Anyone have employer send abuse report to the state?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2014

If you have malpractice insurance call them immediately. Do not go to the BON without legal representation. What did you say that was abusive?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2014

Without all of the details, none of us can accurately predict what your personal outcome will be in this situation. I do know of nurses who have received formal warnings and censures from their state boards of nursing after allegations of verbal abuse, but I also emphasize that we do not know what will happen to you.

In the future, walk away from patients and residents who 'get up in your face.' After all, you are the professional. It is not worth it to tell patients exactly what you think of them. Good luck to you!

Joy3 · Mar 11, 2014

Update: I did receive a letter from the BON and they said they closed the case and deemed it a communication problem not abuse. Thank goodness. But just an fyi to all you new nurses, such as myself..it is only nursing homes that are bound by law to report you for verbal abuse for ANYthing you say to a client IF the client feels "offended" in ANY way. Which of course means that you are never safe since feeling offended is personal and not objective. Thanks for the advice, I wish I did just walk away.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2014

I'm glad for you. It is all about the patient your feelings don't matter at all. In the future...walk away and get another staff member for witness. Never retort with an answer.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Mar 12, 2014

In Massachusetts, there is a huge difference between verbal abuse and saying something offensive. Abuse has to have intent. It's amazing the amount of misinformation that gets posted on here.

Joy3 · Mar 12, 2014

Nope, sorry capecod, it's true for us in Washington. It is in something called "The Purple Book". It cites a lot of federal expectations as well and it clearly defines verbal abuse as anything "offensive" to the patient. It is the patient who must state that they were offended. It is for nursing homes only. If you'd like a pdf copy in order to believe it I will post it because it is important that nurses are properly informed. I should know I just went through it, hello!!! :) I started a new work orientation and they also said that if the patient states they felt offense then it is in fact verbal abuse.

Joy3 · Mar 12, 2014

I'd also like to add..that just because the purple books defines it as verbal abuse doesn't mean the BON or state must think that as well. It means that the nursing home MUST assume it was verbal abuse and report it to the BON as well as to adult protective services. It is policy at most all nursing homes that if ANY abuse is perceived as defined by the purple book that the nurse or employee must be terminated. It is then up to the BON and APS to do their own investigation if they think a crime occurred or if they think it was actual verbal abuse. So obviously the BON did not think it was abuse but the nursing home had to treat it as such due to the wording in the purple book.

Joy3 · Mar 12, 2014

Here is a link to the purple book http://www.altsa.dshs.wa.gov/professional/documents/purplebook.pdf

It defines abuse as:

There Was Impermissible,

Harmful, Offensive,

or

Unwanted Physical, Verbal,

or

Non

-

Verbal Contact or

Intervention with the Resident

That Cannot Be Properly justified.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Mar 12, 2014

I've been in the business for more than 30 years. Never heard of the 'purple book'. I investigate every allegation of abuse. If my administrator and I don't think it reaches the level of abuse, we still report it as an 'unfounded allegation'. I've fired many people for what I considered to be abusive only to have the DPH tell me it didn't reach what THEY considered to be abuse.

We all need to follow our facility policies and the policies of the state in which we practice.