discovered and reported falsification of VS

Nurses Safety

Published

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:

At the LTC facility I just quit, I would put "Vitals requested by ___7 PM____" (it's a fill in the blank form). I addressed some of the nurses about how the CNAs don't honor that time frame. (We 'expect' to use those vitals in our 2nd med pass.) I was told to do my own vials on heart med patients because "the CNAs make up those numbers" and can't be trusted. :uhoh3: Really? Wow....and we have them why?

We also dealt with the standard change of shift complaint where the majority of the pts were soaking wet and not changed!

However, I will point out that we had a couple of VERY good CNAs. One would grab the nurse at the slightest appearance of possible skin breakdown. A couple of CNAs were also alert enough to grab the nurses when this or that patient "didn't look right". (They were correct. 1 pt was cold and clammy. A diabetic, so the first thing I checked was glucose. 200+ blood sugar, so that wasn't the problem. The CNA couldn't get the BP even manually. I did and it was low. Sent pt off to ER and she was expired before morning.)

I just don't understand why the facility tolerates this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I hate lazy people I swear. I have 12 post op Patients, Q4 vitals for all of them and I love taking VS. I don't understand why people makeup numbers, it take less than 2 minutes to take BP,T,R,P, pulse ox. I actually love manual BP, I am in nursing school and I love to practice, I don't want to rely on the dynamap. The thing that bothers me the most is when people count the respirations for 15 seconds and they don't have a watch and they don't even watch the clock on the wall, really?! I just can't stand it when student nurses make up all the VS just to finish early, or because they don't know how to take a manual BP. This is so stupid, bc that's why you are attending college to learn, mistakes are accepted, you learn, you practice, so you don't mess up in the real world. I can't sleep at night if I make someone upset forget about making up VS. I love my job, not only i get paid but it is also a great learning experience and I always volunteer to take manual BPs even though I know

how to.shame on those who makeup data. Lazy people r my phobia. I always help my nurses, even when they never ask me to. I love my coworkers with all my heart and I am treated like an angel. I love it when I go to work and nurses tell me, I wish you worked this day or that day etc. There were times when I couldn't get a BP, I run to the nurse and tell her to take it. No big deal. Have a heart people and stop making up pt data, how the helll would you feel if the pt was your dad, mom, gma, gpa, child etc?!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Falsification of medical records is a felony.....

A possible 5 years in prison, and/or $250,000 fine.... worth it? :eek:

http://www.ehow.com/info_8396562_consequences-falsifying-medical-records.html

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma/ICU step-down.
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.

I have to add that luckily my manager DOES respect honesty and integrety and THANKED me for having the courage to step up and report the CNA's blatant wrong-doing when it would have been easier to let it go...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm pretty sure our pt's will snitch if their vital signs aren't taken because they are constantly asking, "when is that girl coming back to take my blood pressure/blood sugar/temperature/etc..." and if they're late? They'll push the call button to let us know! lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro/ MS.

As a tech this has happened to me. I came in to work to help the floor out one morning. The tech that I received a half butt report from told me that a pt that she had taken to dialysis needed an FSBS...my reply we dont leave the floor to complete FSBS but I would ask the RN if its alright (mind you I have been on my unit for about 3.5 yrs and its not something I have ever done). She told me that she would go do it. I waited almost 45mins to get report, while waiting she walks out of another pts room with the accucheck machine. Gives a RN the results. About 15mins after she leaves the pm RN (this is about 8am now) starting checking accucheck for her patients, the pca had given the same number for all of her pts including the dialysis pt. She had 10pts 6 had accuchecks and had given 2 RNs the same number.

She was written up and nothing came of it. She was allowed to transfer to an ICU unit at another hospital in the system. I was too through. I went and checked everyones v/s and accuchecks. Ridculous.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health.

I always preferred to do my own vitals on assessment and throughout the shift. This was frowned upon, but I had my reasons.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health.
Falsification of medical records is a felony.....

A possible 5 years in prison, and/or $250,000 fine.... worth it? :eek:

http://www.ehow.com/info_8396562_consequences-falsifying-medical-records.html

Would the felony apply to CNA's?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Would the felony apply to CNA's?

Absolutely. Falsification is falsification. If someone is approved to document, they are held to those standards.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I always preferred to do my own vitals on assessment and throughout the shift. This was frowned upon, but I had my reasons.

I also would not give cardiac medicines based on anyone's assessment findings but my own. Surprised this wasn't previously mentioned.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma/ICU step-down.
I also would not give cardiac medicines based on anyone's assessment findings but my own. Surprised this wasn't previously mentioned.

Really? All medical professionals should be able to expect that their team members behave themselves professionally and ethically within their scope of practice as outlined by their nursing/professional board. Expecting that the vital signs recorded into the patients chart are true should be the norm, not the exception. Are you saying you delegate nothing? It sounds like you are implying that the delegation of VS to a CNA (all my CNAs are CNA2's, even more qualified) is inappropriate...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.
Really? All medical professionals should be able to expect that their team members behave themselves professionally and ethically within their scope of practice as outlined by their nursing/professional board. Expecting that the vital signs recorded into the patients chart are true should be the norm, not the exception. Are you saying you delegate nothing? It sounds like you are implying that the delegation of VS to a CNA (all my CNAs are CNA2's, even more qualified) is inappropriate...

Anything outside of routine VS I get my own. I trust only me.....it's my license.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment