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!
UPDATE PLEASE!! Did you find out what was up with her? Is it something medical or did she flip out from the stress? In any case, that's just scary that she would do something like that.
there was a nurse who was competent on the floor during an regular shift but she completely lost it during a code..the nurse who was working supervisor had noticed it during one code but after talking with her and having her go through that part of orientation again thought that the situation was resolved
the next time a code was called while the nurse was on duty she froze again and they let her resign..holefully she got a job where someones life didn't depend on her
I'm curious to know what her take on the situiation was.
Does she know what she did? Her reply would be a good indication as to where her mind is. She either snapped because of mental health issues or she had a drug induced snap either way she needs help.
am in complete agreement as far as reporting the incident and not wanting to work with her but I have witnessed a nurse with a drug problem get crucified by her colleages, it was horrible.
The one thing I couldn't stop hearing was " for the safety of my patients" the nurse's who took that stand turned right around and nailed her coffin shut. It was heart breaking to see.
I started thinking about police and fire fighters. They support one another no matter what.
If a fireman has some kind of drug addiction problem and was in the same situation, right or wrong, they take care of their own and would do whatever was neeeded to support their colleague
She may be mentally ill and had a complete psychotic break, she may be on drugs, she may have a brain tumor....no one knows yet, but she needs to be protected from herself and her patients need to be protected from her.
Write ups are good, but immediate action needed to be taken to remove her from the building, by security if necessary. This does not have a good feel about it.
Let us know what happens in this very strange situation.
I agree. This level of behavior calls for her to be removed from this work environment. Management needs to deal with this situation sooner rather than later.
From what I heard shortly after she was reported to the authorities and after several tests she apparently had a awfully large amount of meth in her system. I'm guessing this is something she just started since she's always been such a great RN!
At our facility (as well as most likely any other facility) she was dismissed from our entire health care system. She will not be allowed to work within the system or any of our "mother" systems (as we like to call them).
If a fireman has some kind of drug addiction problem and was in the same situation, right or wrong, they take care of their own and would do whatever was neeeded to support their colleague
Of course we're all still there for her! I'm willing to help her in any way I possibly can. Of course, most likely she'll be in some sort of therapy for a while and some counseling, but none the less she will need some emotional support to overcome this.
I would hope that your institution reported her to the board so that she can get mandatory placement in the diversion program rather than just toss her to the street with a termination and bad references. If anybody needs help this poor soul does. And she deserves the offer of help whether she ever goes back to nursing or not.
I would hope that your institution reported her to the board so that she can get mandatory placement in the diversion program rather than just toss her to the street with a termination and bad references. If anybody needs help this poor soul does. And she deserves the offer of help whether she ever goes back to nursing or not.
I would assume so.
I don't want to get to far into detail on this RN (since I do not want all of the personal information floating around the world of everyone). Besides, our admin. pretty much told me what I needed to know and nothing more.
Definitely, this nurse should be spoken to by the authorities, suspended with a knowledge should she return to work, to take courses which will enable her to know what she is about next time.
From what I heard shortly after she was reported to the authorities and after several tests she apparently had a awfully large amount of meth in her system.
This is strange, as it's detectable in as little as an hour and it clears the system in about 2-4 days.
I'm still bothered that you would know the results of her drug screening (and other details of what happened after this was reported to management).
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
I don't know about this one. If all the OP says is correct, I don't think the nurse should be allowed back into the workforce- diversion program or not. She pulled an ETT out of someone during a code- that's a very big deal, IMO. Not only could that be assault, but that action could have killed that patient. That wasn't just negligence- it could have been a homicide.
icuwant2rn
110 Posts
UPDATE PLEASE!! Did you find out what was up with her? Is it something medical or did she flip out from the stress? In any case, that's just scary that she would do something like that.