Family claims hospital's staff shortage responsible for fatal crash

JesusKeepMe · Nov 8, 2013

Very sad and tragic. Many of us nurses know how hard it is to stay alert after working the overnight shift.

I wonder how this case will play out. Will they say the nurse knew the risk involved with working the overnight shift, thus the hospital isn't liable? I'm almost certain no one will win in this case though. I pray the family heals in due time...so sad.

morte, LPN, LVN · Nov 8, 2013

they probably won't win, but defending it WILL cost the hospital some money and bad PR.

Very sad and tragic. Many of us nurses know how hard it is to stay alert after working the overnight shift.
I wonder how this case will play out. Will they say the nurse knew the risk involved with working the overnight shift, thus the hospital isn't liable? I'm almost certain no one will win in this case though. I pray the family heals in due time...so sad.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 8, 2013

It won't matter but I had to respond.....

Hospitals are willfully, purposefully, and knowingly shorting nurses on the floor requiring them to make unsafe choices and take unsafe patient loads. How can a hospital in good conscience make a worker up all night stay for mandatory meeting and classes knowing perfectly well what the consequences will be......If the nurses say no.... their jobs, in a tight market (there is NO NURSING SHORTAGE), are at risk. The behavior is unconscionable. They should be held responsible.

weirdscience · Nov 8, 2013

I can't believe (well, yes, I guess I can) that most people are like, "welp, yeah, being a nurse is hard and all, but PERSONAL RESPONSIBILTY..." Try working a 13 hour overnight with no lunch one time. I know I'm not telling y'all anything you don't know.

This is laughable and also super sad. And Esme hit it right on the head...nothing peeves me more on night shift than getting scheduled for education after my 3rd night in a row.

StNeotser, ASN, RN · Nov 8, 2013

I think that the family are absolutely correct. However, I don't think it will make it through a court of law. The hospital will probably do some kind of education about not driving when tired. They will demand that nurses take their breaks without providing any extra staff or way for nurses to do so safely. And the hospital will continue to make a bigger profit this year over last year because that is the only thing that matters to them.

klone, MSN, RN · Nov 8, 2013

There but for the grace of G-d go I. What a sobering photo. So many time I nodded off on my way home from work, had to pull over to nap on my 25-minute drive home. 25 MINUTE DRIVE. I feel for her family.

JesusKeepMe · Nov 8, 2013

There but for the grace of G-d go I. What a sobering photo. So many time I nodded off on my way home from work, had to pull over to nap on my 25-minute drive home. 25 MINUTE DRIVE. I feel for her family.

So true, "...but for the grace of God..."

I've come to realize that nurses aren't valuable, we're just bodies. Nursing is about numbers and bodies. Makes me think of a recent post on here where one nurse discussed how here unit was allowing new grads with no experience as preceptors for other new grads....you all figure that one out.

Management doesn't care about us as people, it's our license they care about. As long as they can staff with the minimum number or licensed staff, that's all they care about. They then demand that we attend mandatory meetings that start 2 hrs after the night shift is over, then the meetings last for four hours, then we have to be back to work hours later. Forget the fact that you didn't rest, you're a nurse, a machine. You don't tired, and you don't get sick, so do what you need to do to make it to your shift! Sad...

I wonder if staff/management were truly grief stricken when hearing of the death of this wonderful person, or if the first thought in their heads were, "Well dangit....who will cover her shifts?"

Tagg · Nov 8, 2013

In the complaint, the family claims that the hospital cancelled her (their?) insurance coverage the day after she died.

JesusKeepMe · Nov 8, 2013

In the complaint, the family claims that the hospital cancelled her (their?) insurance coverage the day after she died.

Well now, that is interesting.

Tagg · Nov 8, 2013

It's probably par for the course for an employer to cancel a deceased employee's insurance but it will appear callous to the jury.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Nov 9, 2013

I hope the family wins, especially when they were so callous to cancel her health insurance like that! It might make a difference and hospitals may make more of an effort to hire more staff in the wake of this lawsuit and all the bad publicity. I have heard of nurses dying after working night shift from falling asleep, but never knew of one personally. I'm a night person and live close to work so I've never had any problems driving, but I know coworkers that have trouble with falling asleep, even that nap at work at times or get home and end up sleeping in the car because they are too tired to get out of the car! If I'm mandated to 16 hours you can bet I won't be coming in that night! I also make sure I get enough sleep, take that very seriously, some night shift people skip sleep and that can be dangerous! I knew a nurse that lived on 3-4 hours of sleep and that is just not safe, also bad for your health. Too many nurses allow themselves to be overworked because they don't want to let anyone down and live to please others. Just say no! You are not required to work above your FTE and if you are mandated you can refuse and if forced then at least call in that night! We've been short staffed and amazingly people are actually refusing to be mandated. Guess what mgmt finds someone else to staff the floor! The world doesn't end and proper arrangements are made! Stand up for yourself; your life and safety may be at stake!

PS I just looked it up on AARP and they said the spouse and family should still qualify for COBRA even though she died so I think the hospital is at fault for cancelling her insurance like that!