Cna incident investigation

Published

I need some advice on what will happen to me. I am a cna and recently I was involved with an incident that resulted in the resident falling from the stand up lift and breaking her hip. I was helping an aide transfer a resident from the chair to the bed and when the resident was standing up in the lift, I asked the aide if it was ok for me to go on break and she said yes. I left before the resident was transferred in bed and she was still standing. When I came back from break she told me the resident fell from the lift when I wasn't there.

The facility sent the information to the attorney general and department of health for nys.

I was suspended from work and I understand I am in big trouble but does anyone know the process or what will happen? Will I lose my certification and can I continue nursing school?

I know now I shouldnt have left and I really regret it and I'm so upset that the patient fell I feel so bad. But I don't know what to do and I can't stop thinking about this. Does anyone have any advice or information on what will happen?

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I guess I'm confused. You are asked to help transfer a patient and agreed, but then asked to go to lunch in the middle of the transfer?

I feel like I'm missing something here. Why would you just not transfer the patient, then go to eat?

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Specializes in Gerontology.

So half way through the transfer you left?

How much time would have taken to get the pt into bed and safe?

I can't comment on how this will work out I am Canadian but gotta say it is

not looking good for you. You stepped out half way through a task. Really,how much longer would it have taking to finish safely moving the pt before you took a break.?

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I know it was so careless and foolish, the aid was changing the pt while she was on the lift and I was so overwhelmed and stressed and I felt like the resident was not in danger, I misjudged the situation. I really wish I waited this extra couple of minutes but I was just so tired and I had already missed half an hour of my break so I was impatient. I know that is no excuse but I really thought the resident would be okay with the aid and she wasn't in danger. I had asked the resident if she was ok before I left and she said yes and I asked the aide if it was ok if I go and she said yes. I really regret this so much and I know there's nothing that I can do to fix or change this.

I know I have to wait for what the state says but I don't know how to handle this. I don't know if I will lose my certification or what they will do. It was never my intention to hurt the resident and if the aide asked me to stay or I felt the resident was unsafe I would have stayed.

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Specializes in Adult Primary Care.

I am really confused. Was the patient actually being changed (depends / clothing???) while standing in the lift??

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Her diaper was being changed and the aid was wiping her in the lift. I left when she was putting the new diap r on

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Specializes in Pedi.
Her diaper was being changed and the aid was wiping her in the lift. I left when she was putting the new diap r on

I'm confused. What was your role here? Why weren't you helping to change her and transfer her? Wouldn't that be the whole reason for you being in the room?

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Specializes in Hospice.

It seems to me that your judgement call that the resident was safe to leave turned out to be wrong, and a resident got hurt. I suspect that physical and mental exhaustion probably had a significant effect on your ability to think clearly. You still need to take responsibility for making a decision that caused harm to a resident.

Is the CNA whom you were helping also being reported?

I really can't predict whether you'll keep your certificate. If you do, there's a great deal to be learned from this incident.

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I know it was so careless and foolish, the aid was changing the pt while she was on the lift and I was so overwhelmed and stressed and I felt like the resident was not in danger, I misjudged the situation. I really wish I waited this extra couple of minutes but I was just so tired and I had already missed half an hour of my break so I was impatient. I know that is no excuse but I really thought the resident would be okay with the aid and she wasn't in danger. I had asked the resident if she was ok before I left and she said yes and I asked the aide if it was ok if I go and she said yes. I really regret this so much and I know there's nothing that I can do to fix or change this.

I know I have to wait for what the state says but I don't know how to handle this. I don't know if I will lose my certification or what they will do. It was never my intention to hurt the resident and if the aide asked me to stay or I felt the resident was unsafe I would have stayed.

I can relate to this 100%. A lot of tasks start with two staff members and end with one finishing up while the other moves on. You got very unlucky.

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It's easier said than done, but try to forgive yourself. You are human, you made an error.

You will be disciplined and pay whatever consequences are deemed appropriate by those in authority.

you will never make this error again.

I think it is important to note that you were tired, hungry and this condition affected your judgment.

It is not an excuse but it is very important for those in charge to know that staff are apparently not

getting the rest and meal breaks that any human needs to be at their best.

Perhaps this will be some mitigation for you.

I wish you the best.

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It's easier said than done, but try to forgive yourself. You are human, you made an error.

You will be disciplined and pay whatever consequences are deemed appropriate by those in authority.

you will never make this error again.

I think it is important to note that you were tired, hungry and this condition affected your judgment.

It is not an excuse but it is very important for those in charge to know that staff are apparently not

getting the rest and meal breaks that any human needs to be at their best.

Perhaps this will be some mitigation for you.

I wish you the best.

Great caring thoughtful advice. Good post.

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I believe that the incident will be seen as 'lazy'. Even though you aren't. You left in the middle of a transfer, you didn't see a patient all the way through until they were safe or support your staff member. Not sure you will lose your certificate though, maybe your job.

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