not enough

[beckymeds]

I work in LTC. Small facility. Everyone knows everyone that type of thing. A nurse taking care of a resident who was obviously in his last days of life did something that upset everyone working there. This patient had bed sores due to not eating. They of course smelt and were draining. The nurse, in front of aides, applied the dressing and then proceeded to spray disinfectant spray. Not in the room, but on the patient. Of course the first thing the aides did was call the on-call nurse. She filled out an incident report and spoke to the nurse telling her not to do that. When the director came in following that weekend, the nurse was given a suspension. Are we all wrong in thinking that this should have been treated as a case of abuse. Reported and termination of the nurse? Not only does abuse come to mind, but what about the dignity of the resident. I cannot comprehend spraying lysol on someone who is laying there dying and in pain. I can't imagine what that person felt. The resident has since deceased, but we are very concerned about the competency of this nurse and feel that this should not be it. This nurse now gets babysat on the weekends that she works. I just am not satisfied with this. I know that we are in short supply of nurses, but I am quite certain that everyone would fill in to get rid of her. What is the best steps we can take to protect our patients? I want to do this for my patients and my fellow workers. I need to show them that someone does care how they feel and how the residents are treated.

[monkijr]

Don't give up on this, but let the appropriate individuals handle this, ie, the investigation. Keep reporting and continue being a patient advocate, that is what this is all about really. Too often we allow this type of treatment to be swept under the rug because of the shortage but in the long run it only hurts moral and speaks loudly in a negative way about the nursing profession. This nurse needs to be disciplined and held accountable for her actions.

Now not in defense of the nurse but just a thought, be sure this is not rumor, and that slander is not happening here. Also, has this nurse had the opportunity to speak. It is also too often that we assume someones guilty before hearing "their" story and it happens most often in cases involving CNA's and nurses.

If the facts are as you say. It is abuse!!!!!, and should be treated as such.

[JailRN]

First, before we run to the BRN and have her crucified

let's find out, (because it wasn't stated,) does this nurse have a hx of evil=doing, or was she just stuck on stupid that day?

If she has a hx of malice, why was she still employed ther in the first plsce? If, she's otherwise a good nurse, counsel her and hope she doesn't repeat the same mistake. THEN cricify her.

[colleen10]

Did she spray it on the wounds? Wouldn't that hurt like heck?!

Isn't that bad for the skin and the wounds, to have Lysol sprayed on them?

[MollyMo]

The nursing shortage is no excuse for keeping an abusive nurse around. GET HER GONE!!!

[BadBird, BSN, RN]

I just can't believe that someone did that, how awful for the poor patient!!!

[Cathy Wilson, RN]

What if that had been her Mom or Dad? Would she have sprayed them? My God, but that is HORRENDOUS! I have heard some stuff, but that is really rank! Spraying the room (away from the patient) and putting a deodorizer in there would have been much more compassionate, as would have changing the dressings more often!

There is also the issue of the patient's potential sensitivity to the contents of the spray. Inhalation problems and contact dermatititis come immediately to mind, as well as allergy to the components of the spray. SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED, AND REPORTED TO THE STATE.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

How horrid....

That person is not a nurse at all...

Something should have been done....

More severe....

[Glad2behere]

I missed something somewhere. LTC stands for Long term Care I thought? Am I right or wrong? If I am wrong I apologize, but if it does I am just wondering how bed sores of such magnitude developed to begin with if everyone was on their toes.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

From the sound of your post, the substance used was a disinfectant for environmental surfaces, and probably included a stated warning against applying it to skin. At the very least, the nurse should have been fired and reported to the BON.

This person should not be allowed to practice. This act was at best irresponsible and abusive.