One of the RN's on the floor I work on (I work in an ICU/CCU) and as usual at about 1am (I worked 7-7 last night) we had a patient that coded (v-fib).
Now, this nurse in question here recently transfered from the med-surg floor. She's rather new (only been nursing for about 8 months). She is a younger girl (I'd say... 23-24?). Anyways, 3 nurses (including her and me) initially responded to a code (I quickly paged an RT as this patient was intubated). We followed ACLS protocols and all standing orders on this patient.
I was performing chest compressions, and I noticed that this new nurse was rummaging around the room and not helping at all! I asked her what she was doing and her response was: "I'm trying to find a laryngoscope" (note that she holds NO titles that would require her to use one of e'm). Shocked at her response, I asked "What for?".
At that point, she slammed the cabinet closed that she was working in and sluggishly walked over the patient - and just as the RT walked in the room she RIPPED THE TUBE RIGHT OUT OF HIM!
Of course, we were all shocked and began to yell at her. I suppose all of the other nurses heard the comotion and 3-4 other nurses arrived along with that pt's MD. Then right after this, she began to yell over everyone and try to change the topic saying that "He is not doing compressions right! You do 5 not 30 at a time!"
She was then removed from the room by the other nurses and was sat down and given something to drink.
Fortunately the patient was intubated once again and was put a BVM, pushed epi/atropine, continued CPR and rhythm returned after shock at 200. He's fine as far as I know.
In any case, several nurses and other staff witnessed what she did and we all expect that she may be on either drugs or she was completely intoxicated (either that or her mental status is just completely somewhere else!).
My question is: although me and the witnessing nurses filled out reports on her and turned them in right away, should we all go to the manegment tomorrow directly and discuss this matter as she may continue to harm other patients like this? (as it may take several days for the report to get to the right group of people).
I'm still in a bit of shock as to what she did but... I don't know. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Your place doesn't have a Security department? If a bystander did that you'd call them wouldn't you?
As far as diabetes, that could be a possibility. My late SIL climbed a fire lookout tower because she wanted to fly. We got her down and had her drink pepsi and syrup . This was back in the 70s before personal glucometers. She got to the hospital within the hour and her blood sugar then was in the 40s.
Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.
Your place doesn't have a Security department? If a bystander did that you'd call them wouldn't you?
As far as diabetes, that could be a possibility. My late SIL climbed a fire lookout tower because she wanted to fly. We got her down and had her drink pepsi and syrup . This was back in the 70s before personal glucometers. She got to the hospital within the hour and her blood sugar then was in the 40s.
Oh wow, the stories I could tell about the things my dad has done when his sugar has been low. Nothing QUITE as wild as climbing a fire tower, but he definately has gotten pretty wacky at times.
Sorry for the lack of updates! I had no clue this thread had four pages already!!!
I agree with the poster who said the police should have been called. This action is beyond poor practice or panic it is criminal regardless of the reason.
Marc
I can't agree more. The patient was apparently "on his own" and had no family (this was a geriatric patient). I'm not necessarily sure what the hospital has done.
In any case, when I called the floor manager she apparently already knew about it. She told me that she began to get hostile with the other nurses that removed her from the floor.
I won't know anymore until I go back in Thursday and hear the gossip, but from what I've heard she's been put on some serious probation until further notice (most likely they'll be some sort of hearing for her). Sorry I can't tell you more (hopefully I will when I go back in... I'll be sure to update ya'll!)
As far as that RN's past history goes, she apparently has always been a great person down in med-surg! According to the other nurses on the floor that I spoke with briefly over the telephone to find this out, she was a kind and always managed stress well (and keep in mind our med-surg is the majority of our beds). They were so shocked!
IMHO: she had to have been on drugs. From what I know this nurse had no medical conditions (diabetes, depression, etc.) that could have caused these outbursts. Either that, or she just had a complete mental break-down because of her being in the ICU only for a short amount of time -- some sort of phyc. help is required here. But, thats my $00.2!
Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
You might not necessarily know if there was a medical condition there. I worked with a nurse once who seemed to be perfectly healthy. One evening she started acting strange, very giggly, and appeared to be drunk. One of the nurses working with her called the manager at home because they thought it was drugs or alcohol. The manager said, oh, she's diabetic, her sugar is probably low!!
Neither of them thought it was important that her co-workers know that this might occur. The rest of us disagreed.
She didn't do anything remotely harmful to a patient, though.
take it to management as it takes time for that report to go in and what is she flips out again it could kill a patient. yea something is going on with her. put it into the hands of management.
Specializes in Cardiac:Tele,CCU,CVICU,CVOR,Cath Lab.
:balloons:I know that I am late to the party, however, you must report this so that she does not put anymore patients at risk. As you have stated that she has had no problems as a med/surg nurse-the units are a completely different world. Perhaps she is overwhelmed by the difference and needs more training and supervision. Plus, what is she doing when others are not around to watch her? Remember, first do no harm.....
