9 replies to this topic

[kennyg572nurse]

TODAY I WAS DRAGGED DOWN TO HUMAN RESOURCES. I WAS ACCUSED BY A FAMILY MEMBER OF SMELLING LIKE ALCOHOL!

MY MANAGER AND HR PLAYED IT OFF COOL LIKE IT WAS NO BIG DEAL; SAID THEY HAD TO INVESTIGATE EVERY COMPLAINT WHETHER TRUE OR NOT.


I RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT ,OF COURSE, I WOULD NEVER EVEN THINK OF DOING THAT....AND THAT I COULDN'T BELIEVE THIS WAS HAPPENING.

I KNOW NOTHING WILL BECOME OF IT, BUT SOMEHOW I JUST FEEL LIKE QUITTING......BUT I REALLY LIKE WORKING AT THIS HOSPITAL .

ANYWAYS BESIDE BEING HUMILIATED, I FEEL LIKE MY INTEGRETY WAS BEING CHALLENGED AND MY MANAGER JUST SAT THERE NOT EVEN SAYING
THAT SHE KNEW I WOULDN'T DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.....

AT THE END OF THE INTERVIEW, THEY HANDED ME A COPY OF THE POLICY /PROCEDURE FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE.....THEY SAID IT WAS POLICY!

WELL IF THEY KNEW I DIDN'T DO IT THEN WHY GIVE ME A COPY OF THE P/P??????? ITS LIKE SAYING SOMEONE IS INNOCENT OF A CRIME ..."BUT YOU YOU HAVE TO DO JAIL TIME ANYWAYS..."

SO THATS MY STORY. WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO ANY OF YOU?

[SFN]

Protect YOURSELF. the hospital is doing it's part to protect itself from potential "future" problems. YOU need to put the same kind of protection in your file. Get written statements from other nurses that worked with you that shift. Submit that to your HR file. You have the right to rebuttal any alligations brought before you. Make sure that you document, Document, DOCUMENT !!!

[mattsmom]

I agree with SFN...get documentation onyour behalf pronto. Mouthwashes and even some colognes can smell similarly to ETOH to some people. Plus some medical conditions (like diabetes) can cause an odor mistaken for ETOH. Some people are just plain mean spirited and just make it up too. I hope this turns out in your favor. I sure do get sick of the finger pointing that goes on out there today.

[NawlinsGirl]

hi,

I wanted to ask you if you are part of a union. If you are I would definitely let them know about this..If not, like the others said i would protect myself .. talk to the other people you worked with that shift and get letters from them and place that in your file. Because i can assure you the hospital was covering their butts that day..Good luck to you and let us know if anything becomes of it...........

NAWLINSGIRL

[HeatherG]

Too bad you couldn't request a breath analyzer test or a blood test to prove it. That's the one way you could protect yourself and if human resources didn't go along with the testing it would look bad on their part should it ever get to a court.

[mattsmom]

That's a great idea Heather... demanding an immediate test will immediately stop the accusations! If this ever happens to me, I will do it!

[aussie-margaret]

how rude - If me I would have rung the union. The union would have stepped in and attended the interview, and offered legal advice and advice on how to respond.

I would probably write a a letter - with union approval - to the management denying the allegation and stating my side of the story.

were the relatives just plain nasty ?
were they this way to other members of staff ?

were they just trouble makers and you happened to be there at that time ?

keep a record of all that has happened.

I don't drink alcohol ever, so if that happened to me, I would say, I do not drink alcohol of any description, or even tea or coffeee for that matter - so this allegation is ridiculous, and let the union handle the issue.

Lodge a complaint against the relative for slander if possible

[tirpakrn]

TODAY I WAS DRAGGED DOWN TO HUMAN RESOURCES. I WAS ACCUSED BY A FAMILY MEMBER OF SMELLING LIKE ALCOHOL!

MY MANAGER AND HR PLAYED IT OFF COOL LIKE IT WAS NO BIG DEAL; SAID THEY HAD TO INVESTIGATE EVERY COMPLAINT WHETHER TRUE OR NOT.


I RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT ,OF COURSE, I WOULD NEVER EVEN THINK OF DOING THAT....AND THAT I COULDN'T BELIEVE THIS WAS HAPPENING.

I KNOW NOTHING WILL BECOME OF IT, BUT SOMEHOW I JUST FEEL LIKE QUITTING......BUT I REALLY LIKE WORKING AT THIS HOSPITAL .

ANYWAYS BESIDE BEING HUMILIATED, I FEEL LIKE MY INTEGRETY WAS BEING CHALLENGED AND MY MANAGER JUST SAT THERE NOT EVEN SAYING
THAT SHE KNEW I WOULDN'T DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.....

AT THE END OF THE INTERVIEW, THEY HANDED ME A COPY OF THE POLICY /PROCEDURE FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE.....THEY SAID IT WAS POLICY!

WELL IF THEY KNEW I DIDN'T DO IT THEN WHY GIVE ME A COPY OF THE P/P??????? ITS LIKE SAYING SOMEONE IS INNOCENT OF A CRIME ..."BUT YOU YOU HAVE TO DO JAIL TIME ANYWAYS..."

SO THATS MY STORY. WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO ANY OF YOU?

Hey there,

I had something like that happen to me. I was working in the ER and happened to have an allergy attack. I get that really red, itchy and runny nose thing. Well I also happen to be a very hard fast paced worker. So wouldn't you know it... some bizarre couple actually goes to the charge nurse and says that they can't believe that the hospital would employ someone who uses cocaine!! I JUST ABOUT FLIPPED OUT!! I was soooooooooo angry with that couple. My charge nurse came and told me and suggested that I confront my accusers.... professionally of course (yeah right!) I did approach them and let them know they were wrong and how damaging an accusation like that can be to my career. They continued to patronize me and even said " we are just trying to help you" AAAHHH!! I get so fired up just thinking about it! So... unlike your situation, I fortunately had management on my side. I just wanted you to know that I understand your anger and frustration. People have some nerve.

[AndreaP]

in my redheaded spit fire pissed off as hell attitude i would have gotten from the cocaine people and the alcohol people i would have probably gone off and said something along the lines of "takes and addict to know an addict". however i dont think that would have been very professional. I totally aggree with the drug testing bit when it all started. And i also agree with backing yourself up. But on the side of the hospital i can also see where they had to follow their p/p because there would be big trouble for them if some one else who was really doing it came along and said you cant do this to me, you didnt do it to that guy. do for one do for all. good luck.

[aussie-margaret]

thinking more on the subject - the accident and emergency where I work has blood alcohol kits which are collected by the police and are used in court.

one of those would have been handy to have had collected.