Do I have to sign this paper?

[Java Mama]

Hello,

I work at a hospital on a very busy med/surg floor. Last week our floor manager handed out a new policy she will implement starting tomorrow. This policy is our new rounding rules. There is a very lengthy paper the nurses fill out on the even hours and the CNA's fill out on the odds and is kept at the patients bedside. Ok, it might not sound like much, but it is a whole paper. I always stop in the patient's room to see if they need anything, but I know I will not have the extra time for this. I run from the time I get there till I get home, so I am worried. They gave us a paper to sign saying we received this and will follow it because we realize WE are putting our patient safety at risk!!! NO!!!!...I don't feel that way, maybe the opposite. It also states that if we don't fill these papers out, we're subject to corrective action. I just don't know what to do.

[Ruger8mm]

What are they going to do, fire you? If not, then ignore it.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Management has instituted a new policy, documentation of hourly rounds.

You either acknowledge the policy and fill in the blanks.. or face disciplinary action.

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

What are they going to do, fire you? If not, then ignore it.

This seems to be the approach for *almost* every change implemented.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

ugh hourly rounding. most of the unsafe patients remain unsafe 5 minutes after you just rounded on them until the next hour

Scapegoats we are:wacky:

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

What are they going to do, fire you? If not, then ignore it.

Is this managements way of absolving themselves of any responsibility to th epatients and blaming any future mishaps on said nurse since they "signed" something?

Bet they try.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

Just smile, nod and sign. Those papers are at every hospital and you're lucky if you haven't been annoyed by them until now. Ours were supposed to be signed by the RN and turned into the director's office each morning before leaving. I had an unsigned, incomplete stack of about a year's worth in the top part of my locker when I switched jobs and no one ever noticed or said anything.

At my new job, we do it on a white board ...usually the CNA fills it out all at one time. It's a worthless tool, but like I said, smile and nod!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

if we don't fill these papers out, we're subject to corrective action.

You most certainly can exercise the option of not signing this form.

However, since you do not control the time clock that you punch or the policies of your workplace, you will most likely end up with a bullseye on your back if you refuse to sign. You'll attract negative attention from management.

For every action there's a reaction. Good luck to you.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Just smile, nod and sign. Those papers are at every hospital and you're lucky if you haven't been annoyed by them until now. Ours were supposed to be signed by the RN and turned into the director's office each morning before leaving. I had an unsigned, incomplete stack of about a year's worth in the top part of my locker when I switched jobs and no one ever noticed or said anything.

At my new job, we do it on a white board ...usually the CNA fills it out all at one time. It's a worthless tool, but like I said, smile and nod!

Filling out and signing papers in advance is, of course, illegal, falsification of a medical record, probably a felony. And you, a licensed nurse, have knowledge of this and do nothing to stop it and you are implicitly condoning it. I assume these are safety rounds - rounds at which staff are to see the pt and verify that said pt is alive and safe. I hope you never have a hanging or other suicide or dead pt, while your rounds board says otherwise.

Secreting medical records in your locker and violating policy by not signing them. What did you do with them when you left that job?

Not judging, just sharing how Management and a court of law might see things. Please stop these illegal practices at once.

OP - sign that you have received the paper, do the work it requires if you want to keep your job and keep harmonious relations with the boss. You'll get quicker at it and adjust to it readily enough, I think.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

Filling out and signing papers in advance is, of course, illegal, falsification of a medical record, probably a felony. And you, a licensed nurse, have knowledge of this and do nothing to stop it and you are implicitly condoning it. I assume these are safety rounds - rounds at which staff are to see the pt and verify that said pt is alive and safe. I hope you never have a hanging or other suicide or dead pt, while your rounds board says otherwise.

Secreting medical records in your locker and violating policy by not signing them. What did you do with them when you left that job?

Not judging, just sharing how Management and a court of law might see things. Please stop these illegal practices at once.

OP - sign that you have received the paper, do the work it requires if you want to keep your job and keep harmonious relations with the boss. You'll get quicker at it and adjust to it readily enough, I think.

No problem. I'm happy to play along.

The white boards are filled out "at one time", not "ahead of time" ...and I typically don't touch them where hourly rounding is concerned. I do fill in the day's events so that patients know/remember what they have planned.

The locker where the unsigned forms were placed was locked and the forms were disposed of in the proper bin when I cleaned it out as I was leaving. And supposedly, they are "not part of the medical record" ....just a tool to try to scare people into doing an impossible amount of work.

I had a very harmonious relationship with my boss and did all of the important things, but I know busy work when I see it. I'd rather take care of my patients than a stack of meaningless paperwork that no one noticed was missing for over one year.