Fact or Fiction? Father beats up RN w/o badge

Published

I had orientation at a hospital yesterday. I will be working in postpartum, which has special badges with pink stripes that show we are authorized to be there. At orientation, they told us this was a true story that happened several months ago.

Father walks into his wife's hospital room and finds a man handling the baby. Father asks who the man is and the guy replies I am an RN. Father asks where is your badge? Man states he forgot it. Father drags guy by the back of his neck to the nurses' station and asks if anyone knows who the guy is. Nurses say they don't recognize him. Father decides man was trying to steal his baby and proceeds to beat the c--p out of him. The police are called and the unit is locked down. It turns out the man was an agency RN who forgot to wear his badge.

This is Texas, so I can see something like this happening here, but I'm not sure if it's a true story or just a tale to scare us into never forgetting to wear our badges. Have you heard of anything like this happening where you work?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That sounds a bit contrived. Even if the guy was an agency nurse, I can't imagine someone on the unit not knowing who he was. Most maternal child units should have an infant abduction plan as mandated by JCAHO, and should be suspicious of anyone appearing as a healthcare worker that they do not know. Also, most of us carry our nursing licenses in our purses or wallets, which could have verified his identity

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I would not bet this is true. but it may be a version of some truth. Urban legends are often based on truth in part.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Heck, the visitors try to beat up on staff with badges on, much more so if they aren't wearing one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, Telephone Triage, Chart Review/Code.

I tell my patients that if a person does not have the required badge on and in view, they are to call the nurse's station and we will handle it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That sounds a bit contrived. Even if the guy was an agency nurse, I can't imagine someone on the unit not knowing who he was. Most maternal child units should have an infant abduction plan as mandated by JCAHO, and should be suspicious of anyone appearing as a healthcare worker that they do not know. Also, most of us carry our nursing licenses in our purses or wallets, which could have verified his identity

You carry your nursing licenses with you?

:uhoh21:

I know of at least one case where a nursing license was stolen from work and then used to make a forgery. Mine stay locked up. Talk about potential for identity theft.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

In Illinois - my nursing license only has my name and license number on it - my drivers license has much more info! I think it depends on the state. I do carry the wallet-card nursing license with me too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Picture ID badges should be enough for them.... ..nursing license? No, the public does NOT have the right to see MINE; Human Resources and the House Supervisor can verify my licensure for their satisfaction, if need be. My ID badge is enough ID for them where I work. And NO ---it does not have my whole last name on it; I don't think that is a smart thing to do. If they (patients and/or family members) wish to lodge complaints or address issues concerning my delivery of care, they are free to do so and the management will know whom they are referring to. We need to be smart in these times, you know. I have a right to a modicum of privacy, too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When I renew my licence I receive a credit card style nursing licence with my # and name in the mail. I keep it in my wallet. Any paperwork I receive I file at home.

steph

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I really don't think this story is true. I think that the staff would have taken care of it outside of the father's presence. At our hospital, agency nurses can't touch the babies, period. They can't take them out of the nursery, and can only touch baby with mom's permission - or something like that.

If that is a true story, the nurse was pretty stupid not bringing his badge in. That's worth a trip home for me to get it. Saying "I just forgot it" isn't good enough.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in cardiac, diabetes, OB/GYN.

True or not if the guy was a nurse designated to be on the unit, someone should have recognized him as familiar..Sounds fishy to me too....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Shortly after my youngest son was born, I commenced doing what I've done following the birth of each of my other 5 children--I'd hold them in my arms and take them for a walk up and down the halls of the L&D ward and tell them all about the wonderful things they'd get to experience in life. I'd ask them if they could hear me talking to them while they were in their mother's belly and if they remembered the songs I was singing them at night--you know, a really touchy-feely Kodak kind of moment. But this particular hospital had previously had a baby abducted. Although I was walking on a secure ward (and both my son and I had matching wrist bands) I had a nurse practically push me into a corner wagging her finger in my face and telling me I wasn't allowed to take my son out of his room. I don't know if it was her aggressive posture or the fact that she was interrupting my family birth ritual that got me so hot, but I got right back in her face and told her that he was my son and I'd take him anywhere I damn well pleased. I realize she was probably hyper-sensitive due to the previous incident at the hospital, but sometimes these things go a bit far.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion