batcha gero/lpn

[clbatiste3b]

currently i work for an assisted living facility that has a memory support unit all residents have a dx. of alzheimers or dementia is it worng to document allegations of abuse made by a resident w/ assesment findings in the chart my boss had two cows because she said that "no one should ever document the words abuse in any legal document" although she at times seem about as competent as a box of rocks w/ less floor experience than i have of three years as an lpn and 11 if you count working as a geriatric home health hospice and dementia im just concerned because i want to be clear and honest

[ERjodiRN]

well any licensed health care worker is mandated reporter of abuse. personally, i'm not the biggest fan of assisted living facilities because my er sees way too many cases of neglect from those places. i know there are some good ones, but it's terrible to see some of the stuff come across, and it happens all too often. anyway, who is the abuse being done by, according to the resident? it IS important that you document that kind of assessment, but you will be held liable for not reporting it now if something else comes out later and it shows of past suspicion in your documentation, AND the resident's for that matter. it sounds like your supervisor is concerned that your facility will be at risk if that is said in any legal document, which sounds suspect to me. i don't know if this helps or not, but i hope so!

[achot chavi]

I would report any and all accusations of abuse from pts , families or staff in writing ( a memo or letter) to your SW, MD, DON and charge nurse and /or head of Abuse Committee (if not one of the above) the committee is then responsible to follow up.

Keep copies or originals by you. I would write in the report a SOAPed note quoting the patient in quotation marks, ( Resident says " Mr. So and So hit me on my shoulder today" then follow with an objective assessment, shoulder W/0 s/sx's of bruising, swelling, or change in color or temperature, skin intact, warm to the touch etc.... Complaint referred to the SW. All care will be given by 2 staff members at this time. )

SW may want to call the family and not wait for the family to hear it from the patient

I would take all complaints seriously but avoid using the red flag word, "abuse"

We all know that false accusations occur every day- but I would shudder to think that we stopped investigating real complaints because of the multiple bogus ones.

Abuse hurts and must be dealt with- but you shouldn't chart the word abuse unless its a direct quote from the patient.

[systoly]

Since I don't know the circumstances, I cannot tell you that I would document in the chart right away, but an incident report seems appropriate. Just because a person is diagnosed with memory loss doesn't mean there's no value to anything they say. As for the word choice, just chart the facts and don't draw conclusions or use subjective terms.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Since I don't know the circumstances, I cannot tell you that I would document in the chart right away, but an incident report seems appropriate. Just because a person is diagnosed with memory loss doesn't mean there's no value to anything they say. As for the word choice, just chart the facts and don't draw conclusions or use subjective terms.

:yeahthat: And in addition... I ALWAYS use quotations if dealing with a personal or touchy issue. I document what the resident says.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I investigate any allegation of abuse even if the accuser is demented. I had a resident tell a surveyor that we 'pushed him.' The surveyor looked at me and asked if I knew anything about it. I said "sure, we push him all over the place...he's in a wheelchair!" I had investigated and found out that's what he meant. I wouldn't write a A word in a nurse's note though. I would quote what the resident said and call the family.