Case Study Question

[dennall]

I have been given a case study to complete that I am having a difficult time with. It is not over any information that we have learned in class and I can't find the info in any of my textbooks. Any suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. The case study reads:

This is your first night working actually working as a nurse in a long term care facility. You have already completed training and orientation. During report, you are surprised to learn that you have 14 very ill patients and things seem very disorganized from previous shift. This is one CNA who will assist you.

3 hours into shift you realize that you are not keeping up in terms of passing meds or changing dressings. You notify the float CN and she doesnt offer any help or solutions.

1. What are legal issues that are in risk in this situation?

2. What can you do about the situation?

(Answers need to be thorough and detailed)

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

1. what are legal issues that are in risk in this situation?

medications and treatments are things ordered by doctors. licensed nurses are required by law to follow doctor's orders. most facilities also have policies in place, and there are state and federal laws mandating, that patient medications and treatments in long term care facilities be administered to the residents within a one hour window of time before and after the time listed on the medication administration sheet. if they are not, the facility policy should clearly dictate what the nurse is required to do.

2. what can you do about the situation?

continue as best you can. prioritize which meds and treatments absolutely must be given and give those first. others can be held back and given later. give some meds and treatments late and document that on the individual med and treatment sheets. call the administrative

rn

who is on call and notify them of the situation and ask for help and/or direction. in any case, the director of nursing or supervisor needs to be notified of the situation via a written memo before leaving at the end of the shift so they know what was going on. you may need to notify the doctors of any patients who did not receive their medications and treatments.