How much trouble am I in?

[Tropicalsun]

My husband has been a frequent flyer in our facility. I've been there 8 years and float a lot so my face is familiar to about everybody. Issue is this during his last hospitalization, both of his IVs infiltrated. He was getting IV fluids and IV Dialudid. I pointed the infiltration out at 1800. At 1930 when the nurses rounded for report I pointed it out again and said I'm turning this off. "Oh okay" At 2030 I asked again for a restart. 2100 the student and preceptor came student tried once unsuccessfully. I asked if the preceptor would try, " no I want her to." I asked can I do this? Oh we don't know the policy on that.. 2130 "we're getting the veinFinder" 2200 "oh I forgot. Just a minute" 2230 I have to ask again. 2315 I ask if I can start it he's in a lot of pain. No we're coming right now. 2400 i started his PIV. Not saying it was my best decision, on no sleep and with no apparent nursing care for my husband it was done. Six hours of having no access pain 8/10 and they have access. Nobody saw me do it. However I'm called at home that I'm being investigated as a safety risk. The joke is it was still in an being used for the IV pain meds! I wasn't on the clock and my husband asked me to do it. How much trouble am I in?

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Take the marriage status out of the equation. How much trouble would you be in if you walked in, not on the clock, and started an IV on your next door neighbor? Or a complete stranger?

I think you're in a lot of trouble, sad to say.

I don't think you can take the marriage status out of the equation and have it be a valid analogy. Apples and oranges.

[SassyTachyRN]

How did you get the supplies to start the iv? They might look into that as a factor also...

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I don't know what to think, really. I go back and forth from leniency to progressive discipline. But, for progressive discipline, I keep thinking, "On what grounds? She was a patient's family member, not an employee at that time!"

So, isn't the question really: If the OP was a nurse, but not at that particular hospital, what would administration do in this situation? Probably nothing, and the patient advocate would come around with a token of apology for the substandard nursing care.

But the OP is an employee, and knows (or should) how to call a rapid response, use the chain of command, etc. I just don't see this ending well.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I've been in MANY situations with a loved one , where their care was compromised.

It would never had have occurred to me to take matters into my own hands.

When you are at your loved one's bedside, you are a visitor, not the caregiver. You are not covered by the facility to perform an invasive procedure in this case.

What is the facilities definition of a "safety risk"? How much "trouble you are in" is at the mercy of your administrators.

Call your malpractice insurer.

Much luck to you and kudos on your IV skills.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

How, at ANY time, could you have possibly thought this was a good idea? You go ride SOMEONE until your DH gets the care he needs, not take it upon yourself to perform an invasive procedure while not acting as an employee of your facility. I'm floored that you did this and am interested to find out how it all plays out....

[Neural]

I don't think you'll lose your license or even have it suspended (unless there's more we don't know), but you'll certainly want to tread lightly after this. For a long time. Like years.

Just remember: the squeaky wheel gets the grease. You should have went straight to the charge nurse(s) and/or hospitalist and told them what was going on. Be persistent until the job gets done. Stay at the main nurses station.

I've seen numerous family members do this, even over mundane stuff, but never once has the tactic been unsuccessful. It makes the nursing staff look incompetent, and they know it, so they'll bend over backwards to get the job done.

[UTHSC_Bound, BSN]

The husband did not have IV access, receive IVF or dilaudid for six hours.

The wife/float pool nurse placed one in order for him to receive basic medical care because the hospital nurses are not competent in this very basic skill.

The husband/patient should file a formal complaint about the inadequate care and let it be known that if his wife is the target of a witchhunt she won't go down alone.

THIS!!

[thenightnurse456]

Hmm I think you'll be in trouble, even though I agree with what you did.

The only thing I would have done differently were to maybe ask to speak to the charge nurse. But you're emotions and lack of sleep probably clouded your judgement, I get it.

Hope it works out for you.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

How did you get the supplies to start the iv? They might look into that as a factor also...

All the supply rooms in my hospital have key code locks, and they all have the same code. I could also get into any Pyxis in my hospital with my login. She works at this hospital for almost a decade. Of course she can get supplies.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

I guess either way a formal complaint should be filed as to her husband having to wait SIX HOURS for a new line.

Not acceptable.

And we all know this happens all the time ( various situations) The powers that be need to know that their cutting out staff is NOT acceptable.

And if this wasnt due to a staff shortage , then someone needs to be disciplined. I mean, any one of us after failing to get access would go to the charge , right? Or am I wrong. Ive even asked a coworker- I'll trade a task for them, pass meds, clean someone up, whatever, if they could try.

I just hope this also wasn't a case of a nurse with 1 year having to precept a newb. So tired of hospitals not trying to keep experienced nurses.

OP good luck -sorry you felt it come to that.

[caliotter3]

I would say as a minimum, expect to get fired and don't be surprised if they report you to the Board. I would seek legal advice sooner rather than later so that you don't get overwhelmed by the process.

[ProgressiveActivist, BSN, RN]

The pt had fluids running in an infiltrated IV which the assigned day and night nurses ignored. The IVF ran until the wife turned them off.

The nurses were negligent.

Someone had to go under the bus to cover this up and they decided it would be the wife/nurse

I would assess for parasthesias and take pictures of the affected arm and show them to risk management.