First Time Fall

[Nola504]

I've been a nurse for 3 years. I've never had a patient fall before. At shift change I got a quick update from the day shift nurse, he needed to go drop his labs off at the front, I told him to go. I would go check on the patient. I'd see him in a minute. I went to see the patient, asked if she needed anything, if she had to use the bathroom. She said no. I told her I would be right back. I went across the hall to introduce myself to the next patient. Told them I had not received report but that I would be back. Just wanted to say hello. I turned to leave and go back into the previous room and the patient hit her call button. I told her I was walking back that way, did she need to use the bathroom? She said she tried to go and she fell and that she needed help. PANIC. I ran in. She was on the floor and I reached down and picked her up. Pandemonium!!!! Long story short..she broke her hip. I assumed responsibility for the patient. I was the last one in the room. It was my fault. I feel horrible. I feel bad for that patient. I feel bad for myself. I had 5 patients. High acuity level on 3 different hallways. I always try to do things efficiently to get things started and taken care of because I know that I have a certain amount of time to get things done. I made mistakes and it was my fault she hurt herself. I should have just waited in the room to get report or found someone else who was ready to give me report. I should have checked the bed alarm. I didn't do those things and now my patient it hurt because of them. I can't eat. I can't sleep. I'm teary. This just happened so it's all still fresh. I don't know what is going to happen to me. I don't know what is going to happen to my poor patient. I should have said to the day shift nurse we need to give official report in the room. I should have persuaded her to use the bathroom when I was in there. I should have checked the bed alarm. Should have. Would have. Could have. I already had a conversation with my manager. I work nights and was sitting by the phone all morning because I knew she was going to call. I have to go to a meeting on Monday with the risk manager. This is a bit of a nightmare. I feel sick. How could I have been so careless! Rules are in place for a reason. I got an email saying 3 weeks ago I didn't document a bowel movement on a patient. One time. One patient. In 3 months. And I get an email stating what is expected of me and that I did not fulfill that obligation and that further incidences will have consequences. For not documenting a bowel movement. I can't even begin to think of what is going to happen that a patient under my care fell and broke a hip.

[Guest1053148]

I guess one thing I don't understand is that you had just taken over the patient and hadn't CHECKED the bed alarm, that implies it should have already been on. You are taking all of the blame on yourself but what about the previous shift? The nurse stated the pt had been calling out all shift but not for a while, what happened to proactive rounding for falls? What if that were the last pt you got report vs one of the first you would t have even been in the room yet? Was the bed alarm charted as on? A fall during shift change before report is even done and you have not even touched your pt is very rarely the oncoming nurses error. It really does sound like they are looking for a scapegoat.

[NurseCard, ADN]

I can't imagine working somewhere, where I would get raked over the coals

because I neglected to chart one BM, UNLESS maybe that patient was a post

op Bowel Resection, or the patient's only reason for BEING in the hospital

was constipation/impaction.

Shew.

[Nola504]

Nursecard,

Tell me about it... the smallest thing and they jump all over you. I am currently looking for a new position elsewhere. Surely everywhere isn't like this!