A similar occurance once happened at a hospital in which I worked. During a code in ICU, a nurse thought that the ET tube wasn't working properly in the coding patient and after several strong pulls ripped it from the patient without deflating the cuff. It was quite possible that she could have caused trauma to the patients vocal cords. It turned out the patient survived the code and the vocal cords weren't severely damaged.
As for the recommedation that someone call the police, if that were done, you can rest assured that the nurse making the call would not be employed at that facility much longer. As the call not only implicates the staff member in liability but the facility that employs them as well.
My suggestion is to go up the chain of command, all the way to the CEO if necessary. Hopefully, one of those in management will see the hazard that her behavior caused to the patient and staff, not to mention the liabilty of the facility.
BTW, always make copies of anything you turn into managment. Sometimes documents have a way of disappearing after you turn them in. That way, if you must go up the chain of command, you always have a copy of the original document for reference.
I have been a nurse for 36 years and think the behavior of the nurse borders on criminal. By pulling out the endotrach tube she endangered the life of the patient. This incident should have been reported up the chain of command immediately. The nurse should have to attend counciling before caring for other patients. She ought to be suspended until such time a mental exam can be conducted and she is cleared to work with patients again. She should also be on probation for a certain length of time. This nurse is so dangerous I would not have her with patients. Regardless of whether she was new to your floor, never attended a code or whatever I can excuse lack of experience but to knowingly endanger a patient in a
fit of rage is horrible. I would be afraid for her patients. What did you finally do about this mess?
her behaviour sounds suspicious for sure. especially if there were several witnesses, i would have reported her immediately to the house supervisor and suggested/requested she had a drug/etoh screen done. if it came back clear, she probably needs re-orientation and a fresh acls class. if she came back positive, she could be directed to help. lol:nono:
In any case, when I called the floor manager she apparently already knew about it. She told me that she began to get hostile with the other nurses that removed her from the floor.
I won't know anymore until I go back in Thursday and hear the gossip, but from what I've heard she's been put on some serious probation until further notice (most likely they'll be some sort of hearing for her). Sorry I can't tell you more (hopefully I will when I go back in... I'll be sure to update ya'll!)
As far as that RN's past history goes, she apparently has always been a great person down in med-surg! According to the other nurses on the floor that I spoke with briefly over the telephone to find this out, she was a kind and always managed stress well (and keep in mind our med-surg is the majority of our beds). They were so shocked!
IMHO: she had to have been on drugs. From what I know this nurse had no medical conditions (diabetes, depression, etc.) that could have caused these outbursts. Either that, or she just had a complete mental break-down because of her being in the ICU only for a short amount of time -- some sort of phyc. help is required here. But, thats my $00.2!
While in no way excusing her actions, I have a real problem with what you appear to have done here. Am I to understand that you called her former co-workers on another floor to discuss this? Why? You talk about gossip mills, but this isn't going to solve anything and will only serve to muck up the situation. If the administration knows what happened, then there is no need for you to do so.
I'm also curious why you think that drugs were the problem. This occurred 6 hours into your shift. How had she been acting before the code? And given what her ex-colleagues said, it doesn't appear there were any red flags beforehand. As was posted above, just because you weren't personally aware of any medical problems doesn't mean she doesn't have them...
Again, not excusing the behaviour. Just trying to see it from all sides.
You might not necessarily know if there was a medical condition there. I worked with a nurse once who seemed to be perfectly healthy. One evening she started acting strange, very giggly, and appeared to be drunk. One of the nurses working with her called the manager at home because they thought it was drugs or alcohol. The manager said, oh, she's diabetic, her sugar is probably low!!
Neither of them thought it was important that her co-workers know that this might occur. The rest of us disagreed.
She didn't do anything remotely harmful to a patient, though.
That's happened to me with diabetic co-workers (and I've not always known beforehand of their condition, either).
Another nurse would exhibit very bizarre and drunken behaviour with her migraines. Had it not been a friend of mine, or someone I'd worked with for years, I'd have been as angry and suspicious as the OP when I witnessed it. One night, she came to me and warned me she felt one coming on and was trying to head it off. Well, it didn't work, and I found her aphasic and attempting to re-route IV tubing on a patient. It was frightening for both of us, and while not nearly as dramatic as extubation, but she could have easily caused harm to someone.
And just so you know, she was a wonderful nurse; smart as hell and on the ball. This was an isolated incident, and it didn't affect how I felt about her skills as a nurse. If I were ever sick, she would be one I'd want to care for me.
P_RN, ADN, RN
6,011 Posts
Your place doesn't have a Security department? If a bystander did that you'd call them wouldn't you?
As far as diabetes, that could be a possibility. My late SIL climbed a fire lookout tower because she wanted to fly. We got her down and had her drink pepsi and syrup . This was back in the 70s before personal glucometers. She got to the hospital within the hour and her blood sugar then was in the 40s.