Am I fired? CNA Checking Blood Sugar

[oldie]

Well something unfortunate happened...I am both an LVN and CNA at different jobs. I was at my CNA job when an RN asked me to check a B/S, I did it without even thinking twice (because I do it all the time at my other job) Someone saw and reported it. Am I fired ? What are your thoughts? Thanks 

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

1 hour ago, klone said:

Doesn't your glucometer require you to log in with your username/employee badge?

I'm not in the US but I have never heard of this. Is this common? Have we really reached this level of mistrust?

[Davey Do]

6 minutes ago, DavidFR said:

I'm not in the US but I have never heard of this. Is this common? Have we really reached this level of mistrust?

It's not only trust, but lessens mistakes and is cost effective, DavidFR.

In the old days a patient's name band was not scanned so the results could get mixed up. Also, many employees who were diabetics would make free use of the equipment.

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

51 minutes ago, Davey Do said:

It's not only trust, but lessens mistakes and is cost effective, DavidFR.

In the old days a patient's name band was not scanned so the results could get mixed up. Also, many employees who were diabetics would make free use of the equipment.

I can see the safety aspect of scanning a patient's name band, and bravo, that's a move forward. We are introducing something similar for chemo and yes, that's good. But for the staff member to have to scan their ID or log in - to a glucometer???? Seems extreme to me. How do students practise?

Many's the time I've let a student take my blood sugar for the practice.  They've taken my vitals and practised ECGs on me.

So if your colleague is feeling faint on duty, you can't even check their blood glucose? Are you allowed to check their blood pressure or do you have to scan into the dynamap?

I know there are nurses who would hide their mistakes, but most of us wouldn't and I just feel we are being more and more infantilised while our professional integrity is more and more undermined.  Will we arrive at taped conversations with patients? CCTV cameras in every room? I'm not going to go on a blood sugar spree for the fun it.

[oldie, CNA, LVN]

On 1/11/2021 at 6:59 PM, DavidFR said:

Will we arrive at taped conversations with patients? CCTV cameras in every room? I'm not going to go on a blood sugar spree for the fun it.

Actually yes every patient room has cameras in it.

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

1 hour ago, oldie said:

Actually yes every patient room has cameras in it.

I find that very  sad. Were there lots of cases of abuse?

[oldie, CNA, LVN]

1 minute ago, DavidFR said:

I find that very  sad. Were there lots of cases of abuse?

No no! No cases of abuse ever where I work! They say its for patient safety , I do find it creepy though and I wonder if thats a violation of privacy but apparently patients are aware of it.

[Sour Lemon]

3 hours ago, DavidFR said:

I'm not in the US but I have never heard of this. Is this common? Have we really reached this level of mistrust?

I've never seen it as a trust issue, it seems more like a charting issue. The results are automatically uploaded into the system, as opposed to me charting them manually.

[oldie, CNA, LVN]

Well I didn't hear anything today and I work tomorrow, Ill let you know what happens.

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

1 hour ago, Sour Lemon said:

I've never seen it as a trust issue, it seems more like a charting issue. The results are automatically uploaded into the system, as opposed to me charting them manually.

Wow, that is advanced. It's not that long ago  we were still charting on paper!

[klone, MSN, RN]

13 hours ago, Sour Lemon said:

I've never seen it as a trust issue, it seems more like a charting issue. The results are automatically uploaded into the system, as opposed to me charting them manually.

Exactly. Signing in to the glucometer, using it, and docking it, allows the result to go directly to the patient's chart, with my name attached as the person getting the blood sugar. Easy peasy.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

In addition to the charting ease mentioned above, requiring a log in also ensures that the person has demonstrated competency at my facility. Annual verification of proper technique is required by our lab to maintain access. If you don’t complete your competency within 7 days of its expiration, your access is locked out. 

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

21 hours ago, oldie said:

I am both an LVN and CNA at different jobs.

This is something that you will see several members including me advocating against. Your license holds you to one standard but the job description for the position below the level of your licensure results in additional restrictions. Yet the Board of Nursing will hold you to the level of your licensure. This can lead to being between a rock and a hard place when you know what is expected of you by your license but what is restricted by the employer.