Being investigated for a patient the nurse didn't even treat

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Specializes in Addictions, psych, corrections, transfers.

This is such a weird situation and I just wanted to know if anyone has experienced this before. I can't give a ton of information for privacy sake. I work in a chemical dependency unit. We had a patient who was extremely rude and ended up leaving through a window to buy cigarettes, not mention many other concerning behaviors. We gave him his belongings when we found him on the street and he stated he didn't want to come back. Anyway, his family is very codependent and stated that we gave him pneumonia somehow and they wanted to start an investigation of one of the nurses. the nurse she chose to start an investigation on was the nurse she talked to on the phone the next day who didn't even meet the patient. We all thought, because most of us have been told by irate patients that they will come after use, that it would go no where. Our internal company investigated and found no fault. The nursing board got involved and after they gathered all the information called the nurse and stated that they knew the nurse had nothing to do with the patient but decided to move on with the investigation away? Really? This has taken time from this nurse and stressed her out to no end but they are still going to continue with an investigation? I've never heard of this.

I'm trying to tell her to keep her head up and hopefully is will work out but I'm so flabbergasted that they are even pursuing this, I don't know what to say. I did tell her to get a lawyer.

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Specializes in ER.

Good grief. I get tired of this type of ridiculous nonsense.

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.

Well, they can't do anything to the nurse the family talked to since she didn't meet the patient, so I don't think she has too much to worry about. They're going on with the investigation into the whole incident it sounds like, not that nurse specifically. Everyone else involved in the actual situation...?. I would think about getting a lawyer if I were her though, or if I were one of the nurses more involved. At least get a consultation, which is usually free. I would also tell everyone to write down what they remember of the incident as memory gets fuzzy as time goes by. But don't advertise that as those notes can be subpoenaed I believe, ask the lawyers you're consulting.

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You don't understand what they are saying. An "investigation" can be something as simple as just calling the nurse and having her say, "I just took a phone call and had nothing to do with the patient. I never even met them".

She doesn't need to waste money on thousands of dollars for an attorney when she:

1) Never met the patient

2) Never participated in care.

They are investigating the situation. Tell your friend to calm down. I would never break a sweat over this. Some states have laws that say EVERY complaint has to be investigated no matter how insane.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Sounds like the board is doing a cursory investigation to comply with the law and appease the kook family.

Your friend needs to relax and not sweat it. She could get a legal consultation if one is available for free, but she should not spend a nickel on this. All she has to do is truthfully answer the questions. Since she never provided care for this patient, that should be quick and easy. They can subpoena the chart and if her name isn't in it anywhere, well, that's the end of that.

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Specializes in ER.

I've been investigated twice and both times got a letter back saying "we consider the matter closed." They looked, they didn't see anything wrong, all done. This sounds like one of those complaints.

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Yes, it is true that every complaint must be investigated and CMS or the BON wants statements from any and everybody. What they are trying to accomplish a time line and document any conversation the family may have had with anyone in the facility.

I would not worry or lawyer up (yet).

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

They are obligated to investigate everything. Remember, the board exists for the protection of the public, not the advocacy of nursing. There have been ex-BF/ GF who thought it would be great revenge to complain to the board, investigated. Most states do not prosecute for false or malicious complaints. Your coworker may want to utilize her employer's legal department at this point.

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Specializes in Addictions, psych, corrections, transfers.

Thank you for all your feedback. They stated that they will let her know in a month what the results of the investigation are.

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.
On 3/15/2019 at 10:24 PM, angeloublue22 said:

Thank you for all your feedback. They stated that they will let her know in a month what the results of the investigation are.

I would be interested in knowing what happens....

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Specializes in Addictions, psych, corrections, transfers.

I'll let you all know what the outcome is when we get it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg Telemetry Oncology.
On 3/22/2019 at 9:38 PM, angeloublue22 said:

I'll let you all know what the outcome is when we get it.

Hi there, any update on the investigation surrounding this nurse?

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