Accused of Falsifying Vital Signs

Nurses General Nursing Nursing Q/A

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Specializes in Post acute.
Accused of Falsifying Vital Signs

I'm a registry nurse and I worked at a facility for 1 day. I never worked there again but 6 months later I received a letter in the mail stating that I was being accused of falsifying vital signs by the DON.

Upon further inspection, I was told that 20 different nurses received this same letter.

I spoke to the board investigator and she said that they had 3 patients they were looking into that the facility's Don stated I falsified vital signs.

This case has been going on for 5 months and counting and I've been stressed for so long regarding what the outcome is.

I honestly don't even remember that day and it's unlike me to falsify vital signs in fact I wear a Fanny pack with my thermometer, blood pressure cuff and pulse oximeter at all times. So I'm just extremely stressed out because it's unlike me to falsify vitals 

Do you guys know what possibly might happen? 

23 Answers

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

It sounds like there was an investigation. I'd guess that the patients' condition changed (maybe after your shift) and previously documented vital signs did not reflect declining conditions.  For example, a respiratory rate that did not reflect sepsis. 

Or maybe a surveyor noted that all patients have the exact same respiratory rate. 

Something along that nature.

Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
Wuzzie said:

Whaaaaat?! You mean that not everyone has a RR of 16? ?

My first job was on respiratory medicine with a sub-speciality of adult cystic fibrosis, so everyone had a raised respiratory rate. This was 1986, manual BPs, manual pulses, mercury thermometers so a set of vitals took you ages, and with no saturometers the RR was always done systematically. It was common practice among some nurses, provided the patient wasn't visibily distressed, to just record 20 for everybody except the cystics who got 28.

One cystic asked my colleague just after having vitals done "What was my respiratory rate nurse?" "28" responded my colleague, to which tha patient replied, "Well that's amazing since I was holding my breath!"

Specializes in Geriatrics.

Something triggered an investigation by the facility or state surveyors and according to your post the Board of Nursing is now investigating.  What I find odd is that twenty other nurses are also being investigated since they received the same letter. If your five months into the investigation I take it that you have given your statement to them already. For future reference if you are being accused and investigated remain quiet and hire a lawyer. It is possible there is an alert and oriented resident that made a fuss and reported that nurses were not obtaining the resident’s V/S, or someone saw that the V/S had an obvious pattern, or possibly a resident was documented with normal V/S and no change in condition but suddenly went into distress, and ends up with a diagnosis of septic shock, just as an example. There’s too many scenario’s and not enough information to say for sure.  I have experience as a nurse manager and the longest I’ve known so far for a nurse to receive a decision is about six months. 

Specializes in Geriatrics.

Well the problem or saving Grace is that if the only documentation in the electronic or paper record was done by the nurse then she owns it regardless of who obtained them. Or Unless for instance this was a patient complaint that v/s were not being done by the CNA but there is documentation of normal, stable V/S from the CNA,  you got no report from the CNA that anyone was in distress or just acting unusual for them, also when you made your rounds all patients were fine and had no evident distress, that would be your saving grace.  So either the patient is lying or the CNA falsified normal V/S and you trusted the values given and doing your diligence by making rounds and getting no reports of an issue then you would be fine. That’s just a scenario, we don’t know the details of the investigation. A nurse has every reason to trust her CNA’s and if they don’t report an issue but you see on the V/S sheet abnormals then of course you would check on the patient and obtain your own set and of course document the occurrence to prove you did assess the pt, your findings, and any actions. CNA’s are licensed and trained to obtain vitals and you are in the right to accept them as accurate. Personally I obtain my own until I know who I can and cannot trust and any abnormals I assess, and I am a huge promoter of documentation. It can save you. Last I would have to say that it is hard to imagine 20 nurses and the same thing and evidently with the same patients or unit that this happened the way it is stated, more info is needed for sure. 

Specializes in Geriatrics.

Good practice on your part. So I have to tell this little gem. I was at home after working all day and of my nurses sent me a screen shot of the V/S sheet for the 3-11 shift and the respirations and HR’s were so bad that I sent her a text letting her know which patients were already dead, which ones were about to die, and which ones she better start CPR on.  Needles to say they were all fine and the CNA received extensive training that she didn’t receive while taking the CNA course, and evidently she was embarrassed to ask for help. So this was a case of the girl just flat out falsifying but also no clue as to what close to normal should be to pull off the lie. Scary stuff!!

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

"Unlike me" is not the same as "I have never done that in my life so I KNOW I couldn't possibly have done what they accuse me of".

Which is it?

On 11/2/2022 at 12:19 PM, Nurse Beth said:

Or maybe a surveyor noted that all patients have the exact same respiratory rate. 

Whaaaaat?! You mean that not everyone has a RR of 16? ?

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.
On 11/2/2022 at 2:20 PM, Wuzzie said:

Whaaaaat?! You mean that not everyone has a RR of 16? ?

Well, they actually do most places I've worked ???

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
On 11/2/2022 at 2:20 PM, Wuzzie said:

Whaaaaat?! You mean that not everyone has a RR of 16? ?

I remember going to my PCP when I had influenza and pneumonia. I watched the MA chart “16” for RR, when my actual RR was like 30. 

Specializes in ER.
On 11/2/2022 at 2:20 PM, Wuzzie said:

Whaaaaat?! You mean that not everyone has a RR of 16? ?

16 or 18...gotta mix it up a little ???

On 11/2/2022 at 2:20 PM, Wuzzie said:

Whaaaaat?! You mean that not everyone has a RR of 16? ?

No, it's 18. ?

19 hours ago, Plumrose15153 said:

I’m a registry nurse and I worked at a facility for 1 day. I never worked there again but 6 months later I received a letter in the mail stating that I was being accused of falsifying vital signs by the DON.

Upon further inspection, I was told that 20 different nurses received this same letter.

I spoke to the board investigator and she said that they had 3 patients they were looking into that the facility’s Don stated I falsified vital signs.

This case has been going on for 5 months and counting and I’ve been stressed for so long regarding what the outcome is.

I honestly don’t even remember that day and it’s unlike me to falsify vital signs in fact I wear a Fanny pack with my thermometer, blood pressure cuff and pulse oximeter at all times. So I’m just extremely stressed out because it’s unlike me to falsify vitals 

Do you guys know what possibly might happen? 

OK, you're a bit sporifice on details.  The DON from your previous facility is investigating you and possibly 20 other nurses?  How were you notified?  By the state nursing board, Dept of Health, law firm, etc.? First off, do not give any further statements.  If you haven't given a statement, don't.  Get an attorney and if you don't already have one.  NSO provides insurance that pays IMMEDIATELY, not reimbursement.  Be smart and stay quiet.  And was there any allegation of patient harm from this situation?  What is their proof?

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