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 LTC, Acute care.

I think I've mentioned on this boards before that I always, always take the pt's BP myself before I give any BP/cardiac meds. I feel more comfortable doing that than trusting another person's scribbled down numbers. What I have been unable to fathom is how all my pt's VS were done @1400 or 1800? Maybe the techs have clones of themselves and are in these different rooms at the exact same time...

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Only two CNAs I ever worked with were trustworthy when it came to vital signs or any other aspect of the job. And it is my license. I can see it now, sitting on the witness stand, "And why didn't you assess the heart rate?" If I'm going down the tubes, I can do it myself, don't need assistance. Shame that only two CNAs cared enough about their work to do it well, but that was the way it was.

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I think I've mentioned on this boards before that I always, always take the pt's BP myself before I give any BP/cardiac meds. I feel more comfortable doing that than trusting another person's scribbled down numbers. What I have been unable to fathom is how all my pt's VS were done @1400 or 1800? Maybe the techs have clones of themselves and are in these different rooms at the exact same time...

And if the BP isn't 120/80, it is 118/78.

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Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

I caught a CNA making up VS once, at a nursing home. The pt's pulse was typically in the 40's and she was BS'ing them.

I'm a new grad, and I was taught when you give a BP med check the BP before you give it, etc etc. I figure it's to cover myself as well, in case their pressure drops or something.

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Just because a CNA falsifies information does not mean the nurse is held liable. If the nurse knows the CNA isn't appropriately trained in VS, then yes- she is liable for using the VS as a basis for any action she takes.

CNAs can and have been sued for what THEY do. The nurse is not an automatic codefendant.

http://nursingassistants.net/category/observation-reporting-and-documentation/

http://cnatrainingprograms.org/certified-nursing-assistant-registration/

http://nursingassistants.net/legal-issues-for-cnas/

:)

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I always check my pt's VS before giving any cardiac, bp or diuretics. I like my CNA's, and I don't think they falsify, but I would prefer to know they were done by me. Just a bit of a CYA thing.

I would be livid to and those nurses that cover for her or protect her are off their rocker. If she is doing it to you, she will do it to them. Then what? Do you think they will trust those VS when it comes time to do their meds?

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When I was in nursing school, a few girls in my class worked at the local hospital and told me they made up vitals all the time. I asked them what they were thinking, and they said " what does it matter, if they are fine?" I said well they are called vital signs for a reason... some people...

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.
I had a CNA tell me he could do manual B.P.s w/o a stethoscope:eek: I suspected he was part BAT with sonar....definitely wasn't human :devil: He didn't last long.

Although i don't use this technique; you actually can measure a bp by looking at the dial and usually you can tell what the bp is by seeing where the dial "bumps". If you release the air slowly its usually pretty accurate. I dont actually do this but i have notice this when auscultating BP.

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I am horrified. I am an aide, tech- whatever you want to call it- and have NEVER made up vital signs. If I can not get a manual B/P or I am unsure (sometimes I have trouble hearing it if the room is noisy) I will tell the RN I am struggling and would they mind to double check what I got. But we mainly use automatic machines.

Seriously- it takes maximum 30 minutes to get vitals on 14 people. 30 minutes of time to make sure people are stable. It's crazy that somebody would rather spend however many minutes thinking of vitals and putting them in a chart than actually do them.

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One thing for sure....if my VS says 120/80 BP and 80 pulse, you know they were made up! I can't tell you how many times the auto-BP tried to take my BP then automatically reinflates! LOL My last BP after a reinflation was 90/56....that is while I am awake. Asleep my BP drops to 70ish/35ish. I am on cardiac meds d/t cardiomyopathy and it is a dance for my cardiologist. I can only pray that a nurse in a hospital would check my real VS before giving me meds!

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When I did stints in nursing homes, I checked in constantly, because there are a lot of medications to give and our techs were incredibly lazy.

On the floor I'm precepting (trauma ICU) there is one camera in each room (outside of the curtain of course, for privacy) and I've felt a lot better to be able to see the PSA going room to room with a thermometer and using it. Granted, we DAS our vitals from the machines directly (on the regular floor they do not have monitors hooked up) so I'm lucky to not have to rely on PSA for anything other than temperature and ADLs.

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I don't get why someone would make up VS either. It takes a few minutes to take and record a set of VS, but a it would take a lot longer NOT to do it and spend time trying to cover your tracks. Perhaps they don't understand they are called VITAL signs for a reason.

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