Well.. I guess I am going to be canned

Nurses Safety

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Hi all

I am a new nurse 4 mos off orientation working on a med/surge nuero floor 6 patient ratio. Its a brutal floor and yet.. I manage to survive albeit exhausted and oft times just disillusioned with the Candy Land notion of nursing I had in school.

So, what did I do? I let someone work outside of their scope of practice under my watch. Yes and now I have to go to Human Resources to have an interview b/c said patient has a PTSD issue (pysch) and it could potentially turn into a law suit. A housekeeper applied tape to a bandage, that was the practice outside of scope and told me and I didn't report it to my manager, who later found out.

I apologized to the patient, management and see the error in my ways and am now feeling like a dang fool. So, pray that I can salvage my job, but I think I will get the boot.

Specializes in Going to Peds!.

You allowed a male housekeeper to apply tape to a female psych patient's thigh. That wasn't smart. She could claim he fondled her. She may actually get something from her lawsuit. Probably an out of court settlement. Lots of facilities settle instead of spending $$$$ on defending a suit.

Sent from my HTC One X using allnurses.com

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Well, now THAT was an overreaction......if they're going to fire nurses for something like this, who knows what they do to the ones who do something really egregious, like giving the wrong patient a dose of insulin? Drag 'em out to the town square and hang 'em at high noon?

I'm not saying that what happened with the patient is right, and the OP should have been written up for it. But fired??! I'm no fan of unions, but if she works in a union hospital her rep ought to be jumping all over this.

One thing's for sure, though---I bet the OP never makes a mistake like this again. I just hope she doesn't get scared out of the profession (and I couldn't blame her if she did leave, this treatment was abominable!). We don't have a nurse to waste. Sure wish management would get that.

This :yes:

Lessons learned OP...((((HUGS))))

:down:

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You allowed a male housekeeper to apply tape to a female psych patient's thigh. That wasn't smart. She could claim he fondled her. She may actually get something from her lawsuit. Probably an out of court settlement. Lots of facilities settle instead of spending $$$$ on defending a suit.

Sent from my HTC One X using allnurses.com

I agree that this was a judgement issue for the nurse. However, I would have no concerns about a lawsuit or settlement. The patient has to prove actual harm and in this case there obviously was no harm to the patient unless there is something we don't know about. It's a shame the employer didn't stand behind the nurse and use this as a teaching moment.

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Specializes in Going to Peds!.

I agree that this was a judgement issue for the nurse. However, I would have no concerns about a lawsuit or settlement. The patient has to prove actual harm and in this case there obviously was no harm to the patient unless there is something we don't know about. It's a shame the employer didn't stand behind the nurse and use this as a teaching moment.

I believe the suit is frivolous, but I thought the McDonald's coffee suit was too. Duh, coffee's hot. Don't spill it!

I think the patient & her lawyer could possibly make enough noise that the hospital offers them a settlement just to make them go away.

Sent from my HTC One X using allnurses.com

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I agree with the last poster! This is trivial and you didn't even ask the person to do it. Occasionally a CNA would change a simple dressing on a bedsore after cleaning the patient up and I let them. The situation sounds ridiculous and overblown and frankly I don't see what the patient could sue for? What does their PTSD have to do with it anyway? No harm was done! I can't imagine you would lose your job over this. Frankly it sounds trumped up that you would even have to go to HR over this. Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC/LTAC.

No it wasn't smart. There is no "law suit pending" My manager simply stated she "could" bring one, like anybody "can" bring a suit about anything. Tks for the empathy.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I agree with the last poster! This is trivial and you didn't even ask the person to do it. Occasionally a CNA would change a simple dressing on a bedsore after cleaning the patient up and I let them. The situation sounds ridiculous and overblown and frankly I don't see what the patient could sue for? *What does their PTSD have to do with it anyway?* No harm was done! I can't imagine you would lose your job over this. Frankly it sounds trumped up that you would even have to go to HR over this. Good luck!

Maybe her PTSD is related to men...*shrugs*

Either way, OP should've gotten canned. :yes:

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Dear Nichristeve,

Please don't sweat just yet. You cannot and will not be held responsible for the actions of non-licensed personel who acted without you giving them a direct order to do so. If a housekeeper gave a patient tape, put tape on a patient or even went further outside their scope, you are not responsible for his/her actions unless "You" gave them a direct order to do so. The most that your supervisor can do is "verbally" reprimand you for not reporting this to the unlicensed persons manager or filling out an incident report. Administrative and punitive action cannot be taken against any nurse for what "might" have happened. Now, if you continue to have issues with not reporting patient safety concerns, you could definitely get into some trouble.

Your board of nursing cannot take action against you either and they won't. Boards of nursing look at delegation of tasks. Who delegated and was the delegation appropriate? Did harm come to the patient? Also, for clarification... a piece of tape is considered basic first aide. Most hospitals require all staff, including housekeepers to have basic CPR and first aide training. That said, your housekeeper may have acted within his or her own perceived "good samaritan" scope. Whether it was right or wrong really does not matter with regards to you. Again, this issue was not YOUR responsibility. No harm came to this patient BECAUSE of your actions. At most, you might be scrutinized for your follow up action by your employer. Remember, you had nothing to do with the incident itself and could not have prevented it from occurring.

Please protect your rights and contact your union (if you have one) immediately before speaking to anyone in admin. or human resources. If you do not have a union, you may go to the meeting with your Administrators, but please do not make any statements about your actions. Do not defend it, or explain it. Simply let them know you need to speak with a lawyer before proceeding as you have very valid concerns and rights that need to be protected. You have the right to have a lawyer present if your job or license are being threatened.

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Specializes in Peds ED, Peds Stem Cell Transplant, Peds.

I am sorry, but if nurses have to clean rooms the housekeepers should be able to apply tape on a bandaid

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Specializes in LTC/LTAC.

Thank you Nurse Betty

Your reply made me feel a lot better. The deed has been done ( I was fired) and I don't think anyone will be going to the board of nursing. The Don was present and my nurse manager along with a HR rep who was supposed to be my advocate. They were alluding to concerns about me not practicing safely going forward. I have received corrective actions (education) 2 x before this for basic job knowledge. Again, I am a NEW nurse, who handles my job duties with efficiency and autonomy because my charge nurse is usually no help. I am looking at this as a CYA from now on AND will be careful about patients, staff, managers and every damned body else. I am in Florida, no union. In the interview, I was lauded for my confidence and demeanor in never seeming to fluster as a new grad RN with the intense pace of the floor. Tks, yet got a backhanded compliment with "my never asking questions scared the manager". Um.. what? So.. maybe it is best that we separated. It seems like the place was not nurturing at all.

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Specializes in Going to Peds!.
No it wasn't smart. There is no "law suit pending" My manager simply stated she "could" bring one like anybody "can" bring a suit about anything. Tks for the empathy.[/quote']

Yes, any one can sue for any number of frivolous reasons. Depending on the incident, the hospital can choose to settle, defend, etc.

We've all had dumb dumb moves. If we're lucky, they'll be minor & garner a verbal warning.

Sent from my HTC One X using allnurses.com

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Phoenix2541, I hope a better door of opportunity opens up for you soon. I was fired from my job not too long ago - allowed myself a little pity party, reflected on what happened, picked myself back up and am moving on. If it makes you feel any better, I was fired for walking a stable patient (wearing a high fall risk armband) a short distance to a nearby department rather than transport him by wheelchair (no written policy and I'd never been told this was required until after I ambulated my patient). No harm occurred to my patient. Anyway, we all live and learn. Good luck on finding a job that you love!

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