Under investigation

Nurses HIPAA

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Hey guys! Clare here. I can't believe I'm asking this question and this may be the difference between my job and being unemployed. I'm a CNA and I work in the cardiology unit on the third floor. I was told that I was under investigation due to another employee stating that I was not really charting my patient vitals. I work in Tennessee and it's a union hospital. Can anyone tell me if there are cameras in the unit/floors outside of the bedrooms? That may be the only thing keeping me from losing my job.

Sour Lemon

5,016 Posts

How the heck would anyone know if the hospital you work at has cameras?

Clare2125

3 Posts

It's a general question. As in, is it normally the standard for all hospitals. Advice would be nice before I barge in and try to defend myself. Thanks.

Sour Lemon

5,016 Posts

It's a general question. As in, is it normally the standard for all hospitals. Advice would be nice before I barge in and try to defend myself. Thanks.

Some places have no cameras. Others have them everywhere. And even if 99% of hospitals did have cameras, that would be useless information if yours was in the 1% that didn't.

Have you considered asking someone actually familiar with the hospital you work at?

Clare2125

3 Posts

I have asked and no one seems to know. Doesn't matter. I guess I pissed someone off that night, I'm not sure. But it's unmerited. I take my job seriously as a CNA and as a future nurse.

Wuzzie

5,116 Posts

If you are part of the union you need to get your union rep involved yesterday.

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

Your union rep can help you if anyone can.

JKL33

6,768 Posts

So the accusation is that you didn't do vitals at all (or didn't do them properly), and instead charted false data. When it comes down to it, whether or not you charted inaccurate or false vital signs is an indefensible kind of accusation. You could go into a room and hang out for a few minutes and put in some fake information - - or you could go in and correctly do vital signs and correctly chart the information. Proving either thing is very difficult without a reliable direct witness. A camera doesn't prove that you did vitals nor that you charted accurate information.

If there is no truth to these accusations, I would assertively defend myself by stating plainly that I have never falsified vital signs. Never. I may point out that anyone wishing to make trouble could say anything (with regard to this specific matter) and I have no proof other than my own good word and record of providing excellent care. It can't hurt to assert that you consider this a critical task, you understand its importance, and would never jeopardize a patient's well-being in this or any other way. Probably wouldn't do or say a whole lot without the advice of your union rep.

NICU Guy, BSN, RN

4,161 Posts

Specializes in NICU.
I was told that I was under investigation due to another employee stating that I was not really charting my patient vitals.
Were they stating that you were not charting vitals or charting made up vitals? How do they know that you were not charting vitals?

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

4 Articles; 7,907 Posts

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

If you are part of the union:

1. Contact your union steward ASAP

2 Exercise your Weingarten rights (Weingarten Rigts) and inform them that you will not answer management's questions regarding this investigation without a union representative present

Best of luck.

zoeygirl75

2 Posts

Does the accusing person have any clear and convincing "evidence" to your guilt? Just making accusations without any evidence to your guilt, should not even lead to an investigation in my book. However, whatever the case may be, it should be upon the "accuser to prove all allegations"! What about your right to due process. Just because someone says your guilty of a crime doesn't make it so. Speaking to your Union Rep, and no one else about this would be what I would do.

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, this is for entrainment purposes only and not for the purposes of providing legal advice.

Have Nurse, ADN, RN

3 Articles; 719 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg/Infection Control/Geriatrics.
It's a general question. As in, is it normally the standard for all hospitals. Advice would be nice before I barge in and try to defend myself. Thanks.

You should be able to defend yourself, if you are doing your job, with or without cameras. This is why documentation as you go is so important.

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