Falls

Marija1 · Apr 16, 2019

Anyways I have clearly come to the wrong forum. Since you have several nurses in my facility that would not start a neuro assessment when sending someone to the hospital. Some that don’t do even a BP when sending someone to the hospital as the paramedics do their own set of vitals. So I know of more nurses that wouldn’t. Including a nurse at the hospital that doesn’t do it until the patient is back into bed. That’s what her policy says.

JadedCPN, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2019

3 minutes ago, Marija1 said:
Anyways I have clearly come to the wrong forum. Since you have several nurses in my facility that would not start a neuro assessment when sending someone to the hospital. Some that don’t do even a BP when sending someone to the hospital as the paramedics do their own set of vitals. So I know of more nurses that wouldn’t. Including a nurse at the hospital that doesn’t do it until the patient is back into bed. That’s what her policy says.

Perhaps we all got it wrong, but you were asking for opinions on the situation you presented to us. You specifically asked if we thought it was negligent, and you got several similar opinions on said situation. Just because you don't agree with them doesn't mean you should get defensive and rude, or that people are judging you or being mean to you.

You keep on going back to the fact that all the other nurses in your facility wouldn't do a neuro assessment. Every nurse that has responded to this thread said they would. Perhaps the issue is the work ethic at your facility? Not to say that there aren't other factors in play of course such as short staffing, high demand, decreased ancillary staff, etc. But poor nursing skills are poor nursing skills at the end of the day, and it sounds like your coworkers could fall into that category as well.

Of course, I do not work with you and was not there so this is all an opinion, which you asked for, based on the information you presented to us.

Marija1 · Apr 16, 2019

I did read what you sent me and in there it says something about “the employer should provide an environment that ensures the nurse can perform up to standards” . Sure I asked for an opinion but not judgement. Once you get all the information then offer an opinion. I am not being rude. It’s the people who pass judgement without knowing all the facts. There was a recent incident where there were two falls at the same time and the nurse could only attend to one fall. So a dietary aid and a psw assisted the second person up. So there wasn’t any kind of assessment done before getting them up. If the employer provided more than one registered staff at all times perhaps that would not have happened. But clearly that nurse or any other nurse including the ones here could only deal with one fall at a time. So yes it’s on the employer to provide a safe work environment and they haven’t. So blaming the nurse when things go wrong or are not done up to standards is wrong!

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Apr 17, 2019

I'm curious why you want to stay at this job when it has you so stressed out you had to take stress leave? Wouldn't it be better to look for a less stressful job than try to remain there where you feel you are under so much stress you can't function?

I know working conditions are poor in many places and nurses are understaffed, but if you can't handle the job, why stay? If it is making you so miserable, anxious, depressed and stressed out that you have to go on leave, why not look for an easier job such as a clinic?

Perhaps the termination is a blessing in disguise and a chance for you to find a better job where you would be happier.

Marija1 · Apr 17, 2019

I didn’t see this message till now. It definitely covers all that I am feeling. All the nurses there are struggling from not having enough staff to help. So basically it’s stressful for us all. It doesn’t help that I have anxiety on top of that. I just think it’s a poorly run place and you are right it could be a blessing in disguise. Think it’s turning into an assisted living home without the assistance required. We are only one person. I am also starting to think that it’s somehow different in the States than our system here. But you definitely hit it on the nail here! Finally an answer that makes sense to me! Thank you!

Marija1 · Apr 17, 2019

I also don’t agree that it’s “poor nursing skills”, it’s a lack of management support! We have had nurses speak to res families about applying to long term care and they are getting into trouble for that. There are res that need more care and the DRC stops it because they don’t want the res to qualify for long term care. It’s all about the $$

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2019

7 hours ago, Marija1 said:
Anyways I have clearly come to the wrong forum. Since you have several nurses in my facility that would not start a neuro assessment when sending someone to the hospital. Some that don’t do even a BP when sending someone to the hospital as the paramedics do their own set of vitals. So I know of more nurses that wouldn’t. Including a nurse at the hospital that doesn’t do it until the patient is back into bed. That’s what her policy says.

The fact that every response has been in favor of doing your own assessment, does not make this forum “the wrong one.”

Sometimes when the responses are so consistent, it might mean that they are valid, and that you should consider the advice... the advice you ASKED FOR, btw.

TriciaJ, RN · Apr 17, 2019

On 4/14/2019 at 4:23 PM, Marija1 said:
I worked at a retirement home for 18 years. I was since terminated. One of the reasons is that I had two falls happen at the same time and apparently didn’t handle it up to standards. I quickly assessed one woman and moved her and got her up. I then brought her to her room for further assessment by which I saw a cut on her head. I then sent her out to the hospital. I didn’t get a chance to take her BP or do a neuro assessment. I moved her and got her up without doing them first. Would you say that was negligent? I sent her to the hospital where they could do all the tests?

Well, it's clear your employer thought so. It really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks and you don't seem to want to know anyway.

Marija1 · Apr 17, 2019

I actually don’t care what this employer thought as throughout the history of my employment there they have displayed a very poor example of management and all the workers there would agree. They are arrogant and bullies. A few supervisors have left due to this behavior which tells you a lot. So no I don’t value their opinion. And no it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks you are right! The only opinion that matters to me is a judge or an arbitrator. To me termination in this case is a severe form of punishment. We shall see what the judge says. And I do want to know their opinion of course. I made a mistake asking anyone here!

Marija1 · Apr 17, 2019

I have asked many other nurses not on here and their answers are consistent as well. And they all agree that termination was not the way to go! And most believe I was a target and unfairly disciplined. Most see it as harassment.

osceteacher · Apr 17, 2019

Termination is a ridiculous thing to do over this from the scenario you gave. I mean, seriously ridiculous.

Yeah, you should have done XYZ and you should take more personal ownership of your mistake (because you should have done a full neuro assessment) instead of placing the blame on the lack of training available etc.

But to lose your job? Its baffling.

Marija1 · Apr 17, 2019

Ok fine I do agree that I should have done all of the above but guess I didn’t feel it to be necessary when sending someone out to the hospital. Well now I know! I do agree that I should learn from this error or omission or whatever it was, I do get it! But thank you for agreeing that termination was way too much! Not giving me a chance to prove that I would do things differently next time! I guess my question should have been do I deserve termination? We all make errors etc, but for every error made is it going to lead to termination? A lot of nurses would be out of a job if that happened!