She Snapped...

I have a coworker, we'll call her Sarah. Sarah has been causing a lot of problems at work lately.

About two weeks ago, she came in and told me that she was exhausted, and that if I wanted her to work her next scheduled shift, she needed to go home early. I didn't care for the phrasing of her request - it seemed more like a demand, than a request, after all. I allowed it to happen anyway, since there was an extra nurse in the building to take her place.

Fast forward two weeks. I hear talk from another supervisor that Sarah has been especially negative this past week, especially when faced with an admission earlier in the week (something that is expected of all nurses in this particular facility, and Sarah has also demonstrated she is able to complete, just unwilling to do so). She appears OK when I come in for my shift, but approximately 5 hours into her shift, she begins complaining to another nurse that she doesn't feel well. Since I was in another part of the building, that nurse calls me. She tells me that her VS are abnormal and that she "just doesn't look right." I'm immediately concerned, so I check on her. She appeared to not be any acute distress, but she c/o feeling short of breath. I asked her if she wanted me to call an ambulance to take her to the ED. Sarah says no. She appears to be undecided about what to do, so I make the decision for her. I told her to count with another nurse, give them report and go to the ED.

She comes in the next day for her scheduled shift. She appears OK and tells me that she's feeling much better today.

Less than two hours into the shift, she confronts another supervisor when that supervisor notifies her that one of the people she is caring for is unhappy and making complaints about her. I happen to overhear the conversation, and the following all-out implosion on her part. She yells, threatens and uses profanities during her confrontation...that supervisor comes to find me (and to put space between the two of them). I then find myself in a front-row seat for another ten minute rage. Once she had finished, I waited until she left the room and contacted the director. I explained to her what had just occurred, and let her know that I wanted to send her home, since I did not feel that it was safe for her to be providing care to anyone, given her current attitude, behavior, and her inability to calm down and have a rational discussion. She agreed. I found a nurse to take her spot first, and then told her that I needed her to go home. She first persisted, making excuses as to why she could not leave yet, but I told her the director wanted her to go home. She then notified me about 15 minutes later that she was done, and that she was officially quitting (without a notice). (Although I wasn't certain at this time that she hadn't just been terminated.)

I later found out that Sarah has a history of similar behavior. She has apparently bounced around at this facility, and was given "one last chance" about six months before this incident. I have noticed that she is very good at acting remorseful and pleading her case, when necessary. It's honestly quite frightening that someone with such a short fuse was caring for so many people.

A lesson in professionalism...never implode on your boss!