What to do when co-workers can't keep up any more?

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Specializes in MS, OB, PEDI, VNA, TELEM.

don't get me wrong, i am not 25 anymore. but 2 of my nursing co-workers are of retirement age and both have significant medical problems, are exceedingly slow and vague, and make huge mistakes. i am fearful one or both of them will kill somebody before they decide to retire. one could be out on disability right now but "can't imagine not coming here every day." (i hate to tell her, but it's not about her.) both have poor eyesight. one takes percocet for pain. i can't believe the powers that be at my hospital can't see how poorly they perform. i fear for them and mostly for their patients. is there anything i can do? :confused:

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Document what you directly observe, and talk to management.

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

When it concerns patient safety, I would say it is reportable to mgmt.

Geez! I hope if I get to that point, I recognize it and mosey on out to the pasture myself to graze away the rest of my days.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree. You have an obligation to report the incidents to the management. However, I would try to do it in a kind way rather than to just start "writing up" everything as official documentation.

I think what I would do is: Arrange a private (and discrete) meeting with your manager to discuss the situation. Emphasize the positive qualities of the people you are discussing ... but say that you have concerns about their abilities to practice safely. Have a few specific incidents to cite as concrete examples of what you have seen (with names, dates, times, etc.). Ask your manager for advice on how you should handle the situation. See what he/she says.

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When it concerns patient safety, I would say it is reportable to mgmt.

Geez! I hope if I get to that point, I recognize it and mosey on out to the pasture myself to graze away the rest of my days.

I hope that pasture is mortgage-free and that you've got some "hay" put away. :crying2:

For OP: Unless you are directly observing errors, my best advice is to keep out. Without being too specific and telling identifying incidents, can you give some examples of what you think these 2 are doing or not doing that makes you want them gone?

Too bad the one who takes Percocet blabbed it to you. This is a good example of why people should keep their private business to themselves.

Poor eyesight - how about some eyeglasses, better lighting?

The one who could be on disability - it's pretty hard to get, hard to live on the low amount you get, hard to get doctors, especially Workers' Compensation doctors to keep agreeing that you are disabled.

Are you possibly just impatient? Do you want their jobs? Not to accuse you unjustly, but it seems that there is at least a possibility that you are not telling the whole story.

What specific complaints have you heard told to you directly by patients or families, doctors, others at work? Be specific and tell what YOU personally have actually been told or have seen, please.

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You have two options I believe:

1. If you do see mistakes or errors, document it and let your manager know. Let him/her handle it.

2. If you are just jealous, envious, annoyed, impatient, have a personal grudge against them, or this is just all about ageism, just stop and mind your own business. (I am not saying you are, I am saying IF you are) Karma works. One day you'll reach that age too and hopefully by then, you are not sick nor slow and of course, have saved enough moolah, don't have any loans to pay off, and can retire graciously.

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Be careful OP, If you came to me and told me just this stuff, and I saw no care issues in my investigation, I would have formed a negative impression of you that would have a long half-life.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

If they can't perform their jobs that is a significant concern. You will need to get specific if you go to management. Exactly what happened and when, and it must be documentable. Good luck.

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Specializes in Hospice.
don't get me wrong, i am not 25 anymore. but 2 of my nursing co-workers are of retirement age and both have significant medical problems, are exceedingly slow and vague, and make huge mistakes. i am fearful one or both of them will kill somebody before they decide to retire. one could be out on disability right now but "can't imagine not coming here every day." (i hate to tell her, but it's not about her.) both have poor eyesight. one takes percocet for pain. i can't believe the powers that be at my hospital can't see how poorly they perform. i fear for them and mostly for their patients. is there anything i can do? :confused:

do the same thing you would do if the workers were 35. first consider whether you'd be as upset and fearful if they were 35.

i want to echo the advice from other posters to check your own motives, especially whether you are over-reacting to mistakes that would be overlooked in a younger nurse.

i'm 60 and was recently fired from a job i loved in part due to my age and position on the pay scale of the company. my replacement was much younger and hired specifically to replace me at entry-level wages a month before i was canned. i understand your concern about safety, but please be careful to not buy into the age discrimination that's rampant in today's buyer's market.

on the other hand ... if the workers are truly as unsafe as you say in your op, it is doing them no favor to keep overlooking problems for fear of being accused of age-ism. just keep the write-ups very focused on performance and be sure that they are fair.

just ask yourself if you would write it up if you didn't know how old the nurse was.

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I can see where this one's heading. Let's send the old folks out to pasture.

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I'm not sure my opinion on the situation exactly, but one thing I can comment on is the decision that these nurses made to keep working - when those jobs could go to new grads so that the unfortunate overload of new grads going without work doesnt continue.

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Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.
don't get me wrong, i am not 25 anymore. but 2 of my nursing co-workers are of retirement age and both have significant medical problems, are exceedingly slow and vague, and make huge mistakes. i am fearful one or both of them will kill somebody before they decide to retire. one could be out on disability right now but "can't imagine not coming here every day." (i hate to tell her, but it's not about her.) both have poor eyesight. one takes percocet for pain. i can't believe the powers that be at my hospital can't see how poorly they perform. i fear for them and mostly for their patients. is there anything i can do? :confused:

agree with most of the replies.

are their mistakes really that huge ? are we talking p't safety or are talking about the relatively minor?

really ..... most people after age 40 start to have an eyesight issue.

and most people in their 60's have (or are developing) a chronic health problem.

unless you observe a reportable incident ....then you really need to refrain from adopting a write-up mentality.

especially if age/needing glasses/chronic health cdts are the root of your complaint

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