Dangerous Situation

[meagansmom]

What would happen at your agency if a patient called the office and stated that he didn't think that it was a good idea for a nurse to come because had thoughts of killing himself and his family? And there was a nurse scheduled to see the patient that day??

Is there a legal obligation to report this to the police?

[angelslpn]

yes you have one nurse contact m.d. ,another call authorities, another contact a crisis hotline, and talk with pt and ask why are you having these thoughts? anytime with suicidal idealations you take them seriously; just like when an pt tells you they're dying! as for the other who sent out to an suicidal idealation situation. they should have followed the same protocol. that could have put yall in grave danger. also when talking to an suicidal pt try to give them something positive to focus on such as family,teaching such as former career. hha's should try to get the police to do an safety awareness in service; they can also be teaching tips with pts.

[Noryn]

I normally try to avoid these threads because they raise my blood pressure and I dont like to resort to name calling but in this case let me make a clear point that your supervisor is an idiot.

Dont second guess yourself. You are not overreacting and this is a very serious situation. Under no circumstances should ANY nurse go in that home. It should have been reported to the authorities and I would have a hard time believing suicide prevention or watch would fit in the scope of practice for a home health nurse.

This puts your license and much more importantly your life at risk.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I am dumbfounded. Why would any supervisor send a nurse into a house where someone was threatening suicide/homicide. Did we learn nothing from the Virginia Tech shootings? There were warning signs that no one could act on or cared to act on. If there is a threat, call the police.

[Cattitude]

I am dumbfounded. Why would any supervisor send a nurse into a house where someone was threatening suicide/homicide. Did we learn nothing from the Virginia Tech shootings? There were warning signs that no one could act on or cared to act on. If there is a threat, call the police.

Being that this thread started in JANUARY way before Virginia Tech, I would give the supvr. a break from learning on that one .

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

January or June...still find it unimaginable that a supervisor would send a nurse into a situation like this.

When I worked in a SNF there were patients who always were threatening or in some way intimidating, and I always sent two people in the room...and my patients had no way of getting a weapon. There is no excuse and no slack cutting here.