deemed unsafe: IMy Instructor's evaluation

mimi225 · Feb 26, 2010

incident

as a student nurse, I was assigned to a confuse pt and started pulling, pressing and biting the call light. the family was at the bedside and asked to unplugged the call light bec. she may get electrocuted so I did after I talked to the primary care nurse about the situation and she was find w/ the idea. Also,r instructed family to notify the staff when they leave. then the next issue was, I had a 350 lbs pt w/ R AV shunt and L Mastectomy 5 yrs ago. she has a Left anterior chest wall perma cath and Left IV inserted in the hand. phebotomist was drawing blood on the L arm as well. there was a note posted on the wall " Do not take BP on the R arm". So the staffs had been taking BP on the Left and so I did too since no signs of edema on that arm..then the instructor deemed me unsafe for taking the BP on the L bec. of the risk of lymphedema. the instructor said I should be taking BP on the leg

the pt was on anti-hypertensive meds. with Hx of DVT and Clot and hypertension is leg the best place to get an accurate BP prior to medicating? So........... I was deemed clinically unsafe.... thats my :twocents:story

:mad:

Evaluation/comment by the instructor

"This information is based on the Fundamental level of nursing and information that you should know. My concern at this time is that you have forgotten basic nursing knowledge that affects patient safety.

This is information that I am not truly responsible for teaching a 5th term student. Your knowledge base regarding the basics concerns me and I am responsible for the safety of the patients as well as myself.You should ask yourself, How would I feel if a nurse disconnected my husband's call light and left the room?How would you feel if your mother had a mastectomy and the nurse decided that she could take her blood pressure on that arm when she should have known not to?

At this time it is unfortunate but you made these decisions. These decisions were detrimental within the profession of nursing and could cost the patient as well as myself. Your decisions are not based on my approval. I am unable to confidently say that you are able to provide safe and competent care as a Registered Nurse.

This lack of knowledge will require your understanding of the Fundamentals of nursing."