PA - Nurse Accused of Helping with Surgery While Drunk

The anesthesiologist/anesthetist is actually the one most responsible for monitoring vitals.

But this guy is an irresponsible jerk. You don't drink when you're on call. I'm surprised no one confronted him on the spot. When I worked ICU, one of the nurses giving report to an oncoming nurse smelled alcohol on her breath. She went straight to the phone and called the Nursing Supervisor, and the wheels for getting this nurse off the floor and reported to the appropriate entities began to turn immediately.

IME, RNs typically assist as "circulating nurses" and are not "scrub nurses" per se. In many instances, they have been replaced (due to labor costs, among other things). This position is often filled by surgical (scrub) techs. This role is "sterile" and STs handle instrumentation, sponges, etc. Circulating RNs are responsible for verifying patient identity, transport, pre-op work-ups, medications, etc. They are outside the sterile field (non-sterile).

Regardless, there is NO room for such behavior! A "circulator" can contaminate the sterile field, or jeopardize patient safety (as can anyone in the surgical suite), which is one of the many reasons why surgery is such a high-stress environment. :cow:

I can't imagine operating in this realm under the influence! :no:
I went to surgical tech school and completed my studies and clinical rotation (I got injured transferring a patient 2 weeks before graduation. My attempt to "get a day job" failed!) :facepalm:

Hoping this :censored: faces serious consequences! His licensure should be on the line (ad minimum).

:twocents:


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I work in an elective plastic surgery OR. I'm a circulating RN, and we use an RNFA (RN First Assistant), who is the scrub nurse. In addition to the above mentioned responsibilities, I also "prep" the patient's body for surgery. I have to be ready to retrieve any supplies the surgeon and RNFA need and open them in such a way as to preserve the sterile field. In my facility, I also recover the patient after surgery. This could include administering IV medications.

There are a whole lot of ways a circulating RN could cause problems during a surgery. I just cannot fathom drinking while on call, much less actually reporting in and trying to fool anyone or perform my duties while not completely sharp. SMH...