Frightened by false legal claims...

[Mike B.]

Greetings all.

I've begun to consider taking an LPN course, and have been trying to learn as much as I can about the realities of life as a nurse by reading accounts on sites such as this to aid in making the decision of whether or not to actually take the plunge.

It seems that many nurses feel that their occupation is a very fulfilling one on many levels, but I've also been encountering quite a lot of information that I find extremely unsettling.

One of the most frightening concepts is the apparent fact that in the course of a nurse or similarly employed person's duties, almost anyone at any time can claim anything they want about that nurse and utterly ruin his/her life, especially if that nurse is indeed a male. It's obvious that even a claim that ends up being proven false would cause grave harm to a person's reputation and career.

From what I've read, it seems as though the best safeguard against such things would be to have a witness present when doing almost everything, but I would think that doing this would most likely not be practical in the real world.

I guess my question is, do I seem like someone who has just become overly paranoid after reading a few horror stories, or is a person in this profession truly playing a career-long game of Russian roulette?

Basically, just how common are bogus claims and the ensuing crucifixions of character?

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

Your not being paranoid. All jobs have thier downsides, however, in Nursing you are at the mercy of everyone from your patients, thier families, co-workers, other staff and management. You are considered guilty and being proven innocent may not help you. On the up side, there is nothing like the feeling of helping someone heal, to become family to a patient who has none, to have the trust of your charges and the belief that you truely care for them is a special feeling that never goes away.

And the bogus claims against us are very common, blackballing is routine. And to top it off the mental pain you go thru when this happens is terrible. You question yourself, your ability to do the job, and whether or not you should have gone into a different profession. Would I encourage someone to become a Nurse??? NO WAY! I have been thru to much to ever want to see anyone deal with this profession. Just my 2 cents, others will see it differently.

[RNperdiem, RN]

I have worked in hospitals for 15 years and have not seen anything as serious as you describe.

However, a bad impression on people or a bad reputation can linger.

Getting labeled the lazy nurse, the creepy guy or the hopeless incompetent can be had labels to shake off, and the only solution is to find a new place to work.

[Mike B.]

Thank you for your responses.

To be honest, the thing that really scares me is sexual assault. Stories of people who lose jobs or even go to prison based on no evidence, and in fact nothing at ALL other than the word of a patient.

The prospect is horrifying.

The potential rewards of the field of nursing seem as though they could be tremendous. But unfortunately, pondering the real extent of the horrors that our hyper-litigious society can inflict upon innocent people who are trying to make a positive difference does not fail to give me serious pause.

One just wonders how to proceed in such a situation.

[leslie :-D]

just make sure you get nursing insurance...

it's inexpensive (less than $100/yr) yet priceless in saving certain body parts.

also, when you encounter a pt w/notable psych hx, good idea to have a witness.

of course there may be other types of pts as well, (where you may want a witness) but just know this is the exception and not the rule.

seriously, do not let certain improbablities, stop you from pursuing your goals.

wishing you the very best.

leslie