[golc0004]

I'm a student in an accelerated RN program in FL. I'm not sure if I should even be bothering or intruding into the forum, but I feel that talking to health professionals who have been there may help me relay the message. We have an ethics debate coming up and I'm the moderator. Our debate is "Should a good friend of a co-worker tell a supervisor about his friend coming to work "not competent" to work. I would really like to here your opinions. Did someone turn you in? Did an accident happen that lead an investigation? Or did you turn yourself in? If you all feel that I am out of place, please disregard this post, but I think that your side may help me and others in my class make the right decisons and inform them of ways to make the situation better (as in what do you wish your co-workers would have done?) Thank you so much for your time

[BrendaRN]

Hi. I don't feel like you're intruding, because any education is a good thing. I think if a co-worker, who is also a friend, has an obligation to that friend to report them if they feel they're not "competent" to work, especially if it involves alcohol or drug abuse. They could be saving that friend's life. I wasn't in that situation, but a friend of mine was. She got reported to her manager by a friend/coworker, and although she was angry at first, it didn't take long to realize that her friend had saved her life.
Good luck!

[KKRN1014]

Hi, I too, haven't been in the situation (yet) and forgive me to those who have if I step on anyones toes with my opinion.
I feel that if it is a friend, you should give that friend a chance to walk away from work until "competent" and not come in in that condition again. If they do show up like that again then turn them in. But no matter what, always, always step in as fast and hard as you can if a patient is in danger in any way. I see how hard it is for a nurse to continue to be nurse once they are "found" out, even if they turn themselves in to get help, and if a nurse has a way to get help without employer or the BON knowing then thats the best way. Good luck in your upcoming career.