I (34F) am a nurse practitioner in a large hospital. I work in the intensive care unit, where patients are in critical condition and every decision matters. One of the doctors on our team, Dr. Riley (41F), has a bad habit of disappearing during her shifts. She will either go take a nap in the on call room, take long coffee breaks or just mysteriously vanish when things get intense. The problem? She expects me and the other nurses to cover for her. At first, I didn’t say anything because, she is a doctor and I didn’t want to make waves. But it kept happening. One night, we had a code blue (meaning a patient was crashing) and I had to page her three times before she finally showed up half asleep, hair messy, clearly just woke up. By that time, we had already stabilized the patient without her.
Last week, she asked me directly to cover for her while she left the hospital for a “personal emergency.” I later found out through social media that her “emergency” was drinks with friends. That was it for me…So when she asked me again a few days ago to handle things while she “stepped out”,I flat-out said: “No, Dr. Riley If you leave, I am reporting it….” She looked shocked and tried to guilt-trip me saying, “wow, I thought we had a good working relationship. I always support you.” And I just said “patients come first” and walked away…..
Well, she DID leave and I reported her. Now, she is under investigation and she is furious. Some of the other nurses are saying I should’ve just “kept quiet” instead of potentially ruining her career…
But honestly? I don’t regret it. I am here to save lives not cover for someone who doesn’t take their job seriously.
AITAH?
Comments
NTA
Hell naw, you’re not wrong for reporting her. She appears not particularly interested in doing her actual job, is she on drugs or something? Well, it all may come out eventually.
Obviously NTA. People’s lives are at stake. She needs to be available. Ask the other nurses how they’d feel if she was out drinking with her friends or fast asleep and one of their patients died.
NTA you did the right thing 100%. Patients’ lives come first, not a doctor’s nap schedule. If she cared about her career, she should’ve cared about her job…simple
NTA good for you for standing up for PO patients and yourself. Her behavior is unacceptable.
You stood up for patient safety and that is what really matters. If she was ditching work this much, who knows how many lives were at risk? Do you think the hospital will actually take serious action?
NTA. She sounds like she’s already burned out on her career; if you can’t handle the pressure of the ICU, move to a less demanding specialty. Go work in a clinic where you’ll have a 9-5 job. She’s going to cost someone their life, and you have to cover your own asses, not hers. I’d be documenting in the chart of the patient every time I tried to reach her and she didn’t respond.
NTA. The reason bad doctors get away with incompetence for so long is because no one wants to ruin their careers. Ask those saying you shouldn’t have said anything if it was their parent, child or friend lying their needing a doctor would they be okay for them to be out drinking or asleep during their shift.
NTA…………………now you gonna find out why the other nurses are scared.
I’m speaking as a nurse of over 30yrs. What you did was absolutely correct. Any MD of any kind needs to be 100% on the ball at times of work or on call. The potential tragedies you averted by reporting her are warranted. It was not a matter of IF she was going to do damage to an innocent patient, but WHEN she would do it. As for the nurses trying to lessen her culpability, remind them that your patients expect to be safe from the caregivers and promoted to recovery from their issue. Ask them if they would be ok with her being late to their loved one coding, or working on them while impaired. NO real healthcare provider is ok her actions.
NTA. Patient safety is the top priority in healthcare, and Dr. Riley’s repeated negligence was putting lives at risk. You gave her multiple chances, and she still chose to abandon her responsibilities. Reporting her wasn’t about being petty, it was about protecting your patients and your team. If something catastrophic had happened while she was out drinking, the consequences could have been devastating. You did the right thing, and it took courage to stand up for what’s right.
As a doctor who had been asked to cover for colleagues: NTA. Covering part of a shift due to an emergency is one thing, but hiding your dangerous habits and risking lives for that? Fuck off, we’re all allegedly competent adults, get your shit together.
NTA.
What would have happened if you weren’t able to stabilize the code blue patient? What if there is an emergency? Would you be blamed because you knew she wasn’t there?
Absolutely NTA. Better to report her now, than for someone to lose their life while she’s out having “emergency” drinks with her friends.
