I have been working a private case through a nursing agency for almost a year now. I am in very good standing with my agency, never a problem.
Last night I was at my private case and agreed to stay for half of day shift (11p-11a). I administered 06:00 meds and was waiting for my client to wake up. At approximately 07:00, my client was stirring and getting frustrated with her mist collar (over her trach) so I unsnapped it and figured I would either put it on when she goes back to sleep or take it off if she got up for the day. At this time, I nodded off for roughly 30 minutes and woke up to the mother sending me home. She is very upset and has texted me telling me off and put up a Facebook status venting her anger. I haven't said much to her except that I am sorry.
She called my agency and I have to call and set up an appointment to meet with my location director on Monday. I don't know if she told them I fell asleep or simply that she wants me off the case.
I know it's wrong to go to work tired and that there is no justifying falling asleep on the job. I started a new job this week and worked days every day, I just was doing one overnight tonight and thought I could handle it.
anyways, my question is, has anyone ever been reported to the nursing board for falling asleep? I am a good nurse, and I am scared I will lose my nursing license.
Accept responsibility. But gently remind the agency that you were staying over at their request, past your normal ending time.
Unless you need the money, don't ever again agree to work over because this is what happens. It's not appreciated and it's just not worth the risk.
I think it will be alright, as your pt suffered no apparent harm. I doubt the agency will report you to the Board, I think the family will be satisfied just for you to get reprimanded. Let's see how future nurses work out for them. They might be glad to get you back - if you want to go back to them.
If you do get reported, I think the punishment will be light. just a reprimand or censure. Not that these don't matter, but you weren't taking drugs, weren't abusing the pt, stealing, or something very serious and harmful to the pt.
You really should not post so much personal info on a public board like this.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Where does OP say she befriended anyone on FB?
"She is very upset and has texted me telling me off and put up a Facebook status venting her anger. I haven't said much to her except that I am sorry."
Here she talks about how the client's mother texted her then the OP went on Facebook & the client's mother vented there. Why ANYONE would be friends with a client or client's friend/family member, I don't know.
Remain calm and don't act like you did something horrific. Be honest and admit that you were there over your time and got tired. Do NOT unfriend the mother on FB until this is resolved. It will look like you are running and hiding from her. Do not ask the agency if they are reporting you to the BON because you will be acting like you did something worthy of reporting. You are sorry but it is not the end of the world. It happens. I will not beat you up as i am sure you and fellow posters here have that covered. Contact a lawyer and your MP carrier if you have one.
I've seen this go both ways. One agency I was with reported it to BON. another agency would slap you on the hand. Please do not let the family say it's okay to sleep as long as you wake up if the child wakes up. It will come back to bite you.
Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
Personally, I wouldn't contact your malpractice insurance company until / unless something actually comes from this ... as in, if you're told you're being reported to the BON. Otherwise, you are basically informing your insurance company that you're a litigation risk, and they're either going to not renew your policy, or they're going to jack your rates up to an astronomical level. If the agency and mother don't ever report you to the BON, there's nothing that an attorney or your malpractice carrier can do for you.
The problem with this is that if there is no one to work the next shift on a round-the-clock case then it means staying there is sometimes mandatory and you can't get out of it.
I was stuck on a case once from 11PM until around 2 o'clock the next day. I was not offered the right to sleep.
The weird thing about it is when the nurses who come into the patient's room are oblivious to what you're going through.
I agree with some other posters that if no harm was done then you can't really get in trouble with the state board.
"She is very upset and has texted me telling me off and put up a Facebook status venting her anger. I haven't said much to her except that I am sorry."
Here she talks about how the client's mother texted her then the OP went on Facebook & the client's mother vented there. Why ANYONE would be friends with a client or client's friend/family member, I don't know.
It could be possible that the client's mom posted it publicly on FB and so it was open for the world to see. Not everyone opts to keep their FB postings private.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
It could be possible that the client's mom posted it publicly on FB and so it was open for the world to see. Not everyone opts to keep their FB postings private.
Friending patients and their families is a huge no no that I learned the hard way too after a case bashed me all over it when he got mad at me. Pass that on too.
KelRN215, BSN, RN
1 Article; 7,349 Posts
This is grounds for immediate termination/ineligibility for rehire at my agency but we don't report nurses to the board for such behavior.