Had an interesting situation that came up and thought I'd throw it out for discussion.
One of our staff RNs was found sitting in a chair and sleeping at the bedside of one of our ventilator patients at 7am. She tells me that the patient was very restless and they had been constantly watching him throughout the night shift because of the fear of him pulling his trach out. They found he would settle down when someone sat with him and held his hand (how basic can nursing care get?). So, periodically during the night different staff members sat at his bedside. The nurse in question says that at 5am she had caught up on all her charting and told her co-workers that she was going to sit down in the room with the patient. She sat down, took his hand and he immediately quieted down. She sat back and the next thing she knew someone was waking her and telling her it was 7am. She jumped up and worked on giving her 6am meds and ended up giving an oral report to the oncoming shift (we tape report).
A very serious decision has to be made here. This is a really excellent nurse and I'm afraid there will be no choice but to fire her and report her to the Board of Nursing. I understand that she did not intend to fall asleep and that she was helping the patient, but rules are rules, aren't they? How I wish this hadn't been reported. Our facility rules clearly state "no sleeping on the job". Our Human Resources Office and the Director of Nursing will make the final decision. What do you all think?
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
Wanted to update everyone who has been reading or posting to this thread. The nurse in question was given a 7-day suspension without pay. A disciplinary report is going to be placed in her personnel file. I saw the written statement the nurse made in response to this incident. She states that she was awake at 6am because she had checked the time to determine how much time she would need to give her 6am meds and tape report. So, it sounded like she must have only slept for a short amount of time. I'll be able to find out more from her myself when she is allowed back to work. The patient she was sitting with was actually assigned to another RN, so questions were raised about whether or not that nurse had been checking on the patient. The patient apparently had early morning IV piggybacks he was supposed to receive. The question of where Respiratory Therapy was has also been raised. I talked with the nurse manager and she was upset over the whole thing because this was one of her best nurses. I guess she really went to bat for this nurse with the DON.
I talked with the nurse manager and she was upset over the whole thing because this was one of her best nurses. I guess she really went to bat for this nurse with the DON.
Good for the nurse manager! I think the seven day susp. is a bit much, but better than firing. I hope the nurse whose's patient was being watched also gets some suspension time - appears the whole system needs looking into. Life at work is much better with a manager that will go to bat for the employees.
Wow that is a tough one. I am just now a nursing student, but worked as a CNA on night shift for over a year and have seen MANY nurses go to sleep on purpose for an hour or so. I think the difference here is that this nurse got caught. It's a sucky situation to be put in. I hope that her record as a good nurse holds up and she doesn't get any horrible circumstances. As a student nurse I was thinking how great it would be to work nights again after finishing school, but I'm going to think twice now.
The patient she was sitting with was actually assigned to another RN, so questions were raised about whether or not that nurse had been checking on the patient
It makes you wonder if this nurse knew what she was doing when she didnt check on her patient and that maybe just maybe she wanted to cause some trouble for the other nurse?
Boy I'll bet she will never help out another colleague again.
I wouldn't if I was her. I think 7 day suspension was way too much. That said, from the sound of it, your hospital isn't a union shop so there's not much she can do about it.
Boy I'll bet she will never help out another colleague again.
I wouldn't if I was her. I think 7 day suspension was way too much. That said, from the sound of it, your hospital isn't a union shop so there's not much she can do about it.
I too think 7 days is too much - and good for your DON for backing her up.
We have the same kind of DON where I work - she is awesome and goes toe to toe with the docs or anyone else who mistreats the nurses.
I too think 7 days is too much - and good for your DON for backing her up.
We have the same kind of DON where I work - she is awesome and goes toe to toe with the docs or anyone else who mistreats the nurses.
And we aren't union. :)
steph
How do you know if your hospital is a union one?? We are all in the union here, doesnt do much but costs $30 per month, but if you get into trouble then they are there to represent you.
How do you know if your hospital is a union one?? We are all in the union here, doesnt do much but costs $30 per month, but if you get into trouble then they are there to represent you.
It actually isn't the hospital that is union . . . .the nurses have to vote to be represented by a union. We voted no.
In the hospital where I work we have a surgeon with narcolepsy. He can be observed sleeping for periods of time at the desk after he does patient visits and is writing new orders. He is an excellent surgeon and has been working in our facility for 20 years. Hmmm.... the hospital hasn't fired him yet and he falls asleep several times per day.
Daytonite, BSN, RN
1 Article; 14,604 Posts
Wanted to update everyone who has been reading or posting to this thread. The nurse in question was given a 7-day suspension without pay. A disciplinary report is going to be placed in her personnel file. I saw the written statement the nurse made in response to this incident. She states that she was awake at 6am because she had checked the time to determine how much time she would need to give her 6am meds and tape report. So, it sounded like she must have only slept for a short amount of time. I'll be able to find out more from her myself when she is allowed back to work. The patient she was sitting with was actually assigned to another RN, so questions were raised about whether or not that nurse had been checking on the patient. The patient apparently had early morning IV piggybacks he was supposed to receive. The question of where Respiratory Therapy was has also been raised. I talked with the nurse manager and she was upset over the whole thing because this was one of her best nurses. I guess she really went to bat for this nurse with the DON.