NTA.
Patients do come first. I have had limited time in hospitals, but one of the things that stands out to me is how professionally and compassionately my nurses treated me.
Thank you for looking out for your charges.
NTA she’s one of the many things wrong with the health care system lol
NTA- if it was your mom, kid, brother, sister, wife do you want a doctor who cares so little about your loved one?
The practice of medicine to save lives is a talent and a gift few are offered the opportunity to peruse. Anyone who disrespects their profession like this does not deserve to have people put their ultimate trust in them in their darkest scariest moments.
NTA. Sounds like she doesn’t need to be a doctor if leaving to have drinks with friends is more important than doing her job. Good on you for reporting her. & to any of the nurses who are saying you shouldn’t have said anything, tell them the next time that she leaves and has someone cover for her if something happens to the patient while she’s not there like they pass away or something then they can take responsibility for it.
Thank you doing this. You saved lives when you did.
You set a boundary, and she waltzed right over it. Sycks to be her.
Holy shit NTA. That is a malpractice suit waiting to happen. She went out DRINKING while on shift. Did she come back to work, after drinking? I remember a particular episode of Scrubs. JD and Turk had an old college buddy in town (Ryan Reynolds I think?) and had some drinks while on call. Well they got called in and Dr. Cox met them in the parking lot. He tossed them out because of this.
What if someone had died? You are not the AH. You won’t ruin her career. There is a huge shortage of doctors everywhere.
NTA – You did the right thing. You’re not in an office job where a form might not be completed before the deadline. This is a matter of literal life and death. If she loses her license, that’s due to her own actions. And I’d argue anyone who knows it’s happening and stays quiet is part of the problem.
NTA
Her actions could literally kill someone. My understanding is the doctor is responsible for all instructions for the nursing team to follow. You’re not allowed to deviate from the prescribed plan
If a patient crashes you can stabilize but the recovery plan needs a doctor to dictate what needs to be done.
I’d go back to your senior staff and inform them the time she left for her personal emergency then show the social media posts of her drunk
NTA what would have happened of someone died before she could bother to show up? Sounds like a lawsuit against her and the hospital to me.
NTA – this doctor ruined their own career. you’re just trying to save lives
NTA. She seems to have a pattern of dereliction of duty. Do you have any photos/ video, social media post to back up your claims? If you do, I would be handing them over to the investigative team ASAP.
You are looking out for patients first, coworkers second- as you shouldn’t be covering for her, and the facility last. I’m sure her employers would like an explanation as to why she was off site during contracted work hours, difficult to reach in an emergency- when she was not engaged with another patient, and slow to respond once contacted.
This is not some two bit manager leaving a pizza joint. It is a doctor in the ICU. She should have been reported a while ago. Hopefully the investigation will uncover the truth. And they can get a doctor who stay present and awake during their shifts.
So, what are they paying her for, to nap? To go out drinking? Guaranteed she is making twice what you are, and not earning it. Not to mention she is going to get someone killed.
INFO: What does she mean she always supports you? From your story this is very one sided support, you covering her.
NTA at all! In fact the other nurses should be ashamed that they were willing to over look it as it’s literally peoples lives they are responsible for.
Absolutely NOT TA!!!
You didn’t ruin her career. She made choices. Choices have consequences.
FAFO.
Don’t protect these people. I can guarantee that attitude towards work hours translates down to patient care quality. This person has no business being a doctor.
💯 NTA
Good for you! I’m tired of people who think doctors walk on water and doctors who think they do too.
NTA, my boss is doing the same thing but in a less important field – administration.
Fuck that shit. After awhile, it’s just abusing your good graces and gets old.
Throw them under the bus. You gave her a warning, she decided. Tough shit.
NTA, it’s amazing how much you care for people and the fact you have so much passion for your job and what you do shows. You should not regret it as you have said you did the right thing, she should take more care. And if she really wanted the job she would actually stay.
NTA
You both made a commitment to uphold ethical and professional standards (her an oath, too) and you’re practicing what you committed to.
