discovered and reported falsification of VS

Nurses Safety

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Hello Nurses!

I need to vent and am interested in others' experiences... Yesterday, as I went to administer a BP med around 1600, I checked the patient's VS machine history and the last set of VS was taken at 0805. Now I specifically remember checking the electronic chart around 1230 and seeing a full set of VS documented for 1200 by my CNA. I re-checked the e-chart and confirmed that noon VS were entered. My heart sank! I printed off the VS machine history and showed my CRN, too P.O.'d to confront the CNA myself in a professional manner...took my first break of the shift (I work 7-1930, was super busy) while the CRN spoke with the CNA. The CNA proceeded to interrupt my break to chastise me for not asking her about it before going to my charge and then offered me a BS line that she took her assigned noon VS manually "for practice" because in her last review the manager said she needed more practice... YEAH RIGHT!!! I pointed out that she sure as hell didn't take the temp or SAO2 manually, so where'd she come up with those numbers????? As I expected, she couldn't explain that and walked away... I only managed to sit in the break room for a couple minutes before I was compelled (by a sick icky feeling) to go check the chart and VS machine of my other patient she was assigned to... Same ******* thing!!!!!!! GRRRRRRR. I called my RN manager @ home on her cell phone to report the CNA. My manager stated that the conversation the CNA alluded to where our manager asked the CNA to practice manual BPs never occurred... At my manager's request my CRN and I initiated a check of every single patient's chart this CNA was assigned to that day....UGH :mad:

Unfortunately, this CNA is quite popular with a lot of the RNs, to the point that many of them hang out socially. The unit is quite clique-ish, and I am anticipating that I am going to get a lot of "poop" for turning her in, as she will be fired, I'm sure. Already, some people are taking her "side", like I'm just trying to get her in trouble! I am in no way regretting reporting her. My first responsibility is to my patients. :nurse: While I would love to be well-liked by my peers, and generally am, I'm not there to be everyone's buddy. What she did is unethical, dangerous for the patients, and makes me wonder how long has she been doing this? How many patients have been medicated based on her false data? It makes me wanna scream!

Anyone else been in a similar situation or have any advise for me? :confused:

Specializes in Trauma/ICU step-down.
Ugh. I have unfortunately been in the exact same situation. The defensiveness when caught and all. I started looking in the room when they take their vitals. I can't for all, of course, but it lets them know I am watching...hate to babysit but it seems like I have to :(

Yeah, I will sure be more vigilant in the future. Luckily, since every room has it's own VS equipment that links to our electronic chart it is very easy to tell if the VS were entered manually or not. If entered manually, I can check the VS machine history to see if they were actually done. While our unit does posess one or two portable O2 monitors and portable digital thermometers still, they are difficult to find and often not in working condition... Yeah, I wish I didn't have to babysit as well. Wouldn't it be novel if evyone acted like responsibe adults and just did their jobs?

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I wouldn't worry about being liked. Would any of the other RNs on the floor be happy to take the fall for this friend of theirs if a pt suffers a major event after medicating based on the wrong VS? B/c you are the one whose license would suffer for that negligence. You did the right thing.

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Specializes in Trauma/ICU step-down.
We had someone at our facility who would even falsify abnormal vitals. It is NOT okay to tell the RN that an oncology patient has a temp of 38.7 when it's actually 36.9C!

For what possible reason would someone do that???? Munchhausen (sp.?) by proxy?

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Specializes in MDS/Office.

I once worked with a DON who I caught falsifying my signature on paperwork...

I confronted her & she denied it without blinking an eye...

I was afraid to go any further with this as I feared for my job...

Two years later this same DON was caught attempting to falsify records for the Fraud Unit...Know what they say about Karma... :cool:

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

When I worked in LTC, we (the day nurse and myself) suspected a couple of our CNA's of doing "creative charting" w/ the ADL's. One of our residents was admitted to the hospital for a week. We decided not to flag her page in the ADL book. For several straight shifts this hospitalized resident had 4 wet briefs/day a BM QOD and ate 50% to 75% of her meals. She was also turned Q 2 hrs. When they were reported to the DON, nothing happened but a slap on the wrist. I gave my notice the next week and the other nurse resigned about a week later. I wondered after I discovered that if they were also making up VS. I'm sure they were.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I've never had reason to double check a CNAs VS. I'm either incredibly naive, or incredibly lucky. Probably a little bit of both.

Can't say enough good things about the CNAs I work with. I don't think twice about giving Norvasc, Hydralazine, Lopressor, Prinivil, all to the same pt on the numbers they give me. The CNAs at my hospital are prime, and I let them know I think that every day I work with them.

I'm glad I don't work at a place where every piece of info the CNA provided was suspect.

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For what possible reason would someone do that???? Munchhausen (sp.?) by proxy?

Lazy :zzzzz

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I've never had reason to double check a CNAs VS. I'm either incredibly naive, or incredibly lucky. Probably a little bit of both.

Can't say enough good things about the CNAs I work with. I don't think twice about giving Norvasc, Hydralazine, Lopressor, Prinivil, all to the same pt on the numbers they give me. The CNAs at my hospital are prime, and I let them know I think that every day I work with them.

I'm glad I don't work at a place where every piece of info the CNA provided was suspect.

I think these are the exceptions :) The vast majority of CNAs I've worked with have been very good; in LTC, they're almost possessive of their residents. The dingbat I mentioned earlier was a fluke. Most have been wonderful. There are a few who have been idiots- but not intentionally falsifying- just not good at what they did (slow, impatient, arrogant,etc). JME :)

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Specializes in Trauma/ICU step-down.

Hospice Nurse LPN: Thank you for shareing your experience. Kudos to you for and your counterpart nurse for taking action instead of turning a blind eye. Off-topic, but also thank you for being involved in hospice care, it takes a special person to do so!

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Specializes in ER.
Wow, I appreciate your reply, but it's so bleak! Only by insisting on honesty, accountabilty, and integrity can we bring honor to our profession... Call me idealistic, but I have high standards and am not willing to compromise my patient care to avoid "trouble"...

Was about to tell you the same thing, girl! Your example will lead others. Though I go bleak from time to time, I'll remember you next time I decide to gloss over wrong doings on the unit.

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Wow, I appreciate your reply, but it's so bleak! Only by insisting on honesty, accountabilty, and integrity can we bring honor to our profession... Call me idealistic, but I have high standards and am not willing to compromise my patient care to avoid "trouble"...

This might be a bleak picture but it is an honest one. I have never worked in a facility where high standards and integrity were respected. Only too happy to leave this arena, to work where I can be honest under the radar.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.
I think these are the exceptions :) The vast majority of CNAs I've worked with have been very good; in LTC, they're almost possessive of their residents. The dingbat I mentioned earlier was a fluke. Most have been wonderful. There are a few who have been idiots- but not intentionally falsifying- just not good at what they did (slow, impatient, arrogant,etc). JME :)

The CNA's I work w/ now are great. The place I mentioned was really a dump. They can't keep nurses, but the same CNA's have been there for years. It's changed hands 5 or 6 times in the past few years.

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