Will I be held responsible ?

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

The unit supervisor casually told me about a resident that attempted to wander off the unit. She said this happened around 9am on 7-3 shift, she was just telling me this around 10pm on 3-11 shift.

I looked through the chart and there was NO documentation.

I wrote the unit supervisor a letter to tell the nurse on 7-3 to document, I figure with being so busy she may have forgot.

Well, the next day I spoke to the 7-3 nurse and she said she was NOT notified of the elopement attempt and will not document.

At first I figured there was nothing I did wrong but now I'm starting to worry. I wonder if I should have documented, did an incident report, made sure doc and family was notified and etc.

Any insight will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I guess I will find out soon and keep you all posted.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

If the elopement occurred during the day shift, then whomever is on day shift needs to document. How can you document on an elopement and notify the family when you were not even in the building at the time that the incident happened?

It might be true that the 7-3p nurse was unaware of the elopement. However, your unit supervisor seems very aware, so I would consult with her again. If the supervisor still wants you to document, do the incident report, and notify family and the doctor, then it looks like she's trying to pawn more work off on you.

[sweetnurse63, BSN, RN]

I agree with the commuter, this does not fall on you because the supervisor should have notified the dayshift nurse via phone email or in person so that documentation would have been entered.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

The first person to discover and incident is the one who files the incident. YOu can't file a reprot on an incident that someone told you about.....you can't document on something you were told that happened......"Reported to nurse by supervior that resident reportedly attempted to elope off unit at approx 9am" It is not your responsibility...but I would ask the supervisor why she told you and what she wanted you to do with the information....

[steelcityrn, RN]

I would probably want more information about a patient "attempting"to wander. Was it something as simple as walking towards an elevator?

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Either keep out of it totally or ask the one who told you originally just what you were to do with her info.

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

I'm guessing incident report requirements vary by facility, where I work an incident report is only used (in regards to elopement) if the resident actually left the facility. Attempts are not the same as actual elopements for us.

Does your facility have any procedures in place for people at risk of elopement? If so, I would think it would be appropriate to implement that procedure. Even if you don't have a formal protocol, there are things you can do to ensure the individual's safety - frequent checks etc...

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Update- Now it has been said that the attempted elopement happened at change of shift. I still was not aware of any of it. The ADON wanted me to document a late entry. I told her I don't mind if I knew what to write. I also don't want to document on something I did not follow up on. So if I do document I want to be the one to notify the doc, family , and etc.

Write now there is no documentation and every one is trying to sort this out.

Normally if someone attempts to elope , we notify the doc, family, the state, and etc. We do an incident report and hourly checks.

I just hope it doesn't get ugly.

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

I wouldn't document anything if you did not witness it. Especially if they want you to document calling the doc, etc, stuff you did not do.

And I'm surprised you'd document an attempt to elope? Unless that means the resident actually made it outside. Maybe I missed this.

[Mrs. SnowStormRN, RN]

I think the supervisor should document being that she seems to be the most aware of the incident and discovered it.

[steelydanfan]

Update- Now it has been said that the attempted elopement happened at change of shift. I still was not aware of any of it. The ADON wanted me to document a late entry. I told her I don't mind if I knew what to write. I also don't want to document on something I did not follow up on. So if I do document I want to be the one to notify the doc, family , and etc.

Write now there is no documentation and every one is trying to sort this out.

Normally if someone attempts to elope , we notify the doc, family, the state, and etc. We do an incident report and hourly checks.

I just hope it doesn't get ugly.

You just cannot report on something you had NO knowledge or was witness to. End of story. This falls squarely on your supervisors shoulders.

[N.U.R.S.E.]

You can only document on things you observed personally or subjective data using quotation marks as what the patient stated since none of that happened then you can not document then if u do u have falsified medical records another point did u make rounds as u were coming down the hall bcz people will pass the buck on you was this mentioned in report just curious as to hand off and change of shift report done there another reason to check to make sure u do rounds before u accept keys and responsibility God Bless Make the supervisor fill out the report this could turn into doozy she seems to have more info than u do