My little brother passed away 35 years ago due to malpractice. In my mother’s case, the nurses on duty were also in the malpractice suit. Stuff like that can happen so you’re protecting patients and yourself.
She’s dangerous and that’s scary.:(
NTA.
She gets paid to do her job….
just like you are.
EXCEPT MORE.
She could ruin your career when something goes wrong and she’s not found.
NTA, and fwiw – reporting a doctor doesn’t ruin there career the way reporting a nurse can. BON protects the public, BOM protects medicine.
There is a reason the hospital has her there, if they didn’t need an MD, they wouldn’t have her on the payroll. If a situation came up that requires an MD and she was AWOL, there would be no way for an APRN to cover it – then it would be all, “how long has this been happening? Who knew about it?”
NTA someone could have literally died it’s absolutely shocking that someone smart enough to become a doctor is this stupid. I would never want this woman as my DR
NTA, OP, that doctor is a major AH.. how many patients could have or have died because of her “personnal emergency”. continue to watch her instagram and gather proof that her “personnal emergency” are not emergency. note all the times and dates when you have to call her more than twice. that doctor should lose her medical license. Stay strong OP, big hugs.
NTA! Seems like she may have a drinking problem and that’s BAD for patients! I believe you did the right thing!
NTA. OP was right to report her. Apparently this is not just a one off; this is chronic behavior. She is putting people’s lives at risk and, it seems, she does not care. I surely would not want her to be my doctor in an emergency.
Sounds to me as though she may have an alcohol or drug problem. Best to get that addressed asap. Or, maybe she’s just not very interested/dedicated to her work. That needs attention, too.
If she cares so little about her patients, then screw her career.
NTA #1 rule of nurse: never risk your license for anyone. It doesn’t say you did, but she’s putting you in a tough spot and it could escalate to that. Create boundaries and create them early. Other nurses are just wishing they had your courage to speak up! Lovingly, nurse of 43 years.
NTA, you potentially save a life, if the price was her career so be it.
ChatGPT has been imaginative today.
Damn right NTA. I mean seriously, how many code blues would’ve turned into fatal accidents if you hadn’t been on top of your game while Dr. Riley was snoozing? It’s not like you got to enjoy her ‘nap time’ or whatever the hell she calls it, you were busy trying to keep people alive… while your supposed colleague was out getting her beauty sleep because, oh, ICU work is just so exhausting apparently
NTA.
>I later found out through social media that her “emergency” was drinks with friends.
So, she drank alcohol while she was on duty?! That’s extremely inappropriate. A family friend of mine was an intensivist in the pediatric ICU and if she was on-call she didn’t drink because “Showing up even mildly buzzed is worse than not showing up at all.” I hope you reported her for drinking while she was supposed to be at the hospital. She also ruined her own career, and potentially the other nurses if she’d shown up intoxicated and a patient died or was seriously injured due to her condition.
NTA. even if her career is ruined after you reported her, you didn’t ruin it, SHE did.
People could die because of her negligence… definitely NTA
Im shocked the nurses are saying not to rock the boat. The chisme has been strong and vicious on units I’ve been at and management would be squashing it like a fly asap bc they join in too. Must be nice to not work somewhere toxic.
NTA. Doctors should never do what she has done. She could lose her license if something happens to her patients.
NTA
Potentially ruining her career?! What about potentially killing a patient.
She should have been reported the first time she disappeared.
There are ethics rules for a reason.
Just ask anyone who give you a problem, So, are you willing to be held personally and professionally responsible for anything that goes wrong because she was not here doing her job?
Stick to your guns even if you’re the only one. You have guts, I respect that.
Patients count on the integrity of their doctors & the medical team. No question you did the right thing.
NTA
Dumb enough to go out for drinks during shift AND post on social? That’s a cry for help. /s
FAFO.
Patients should come first.
You didn’t possibly ruin her career. She did.
