Did I cause my patient to die faster?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a CNA on a medical/surgical floor and am in dire need of clarification (from a nurse please) of what just happened at work last night. I work nights, came on the floor and got to work right away. I got a walking report from the 2nd shift CNA. One pt was an unresponsive very elderly woman who had suffered an acute MI several days earlier and wasn't expected to make it through the night. I was told in report by the CNA that the pt was being turned side to side every 2 hours (with oral care, checking for incontinence, etc.) and she was due again at 11:30, so I had him help me change her and turn her before he left. She passed less than an hour later. Here's where I need some help...

One of the nurses told me (not even the patient's nurse) that it was our fault the patient passed when she did. She didn't do it in an accusatory or mean way...just in a very matter-of-fact (and a little condescending) way. Like: "by the way, you shouldn't have turned her, that's why she passed so soon." I've been at this hospital for 9 months and somehow I have managed to skate by without any patient deaths...so this was my first. Needless to say I was speechless and felt terrible, as if I had taken her away from her family sooner than she was supposed to go.

She then gave me some explanation that I didn't understand. Something about when turning the patient, the blood floods the heart and the patient will pass soon after. First of all, we had to turn her to get her cleaned up. Second, I was told she was being turned every 2 hours all through 2nd shift. So did I really do something wrong? Is there truth to what she said? And if so, can someone give me a better explanation of what happened?

Thanks in advance...feeling confused and guilty here.

Wow, I'm so sorry you had to get a guilt trip for this. You did everything you were supposed to do and don't let some nurse make you feel bad for it. Bless you for caring enough to keep your patient comfortable. :redbeathe

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.

The nurse who told you that you had something to do with the patients death was a moron..would she/he rather you had left the patient to lie in waste? You were concerned and did the right thing. You should be commeded not reprimanded. I worked in a Hospice facility and our wonderful CNA's and Nurses always continued to clean and turn the patient,,,It's part of dignity and end of life care! As far as that being your first death...It's never pleasant whether it's the first or One hundred and first. But you did your part and if your patient was clean, serene and comfortable please derive satisfaction in the fact that it was a "good" death. You don't get used to it, whether it's a neonate and it's sudden or in hospice and it's expected but you can learn to accept it. Death is part of life and a "peaceful and dignified" death is a wonderful gift for everyone.

Keep up the good work!

SWS

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You're a CNA. She's a nurse. In the end, what happens with that patient was her (and the nurse on the prior shift) responsibility. If they knew both CNAs were turning patients and really believed turning would kill her, they would have stopped you.

I don't know why, but some people get a kick out of scaring others. Please don't take it to heart. I worked on a cardiac floor for the past few months and only when there are doctors orders to not turn, do we not readjust patients.

As another person said...you got your report from the previous shift. Your supervisor didn't contraindicate. Your patient was already expected to not make it through the night.

Don't let it get to you.

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Specializes in behavioral health.

What a moron, that nurse was. You did not "cause" her to die faster. It was her time. It sounds like she went peacefully. Some nurses think that they just know it all. It is good that you were so caring and actually doing your job. Please don't fret over this. You did no wrong. As previous poster mentioned, I would be happy that people were keeping my mother clean and comfortable.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
when the nurse said that, you should have replied, "can i turn you too?" :D

omg, you owe me a new keyboard! :yeah:

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I can see the headlines now "Kevorkian nurse accused of "turning" patient several times an hour in an attempt to assist in suicide"

Wait...what?

I know ha ha not funny. This nurse was a punk. Accusatory or not it was a stupid thing to say and she worried you very unnecessarily. I do remember once a senior nurse joking with a CNA after a brief code that she should not have bathed the patient right before shift change! The patient survived but looking at some of the ICU nurses posts it could have been a bit of cardiac overload.

You did your job, kept the patient comfortable and that is all you need to worry about :)

:icon_hug:

Tait

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Specializes in icu nurse.

i hate to work with those kinds of nurses giving people hard time. it's time to turn her every minute not just every 2 hours....

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{{{lou tango}}}

You helped the patient.

And just so you know, I have given morphine when I knew that it would probably hasten death. And that's okay.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

some times we joke that turning on the right side puts a little too much work on the heart and can add up to the death of a hospice patient....but it is really not a true "cause"...you didn't do anything wrong honey...don't worry about it...

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
some times we joke that turning on the right side puts a little too much work on the heart and can add up to the death of a hospice patient....but it is really not a true "cause"...you didn't do anything wrong honey...don't worry about it...

My Mother was sofabound X 5+ years due to CHF She entered inpatient Hospice 2 PM last Monday afternoon as no longer able to transfer to commode at home. Night nurse had a great conversation with her at start of shift --(she was a HS friend who's sang at my wedding) reminiscing together. Received call at 6:55AM Tuesday that when doing morning bath, they turned her over for sacral care and she took last breath.

Failing hearts will give out upon minimal exertion at some point. :yeah: Thank you for being a caring CNA and performing needed patient care! May your heart be lighter from our stories.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Oh, what I wouldn't give to have that nurse just "happen" to see a print-out of this thread. . .:down: Down with mean-girls in whatever guise they come in. Hope all this support makes you feel better!! :flwrhrts:

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Specializes in Neuroscience/Neuro-surgery/Med-Surgical/.

So sorry you had to stress over the nasty guilt trip that nurse gave you. Truly uncalled for!

I absolutely DESPISE working with these types of people. As if your job isn't challenging enough.

If you are unable to discuss this further with that particular RN, you want to bring this to management's attention, and ask if this a form of 'lateral violence'.

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