[TrudyRN]

Document, as already stated. But as an aide, do you chart notes?

Do keep your own record and do an incident report and keep a copy. Even if they tell you you aren't allowed to keep a copy, you can still write down the pt's name, the date, her statements, etc., who told you to do what and then deserted you, it sounds like, didn't help you with this extremely large patient, did PT put her into a chair and leave her there in a safe way, was her call bell handy, were wheels locked, was the chair at the right height, and all details, lighting levels, any obstacles on the floor, etc. Be thorough.

And no, you can't avoid all mentally ill persons. This patient needs therapy, maybe medication, for depression and anger.

Be strong. Go back to clinicals. God bless you.

[caroladybelle]

First, for a lawsuit to be successful, there must be some harm and there must be some deficit in care.

As there is no harm mentioned, there is nothing legit to sue on. And there does not seem to a deficit in care.

I have dealt with some highly dysfunctional people that deliberately fell, or were so noncompliant that they fell. You know the ones that can reach the call light to call and then ask you to hold their kleenex to blow their nose. Or the 240# lady that walked into the ER, but is too "tired" to get OOB to the chair. Then proceeds to try to injury the nurse by slipping while being transferred.

[am17sg05]

they are all right.documentation is the best weapon to save you from anything.example is we got a psych patient who was sent home by the doctor and pt claimed to the doctor that he is going to be ok.he went home and something bad happened.if not with the doctor's comprehensive documentation, the hospital could have been sued.make sure also that you inform the pt's primary doctor about pt's status and document md made aware to cover yourself whether there were orders or no orders made.

[santhony44]

Just make sure in any documentation that you keep it objective and factual. Don't say anything that might sound negative about the patient, no matter how badly you want to. Let the patient say it herself! And if the patient uses vulgar language, then chart exactly what was said, in quotes. Use as many direct quotations as possible.

This patient may try to file another lawsuit. If she goes to a lawyer, and persuades the lawyer that she night have a case, the lawyer or someone working for him will read the documentation. What you want to happen is for the incident to be documented so well and clearly that an outsider reading it will tell the lawyer that the case would be laughed out of court.

You can't avoid all potentially lawsuit-happy patients. I'm convinced that some people play the lottery and others file lawsuits, both looking for the big payoff.

In your nursing career, you will see cases where a patient or family did indeed have grounds for a lawsuit. Most of the ones I've seen never sued anyone.

[lannisz]

Don't worry. Keep good documentation of the incidents. Know that this patient having sued twice (successful or not) has already got a reputation for being "sue happy" - doesn't give her much credibility. Just be sure and cover yourself by putting it in writing. Know that these people are out there, you'll be OK.