with the guy.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · May 7, 2012

Why are you so concerned about what should be done to her? Why is there no mention of what should be done to HIM? Its takes two to you know what...if anyone should be in more trouble its HIM, she was the one off the clock; not him. Her suspension was served, its non of your business of she should get a more harsh punishment. And why didn't the CCU nurse just knock?

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · May 7, 2012

It would depend on the hospital policy.
And how the manager will deem to interpret it and enforce it.
In most facilities , the nurse would be out the door. And the BON would impose fines and possible suspension for lack of good moral character.
I am surprised at previous posts that make light of this.The nurse clearly has moral issues and lack of judgement.

Ok, just exactly WHY is there no mention whatsoever in your post of the doctor's "moral issues and lack of judgment?" Talk about the ole double standard. :rolleyes:

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 7, 2012

i have one thing to say.... "i don't get my honey...where i get my money" it never ends well. btw, ...

happy nurses week~

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · May 7, 2012

Also why didn't that nurse just knock?

That appears to be the $10,000 question.

Pretty sure that the "RN on a mission" was seriously PO'd that she wasn't the one in there with the guy.

And there we have it.

Or, the CCU nurse loves drama, knew what was going on, and just wanted to bust them so that she and her other friends would have something to cluck about in the break room. This will probably last them quite awhile, especially since the nurse was not fired and will still be subject to all the gossip and finger pointing.

NDnocRN · May 7, 2012

I think the actions of the CCU nurse, Nursing Supervisor and maintenance man are more disturbing than that of the doctor and nurse caught in the act. Why would you not first knock on the door? Especially upon hearing voices in the room....she knew he was in there. It seems that the CCU nurse was "out to get someone" and enlisted the help of the supervisor and maintenance guy. Not condoning the other party's behavior, but two wrongs don't make a right!

nurseaig, ASN, BSN, MSN, NP · May 7, 2012

The OP is not a team player. She miss a teaching moment and the common sense to protect her fellow colleagues from embracement.LOL just a joke. Embarrassment.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · May 7, 2012

This goes on in practically every hospital, just as it does everywhere else. I don't condone sex in the workplace, esp. when patients are neglected, but the nurse's punishment is not your concern. I also agree there seems to be a double standard here. I worked in a large teaching hospital, and this issue was rampant there. We were even warned in nursing school not to get involved with the interns and residents, implying that the nurse would be the one to get hurt in the end. Saw it happen many times. The docs would move on, without the nurse. (Actually, it happens between other workers in the hospital, not just doctors and nurses. We once had a baby in the PICU, and the mother was caught on film having sex with one of the employees~ in the stairwell!)