So, who's been hauled into court?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Assisted Living, Med-Surg/CVA specialty.

Care to share your story?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I don't have any litigation stories or court appearances that can be tied to my nursing practice (yet). I am knocking on wood with the hope that it will remain that way.

However, I know of a highly-experienced LTC charge nurse who was sued, lost her license, and everything.

One of her alert, lucid patients was complaining of chest pain, and had requested to be sent to the hospital. This nurse decided to go to the breakroom and take a smoke break before taking any action. While the nurse disappeared into the breakroom, the patient telephoned her adult sons and explained that nothing was being done about her chest pains. The patient died about 1 hour after the nurse returned from her cigarette break, and the surviving sons ended up filing a lawsuit against the nursing home.

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Specializes in Assisted Living, Med-Surg/CVA specialty.

Wow, that's really sad a tobacco addiction (or maybe just not caring/believing the pt?) overtook her!

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

I don't think it was her smoking addiction, maybe it was incompetence?

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That was totally a bad nurse. Tobacco isn't crack. :chuckle Who would smoke with a patient c/o of chest pain?

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The first thing I thought of was myself being in a hospital bed with chest pain and having that person for my nurse.

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Specializes in ED (Level 1, Pediatric), ICU/CCU/STICU.
I don't think it was her smoking addiction, maybe it was incompetence?

QTF Couldn't agree more.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think its probably not a good idea to discuss litigation that we have been involved in as the internet is not anonymous. Anything put out here, if traceable to you, it can be included in a suit.

Not trying to put a damper on this thread, but want everyone to be realistic.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
I think its probably not a good idea to discuss litigation that we have been involved in as the internet is not anonymous. Anything put out here, if traceable to you, it can be included in a suit.

Not trying to put a damper on this thread, but want everyone to be realistic.

I agree.

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