Help! Am I Responsible

[tigress_8207, ASN, BSN]

Hi all just in need a bit if advice.I am a new nurse working on a medical floor.While working night duty with another RN with a patient ratio of basically 1 nurse to 12 pts. I admitted an 86yr old male from the accident and emergency department to the unit at 03:00hrs. He came with syncope,decompensated ccf secondary to ACS,Ischemic heart disease.A-Fib,Mitral regurgitation, Diabetic and Hypertensive.He was Oxygen at 3L/MIN Nasal Cannula Alert and responsive to verbal commands.My assessment also revealed hearing aids to both ears.he was wearing glasses,had in a urethral catheter and milde pedal edema bilaterally.Temp 35 pulse 93,R 24.BP 165/80,Random blood glucose 8.6.unit has no saturation probe as case with majority of units so no saturation percentage could be ascertained at the time.Braden score 19 and a falls risk score of 10.Falls wrist band was placed,sign places and cot sides up.About and hour later while checking on pt he was out of bed and a bi confused.I assisted him back in to bed.He later pulled out his cathether still inflated and small amout of bleeding from member.Dr was called requested a condom sheath be placed until able to see patient I cleaned it of with some saline and placed condom sheath.Later pt was restless and kept trying to get out of bed and had to be restrained for his safety.I handed him over to next shift and left.Was told wife is missing back piece from one of the hearing aids and wants hospital to compensate.Heads have asked me to write a report.It is my understanding now that hearing aid should have been confiscated by the Accident and Emergency department as is done with all personal belongings.I documented all my findings and care given to this patient during my shift but i feel like i did something wrong.Should i have taken off the hearing aids and stored them?Any Advice is much appreciated.Thanks Guys.

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

Well short answer is yes. But honestly, how can he hear you without his hearing aids? If the wife was not present during admission and the pt was confused, then your hands were tied.

[generalRN2008]

We usually take them out and put in a denture box at night for confused people.

[tigress_8207, ASN, BSN]

Wife was not present and the nurse that came with him did not hand over that he was confused or anything. Didnt even give full diagnosis.Got diagnosis from his notes like we usually do.Like i said i had no idea that hearing Aids were to be removed before being admitted to us.

[tigress_8207, ASN, BSN]

Another thing is why am I and the charge sister who wasnt even there at the time the only ones being asked to write a report.What about the emergency nurses whos job it is to secure all patients personal belongings and have declaration form signed?

[olaoba]

I dont think its your fault, the emergency nurses should take responsibility also

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

just write what you know. I wonder why hearing aids are confiscated, since that creates a real disability for the patient.

[tigress_8207, ASN, BSN]

I really love my job but things like this make me want to quit nursing.I have been barely on this unit for 2 months after rotating from a surgical floor which i absolutely loved.We had each other's backs but staff on this unit are always ready to throw you under the bus first chance they get.This unit is absolutely horrifying.I have resorted to documenting every detail of my shifts however insignificant i think it is and taking pics of doctors orders etc.My husband has even suggested i purchase a small tape recorder to record all conversations and i think i will do just that.Its every man for himself on this unit.

[ADeks]

I would be weary of taking pictures of hospital orders... Also you may not be allowed to record conversations.

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

I would be weary of taking pictures of hospital orders... Also you may not be allowed to record conversations.

Yes. Both are illegal.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

"no saturation probe as case with majority of units so no saturation percentage could be ascertained at the time."

Heart failure, respirations of 24 ,and O2 @ 3 liters.

Who CARES about the hearing aids.. the guy is hypoxic and it's not even being measured!

[Wile E Coyote, ASN, RN]

"Confiscating" someone's assistive device(s) would lead to even poorer orientation, communication, etc. In my time at the bedside, I've never seen staff held personally accountable for a patient's belongings, outside of suspected theft or a pervasive pattern of negligence.

I too, would recommend not making copies or recordings containing sensitive patient info...by producing any such evidence for your defense, all you'd guarantee would be the end of your employment.