was this really cause of death? - page 2

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one of my management team from work ( which happens to be an LPN like myself) has the habit of when one of my residents expire always checks to see when their last BM was - or if they have cardiac... Read More

  1. by Antikigirl
    Apr 16, '07
    LOL...cause of death...fecalstasismortum rt sigmoidsticture aeb lack of poop. Oh yeah, see that on death certificates all the time! LOL!

    It is also why when we code folks we try to have them poop too? LOL!! Okay compressions starting..and get that enema up there...so we have set up..lets go people, we have to get this poop out! Okay pump the legs..faster folks we are lossing them...digital stim quick, I need 30 cc's of MOM stat and some prune juice 120 cc's IV push.... OKAY CLEAR!!!!!!! LMHO (laughing my hinie off!). Yep code bluish brown! LOL!!!!!!!
  2. by chris_at_lucas_RN
    Apr 16, '07
    Quote from TriageRN_34
    A nurse can NOT diagnose death or reason for death..that is an MD deal big time and for good reason!
    Ummmm, an RN can pronounce (and therefore "diagnose") a death.

    And LPN/LVN cannot.

    Might just be Texas but it is in our nurse practice act, I believe.
  3. by Antikigirl
    Apr 16, '07
    In Oregon we can NOT pronounce death, we can only give physical data to describe death...of course you can always get away with things in certain facilities like nursing homes or assisted living facilities where you are the senior most medic in a facility under the good sam law...

    However, for a nurse to save themselves from crossing that line here, we simply say "extreme failure to thrive aeb lack of pulse and breathing, no bloodpressure, unresponsiveness, pupils non reactive to light, greyish skin tone and rigidity." I have had to use this a few times...or you just call EMS and they will pronounce.

    This keeps the nurse safe from any lawsuit that can come and say the RN misdiagnosed and could have saved them. With detailing the physical symptoms there is no doubt in a court of law...

    At least that is what Oregon, and as I believe Washington does...we have had lots of suits around these parts from money hungry family that want nothing more than a profit from death..and the lawyers that sway them into it! Heck...the comercials for 'wrongful death' suits are on TV all day long!

    Sad huh?
  4. by crissrn27
    Apr 16, '07
    RNs here in NC can pronounce too. I always documented no pulse, BP, etc and got an order from the doc to send to nursing home. Never mentioned the word dead, or died etc. Don't know if that would have saved me if something had happened, but gratefully that never happened:smackingf
  5. by CHATSDALE
    Apr 16, '07
    i would let her know on no uncertain terms that she was not to mention to family members her pet dx
  6. by cardsRN
    Apr 16, '07
    this is one of the most hilarious (and frightening) things i have heard in a long time. thx for the laugh, and as other posters have said- talk to your boss and risk management asap. this lady should really not be talking to grief stricken families about her ummm... theories.

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