Absolutely NTA. As an RN I fully support this decision and I’m not entirely sure why some of your nurses are upset by this. She’s being neglectful, the patient care is absolutely at risk and the nurses could even be liable if things go wrong when the doctor isn’t there. I wouldn’t put it past the employer to throw them under the bus. So if I was them I would be very happy for you standing up for both quality patient care as well as the team in general
You should probably report those nurses too….their conduct/ character needs to be questioned as well
Absolutely NTA. If she doesn’t want to work that job, she needs to quit. Patients’ LIVES are literally at risk here.
In a surgery years ago, a distracted doctor damaged my sciatic nerve and opened a blood vessel. They had to call in a vascular surgeon to fix the damage and I could have died. I’ve never fully recovered from the damage he did. Doctors like her kill people. You did both your patients and your hospital a favor. She deserves to have her career ruined. I’ll say NTA, but really YTH (you’re the hero).
NTA. You did the right thing. She needs to be investigated. She’s likely drinking too much if she’s drinking on the job and needing frequent naps away from patients. She’s in the wrong profession.
Updateme
If a patient died because there was no doctor in the icu there would be two people losing their jobs. One would be the person who agreed to cover for the missing doctor.
Nta. You don’t get paid a doctors salary and don’t want to loose your job because you’re covering someone else all the time.
1000000% NTA. As a disabled person I desperately with health care providers held each other more accountable. I’ve worked in health care so I know what it’s like on the inside… bad people who put patients lives at risk are kept around because everyone keeps quiet. You did the right thing, do not doubt yourself. And fuck this doctor if she doesn’t want to provide health care she can go flip burgers ffs
YTA As soon as you saw that she went out to drink and returned to work you should have informed the hospital. You put patients at risk by not reporting until she tried it again.
NTA.
I’m guessing she’s young and junior. Her career ends here and it should.
She is ruining her own career.
NTA. This is absolutely ludicrous. They should choose to do the bare minimum of their job. Napping on and off while having a plan for quick wake up and responding to the first page due to working far too many hours is one understanding choice(obviously within reasons and boundaries)but that on top of not caring, and literally choosing to socialize? Why is she getting any credit or income if y’all are typically stuck doing her part while attempting to locate her/get a response from her. That’s absolutely insane. You’re completely in the right.
Ask those other nurses if you should wait for a patient to die before you report her? Then during the investigation it’ll come out how often the doctor was unavailable and you guys will be asked why you didn’t report this unsafe behavior.
Patient safety should always come first in a hospital. Those people are completely dependent on their doctors and nurses. NTA at all and thank you for the work you do.
NTA.
She needs to be fired immediately. She’s lucky no one has died yet.
If she’s so burnt out she can’t even do her job, she needs to take a break instead of pretending she’s fine and putting lives at risk.
So, who would have been responsible if something happened during one of Dr Riley’s unauthorized absences? And what if an investigation uncovered that you and your coworkers were complicit through covering up Dr Riley’s frequent breaks? Is everyone willing to risk losing their jobs?
NTA
If by ‘good working relationship supporting each-other’ she meant ‘having you cover for her laziness without ever returning the favor’ she nailed it. I’d bring that up if she ever plays the ‘woe is me’ card again
NTA. Patients lives are at stake and nurses are so over worked with too many patients.
She was out drinking on the job?! She needs to lose her license. Being under the influence of alcohol is one of the most dangerous things a doctor can do. She could easily kill a person if she’s practicing medicine while intoxicated.
You have an on-call doctor phoning it in and skipping work in the fucking ICU? What exactly is the good thing here? If you fuck up, it’s her neck on the line. If a patient dies and Riley could’ve saved them, that’s on her as well. All she appears to have done is slacked off and expected you to cover for her. Not a good arrangement imo.
NTA
As a parent of a kid who has been in PICU, thank you for doing this, I know it must make things awkward at work but you did the right thing for the patients whom have no way to protect themselves
NTA. There are jobs where, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter if you slack off or shirk your responsibilities. Medical professions are not like that. Other people’s lives are at stake. While less immediately life-or-death, I feel very similarly about my job at a courthouse. When it impacts others, you either need to do your job, or find a different one.