Afraid for my License

[Goldenhare]

II'll try to keep this concise. I work at a small military hospital-please don't move this thread! A new graduate nurse, smart, but cocky, has joined our ranks. He is not being precepted well. In fact, you could argue, not at all. He rarely goes into his patient's rooms, can't seem to prioritize, ("Hey! Would you go check on that patient of mine who's having chest pain?") Draws up meds incorrectly-25mg of phenergren into a 10ml saline syringe and gives half the volume for a 12.5 mg dose, and popped a pill into his hand to give in to the patient at the bedside-the patient complained to me. There is more- much, much more. I have been to management, but there is no plan to withdraw him from the floor. I feel my license is at risk. Advice? Feel free to message me

[pookyp, LPN]

Why are you afraid for YOUR license? I don't get it.

[Psychcns]

Why is your license at risk?? Are you in charge?? What is your responsibility to this person?? You have been to management..to me it seems it is their concern now..

[DoeRN]

If you aren't directly involved with his nursing practice why is your license at risk?

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

[Goldenhare]

I am civilian, which adds to the problem because I am told over and over again that the military nurses cannot be sued, which I don't believe, but they do. Many times there are only 2 nurses on the floor. Many times I have had to correct things he has done or intervene,or feel that I should intervened or the safety of the patient. If something does go wrong, I may be the only recourse. Isn't my liability increased because he endangers patients?

[Psychcns]

For there to be a lawsuit, there has to be things like duty to the patient, breach of duty, and harm. Do you have your own assignment? Does he report to you? How has management responded to your concerns? You might want to call your malpractice carrier for advice. You might want to keep a log of your communication with him and with management. I think, unless he is reporting to you, you are not liable. I think it is up to management to address your concerns--or his preceptor--maybe that is where you should be taking your concerns..as a new hire he is probably on probation

[Goldenhare]

Ok that's what I was thinking. I have been to see management twice. I am going to put things in writing to them. I am keeping notes. I have spoken to one of the preceptorship and she has told me to mind my own business. The other civilian nurses are on my side. Some have refused to work with him-that's how he ended up on my shift. And I will be calling my carrier on Monday. Thank you.