Patient fall without bed alarm

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Had a patient fall shortly after shift change . No bed alarm was on and the patient was injured. Family is planning to sue, wondering if anybody has gone through this, and what to expect . I do not have . Wondering also if you have any recommendations for malpractice insurance. I know it won't help me now but I wish I had had it sooner. Thank you!

Specializes in ORTHO, PCU, ED.

A lot of families threaten, but when it gets right down to it, they'll change their minds. I don't have any advice to give, I just hope the family cools off and goes on.

Talk to risk management....NSO is a good company for for future reference.

Specializes in ICU.

I use Proliability. They offer discounts for membership in several organizations, so if you're a member of your specialty's professional organization, they're worth checking out. I got one for being an AACN member.

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

you may not get insurance if you look for it after the fact

Is it in ALF or skilled? I know in ALF it's in the contract that they are not with staff 24/7 so there is the disclaimer. I'm not sure about skilled or the hospital.

It's with a hospital

Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.

I'm not sure there's any legal leg. Falls can happen with or with bed alarms on regardless. How much injury to the patient?

I went through something very similar and in the end the family accepted the hospital's apology and moved on. I think they more wanted the ass-kissing that went along with it in the aftermath.

The patient sustained subdural hematoma with no deficit

Specializes in Critical Care.

If there was good evidence that the fall could have been prevented with a bed alarm then they might have a case, but the overall evidence says that bed alarms don't prevent falls.

Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

I wonder what the fall rate is for staff running to a bed alarm?? As for insurance, I have NSO

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