Clinical Adjunct Patient Accountability

[BGSRN]

Hi,

I will be starting as an adjunct clinical instructor soon and have been told the following:

1. I am responsible totally for all the action of each student regardless if they are acting on their own or under my guidance.:chair:

2. I am responsible only if I direct the student in an action that they should not be doing without direct supervision.

3. The nurse assigned to the patient is responsible for that pt and for knowing what the student will be doing or should be doing.:icon_hug:

I am now more confused and was wondering if anyone could offer me some information/insight/suggestions/etc.

Thanks!

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Hi,

I will be starting as an adjunct clinical instructor soon and have been told the following:

1. I am responsible totally for all the action of each student regardless if they are acting on their own or under my guidance.:chair:

2. I am responsible only if I direct the student in an action that they should not be doing without direct supervision.

3. The nurse assigned to the patient is responsible for that pt and for knowing what the student will be doing or should be doing.:icon_hug:

I am now more confused and was wondering if anyone could offer me some information/insight/suggestions/etc.

Thanks!

I agree - This is a very complex and confusing issue that warrants further investigation. I would bring up these concerns with your dean. I would also check with your state Board of Nursing and area facilities. One facility in my area, for instance, specifically addresses student nurses and nursing faculty in its policy and procedure handbook. The policy clearly states that the ultimate responsibility for patient care remains with the primary nurse (in the event of any adverse patient events involving students or nursing faculty). I'm sure if most nurses in that facility realized this, they would be somewhat hesitant to allow students on the floor.

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

The primary nurse is always responsible for the patient, regardless of who else might participate in the care. You are responsible for the student to a degree, but each person is also responsible for his/her own actions. So if the student commits a crime the student is responsible. If the student fails to respond to a crisis you might be responsible if you had placed the student in a situation for which you knew he/she was not prepared. Really sticky, huh? That is why I never left the students alone. I belive the law is intentionally vague to allow for specific circumstances. Not much help am I?

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

The primary nurse is always responsible for the patient, regardless of who else might participate in the care. You are responsible for the student to a degree, but each person is also responsible for his/her own actions. So if the student commits a crime the student is responsible. If the student fails to respond to a crisis you might be responsible if you had placed the student in a situation for which you knew he/she was not prepared. Really sticky, huh? That is why I never left the students alone. I belive the law is intentionally vague to allow for specific circumstances. Not much help am I?

Excellent post, and good reason for the instructor to always keep close tabs on the students on the floor. We really must have (as my mother would say) "eyes in the back of our heads."

[BGSRN]

Thanks for the insight - I will do a little more research as advised!!