Did I Do The Right Thing?

[Anon1423]

Hello, everyone. I had a situation yesterday that I'm struggling to come to terms with. I've been an LVN for about a year and half now but my new job is in Home Health nursing. I have a patient who lives in an apartment with his elderly wife who is unable to provide care. He is completely bed-bound and has advanced dementia. He is non-verbal and requires around the clock care. Unfortunately, he only has a caregiver at night and his daughter comes by as much as she can to help care for him. He currently has a foley catheter that has been giving him issues from the start but I'm currently awaiting orders from his nephrologist on what she'd like to do. This is where the problem comes into play... I walked into the apartment yesterday for my weekly visit and found that the daughter had tied both of his wrists to each side of his hospital bed with two bandanas. I asked about the restraints and she said he had been trying to pull his catheter out for the past few days. His catheter had been leaking and she was unable to keep a brief on him which in the past had deterred him from pulling on it. I felt very uncomfortable about the situation and told her she needed to release him but she said that she couldn't keep an eye on him 24/7.  I then noticed a large bruise on his right wrist that was new and the daughter couldn't explain how it happened. I released him from his restraint to check his vitals and blood sugar but she quickly tied him back up as I was leaving. I immediately called my manager and reported what I had found. My manager was horrified and notified APS right away. Due to him being tied up when I left, the police had to get involved and went to visit the patient right away. My manager said I did the right thing but I got an email this morning saying that the family was extremely upset and unhappy with what happened. I understand they're upset but I just hope I did the right thing and didn't overreact. I'm sure I'll feel better once my supervisor says everything is okay but I just need reassurance. 

[JKL33]

OP, I hope your manager has been able to talk this through with you or reassure you in some way.

Of course you did what was ethically correct and what you are legally mandated to do. Whether this situation was due to lack of knowledge, lack of resources, neglect or more sinister reasons, it needed to be reported. We are not the judge and jury, we are advocates for our patients' health, safety and well-being.

On 7/17/2021 at 11:13 AM, Anon1423 said:

I got an email this morning saying that the family was extremely upset and unhappy with what happened.

Now, besides the patient's situation, this is the other part that sucks. I don't know who sent you the email; I assume it was someone in your workplace. If so, I don't care their rank or role--they were WRONG in emailing you with the family's reaction and you deserve to know they were wrong. It isn't even up for discussion, I am right about this. In the ED making reports is not a rare thing and I've made my fair share so far in my career. I have known some families were unhappy right in the moment while things were going down, obviously, but NEVER have I heard feedback from the peanut gallery (aka management) about how patients felt about the report having been filed. I can't fathom the expected result of this sort of feedback. Are you supposed to be sorry? Afraid? Feel bad?  NO. You are not.

I'm sorry you were even put in a position to worry about this.

Hope all is well now.