Pending investigation

fedupnurse · Jun 22, 2002

You should have been told but since the charge nurse took it upon herself to do the note in the computer she/he should have also done the IR. How stupid to not tell the nurse responsible for the patient! Good luck, let us know what happens.

By the way, for anyone who may be in a legal situation, never use the facilities attorneys. They are there to serve the facility's best interests not ours. I recommended a private lawyer to a friend who is being sued for malpractice (the famiy just wants money) and he said yeah, yeah, yeah and decided to stay with the hosp lawyer. This is a case that never should have gotten past depositions and it has gone to trial and he is the only real defendant. He told me the other day he wished he had taken my advice because the hosp lawyer is an idiot. I wish he had too.

susanmary · Jun 22, 2002

You are responsible for the residents under your care -- as is your charge nurse. The CNA should have directly reported the incident to you so that you could have assessed the patient and written an incident report. I can't imagine why she went to the charge nurse & not to you. What is the charge nurse's position -- why didn't she notify YOU? Did SHE document an assessment? Sounds very fishy to me .... an "old fracture on his clavicle?" -- a 2 or 3 day old fracture is NOT an old fracture. I don't think you know the truth -- there is much more to this -- don't allow yourself to be the scape goat.

Peeps Mcarthur · Jun 22, 2002

Yup, I'm with ya on that one Susanmary.

Why didn't the charge tell the aid to report it to you..................Great back-up on that one..............Wonder what else they decided not to tell you?........Uhmmm. :confused:

nursegoodguy · Jun 23, 2002

I would think the nurse who was notified and did the note was responsible to make sure you were also notified if you were to do any follow up on the patient. If it's not reported to you then there is nothing you can do. I agree also that an old fx is not a 3 day old fracture... sounds like some family thinks they can make a buck...

mattsmom81 · Jun 23, 2002

I don't know how anyone could expect you to write up an incident report on an incident you didn't know about....

Perhaps you SHOULD write it up from your standpoint of not being informed...and word everything from others' stated viewpoint.

CYA.

night owl · Jun 23, 2002

Went back to work last night after being off for two days and the RN charge nurse was given a written counceling about writting an incident report when ANYTHING happens to a resident whether it's a fall, or a fight with another resident etc. We searched all the notes on the resident about this incident and he had full ROM with his arm, no pain upon movement and the Orthoman had determined that he did have an old Fx, so apparently he had an injury there sometime ago. They were so interested about this injury that they NEVER followed up one month later with another x-ray. So far nothing was said to me and it shouldn't because I really wasn't involved (thank God). I was just a wreck b/c I thought I might be put through the ringer. PHEEEEEW!

BadBird, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2002

I don't know how you could be held responsible if you were not aware of the incident. Did you sign off on the note that the charge nurse wrote? I can't believe the charge nurse did not tell you, and I can't believe he/she is a charge nurse. Is the patient AO x3 or confused? If alert why didn't the patient inform you? So many questions that need to be directed to the charge nurse in any litigation should arrise, I think you are off the hook. good luck.