Did I handle this alright?

[guest1200295]

While in an interdisciplinary team meeting, a staffer recalled a tragic patient/family experience to us, and asked (since I am a fellow staffer) if I had heard about it. I wasn't sure but thought that I had heard about the situation, so said that I think I did hear about it. Later, as the person told us more about the situation, I said that no, actually I don't think I had heard about this particular situation (it sounded like a similar situation that had happened earlier).  I wondered if my response was appropriate in terms of confidentiality, as my response may have led others to think that there was someone else who had been in a similar situation? 

[Emergent, RN]

I wouldn't fret over this. Nurses compare notes all the time. It's normal. It's healthy to share war stories in nursing. In the ER we did it all the time. Some of the more colorful stories were with our frequent flyers, with whom we were all familiar.

As far as HIPAA goes, just don't mention any names. It's not good to keep things bottled up, nursing is a stressful business and we need to support one another.

[guest1200295]

Thank you. I would think that staff (and I'm not an RN, but a support staffer) could do this to "process" their emotions/experiences. I didn't mention names, though in other conversations where a specific group of staff have cared for the same person, sometimes folks may say, "do you remember ______ (patient name)? That was hard/sad/I was thinking about them/that", and this would be in a confidential setting, and I would think that would be OK, since the group shares confidentiality.

[JKL33]

I don't mean to be unkind but you have quite a few posts on this theme and the bottom line is that this is just not that difficult.

You are really overthinking/over-worrying and I hate to see that because life has enough of its own stress without us finding things...you know? ?

[guest998179]

agreed.

[guest1200295]

JKL33 said:

I don't mean to be unkind but you have quite a few posts on this theme and the bottom line is that this is just not that difficult.

You are really overthinking/over-worrying and I hate to see that because life has enough of its own stress without us finding things...you know? ?

Thank you, yes, and your message is not unkind at all. I believe you are right. I appreciate your taking time to share this, and maybe somehow, I can find help for my anxiousness about these things! 

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I found that, the best thing to do in an interdisciplinary team meeting, was to keep my mouth shut. That way I could get back to my patient care.

 

[vintagegal, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Been there,done that said:

I found that, the best thing to do in an interdisciplinary team meeting, was to keep my mouth shut. That way I could get back to my patient care.

 

Yeah, when you discuss anything it goes way left field. I've been in hospice IDG where nurses get reamed by the physician who has never seen the patient. When I was a hospice nurse anything I could do to keep a low profile and keep the doc signing orders was on the agenda.