Patient claims of Abuse

[helpme,]

Hello allnurses, I am a newly graduate RN working at a skilled nursing facility. About a week ago, a patient verbalized to me that "The CNA was rude to her". Is this considered abused already? and if so, what can happen to me, my license and my records if i missed to report the incident? Im very much afraid that it will appear on my record on ca.rn.gov.. If anyone can share their experience or have any idea what can happen will greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[JZ_RN]

Sounds like staff splitting and manipulation, and "rudeness and swearing" is certainly unprofessional, but does not legally qualify as "abuse." Talk with your supervisor about it, make sure to document the inconsistent story and that you did not know what happened at first or that you didn't say things she said you did.

[LFrieds]

Ugh. I recognize that some patients can be manipulators but really, is that an excuse for us to be rude or abusive? 2 wrongs...

First..report to your Abuse coordinator and let them do the investigation. If you don't know who that is, then ask! It's not your responsibility as the floor nurse to investigate allegations. Report off to your superiors and go about your business.

Abuse is subjective, to the patient. It's his/her perspective. ANY potential abuse needs to be reported. If you suspect it, report it.:) good luck!

[sauconyrunner]

I agree with Merlyn. Report it. FIll out one of those incident reports. Let them do the investigation. Now....someone being rude to someone is not "abuse" or we might have to put most MD's into the clink for it. BUT...

Filling out an incident report stating, Pt states Mary Jo was rude to her, etc. allows for management to address the issue. If Mary Jo has never been rude before...an isolated incident. If Mary Jo has 10 incidents of different residents complaining of rudeness...well...someone needs to talk to Mary Jo about how she is perceived. Rude does not always equal abuse, or we would all be in trouble. It's a persons perception, not an action.

Case in point. I work with an MD who does not really have an Office. He has an open area on the unit, with no door, and glass walls. People tend to interrupt him a lot when he is there. I used to do it all the time. He one day told me he felt that I was rude because I approached him all the time there. I was pretty hurt. Then I thought about it and realized if that really is his office area, then I was essentially walking directly into an office, no knocking, etc. I was being rude. I apologized and learned from it. He is still a little bit of a cocky jerk, but...in this case, I was actually being rude.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Sounds to me as if you have encountered a not so unusual specimen- called Elderius Manipulativatious.

I've heard it sometimes follows a common condition called Ageus Medius Full O.poopius.

[Merlyn]

I've heard it sometimes follows a common condition called Ageus Medius Full O.poopius.

Now you know better then to diagnose. The condition is really a PIA.

[maelstrom143]

I chart what the patient said and let the charge nurse know there is an issue. I also talk to the CNA and find out what her point of view is...often, what the patient says and what my CNA will not compute and therefore the discrepancy bears more investigation. I counsel my CNA as to appropriate behavior and charting everything she does/says and patient response, thereby creating a paper trail. I have encountered a few episodes I would consider abuse (i.e. threatening, physical neglect), but these have not been the norm in my 6 years of practice.

[helpme,]

How can you say that we are not concerned about the safety of the patient? Your putting a different context here.