huber needle

[spma1234]

Hi all, i work as a RN in a skilled nursing facility; i made a mistake by re-inserting huber needle into patient's right chest port since she had pulled it of, i only did it since we didnt have any supplies to insert a new needle and i didnt want the patient with end stage cancer dying of dehydration, since there was delay in new huber needles coming from pharmacy; i know i am in trouble for risk of infection/ cross contamination. I should have known better not to do it but since it cleaned the area with chlorhex prep i thought it was okay.Now my ADON asked me a witness statement and stated that she was going to give it to the DON and said that she doesnt know whats going to come out of it. I am scared i am going to be fired. Any suggestions????

[FlyingScot, RN]

Here's the thing. There is no justification for your actions. Not one. Your actions were egregious and saying other people make mistakes doesn't mitigate the seriousness of your poor decision. Yet you don't seem to grasp that concept. Be that as it may, let's take this negative and turn it into a positive. For the sake of others who might find themselves in a similar situation why don't you tell us what you've learned from this experience. What have you learned about mediports? What have you learned about hospice patients? What have you learned about prioritizing? What would you do differently if faced with a similar circumstance?

Show us that you have put some serious thought into your actions that night and I think you will find that most of us here will support your growth stemming from this unfortunate event.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

>>

I am not going to address the Huber needle re-insertion. It's clear you are badly in need some end of life education. Comfort measures for an actively dying patient do NOT include fluids of any kind , not sub-q or IV. A dry death is a much more comfortable death. You "didn't want her to die" What does that mean? It was her time. Your goal should have been comfort measures for her and support for her loved ones. Artificial hydration is contra- indicated, it causes cause increased respiratory secretions, abdominal bloating, nausea and vomiting.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Please refrain from posting in caps OP. It's unattractive and other posters won't take you seriously. We can disagree but there is no need for yelling.

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

I don't know that I can reply to the OP recent comment without violating the TOS...

[PsychNurseWannaBe, BSN, RN]

I'm not going to judge you for what occurred. I think it has been done enough. It is far too easy to read into a response and sometimes very difficulty to truly understand the tone of a post. What you as an RN need to do, IMO:

1. Accept responsibility

2. Be truthful to your supervisors

3. Reflect and learn from it

[ktwlpn, LPN]

Regarding end of life care in LTC-we have not needed to resort to IV access for comfort meds in the past couple of years.We start around the clock bilingual mso4 and titrate aggressively for comfort.S/L gives more even control and all staff can administer it.We offer hospice care as required by law,sometimes family members will defer .We manage the resident on our own.We are working hard to start advance life care planning early so these folks are prepared for the inevitable,we seldom send them to the emergency room.

[spma1234]

Flyingscot, i did put some serious thought into this, i am never gonna mess with these needles again, if its found out or pulled out by the patient i am either going to get a new one and insert it with one on one supervision of another RN, if there is no supplies in building then im going to insert a peripheral line and start fluids, and if either of this doesnt work then im going to call doctor and family and state that the patient is not drinking and eating and she is not going to get her fluids at this point till an IV team comes to insert a picc line or midline!!!!!

[FlyingScot, RN]

Flyingscot, i did put some serious thought into this, i am never gonna mess with these needles again, if its found out or pulled out by the patient i am either going to get a new one and insert it with one on one supervision of another RN, if there is no supplies in building then im going to insert a peripheral line and start fluids, and if either of this doesnt work then im going to call doctor and family and state that the patient is not drinking and eating and she is not going to get her fluids at this point till an IV team comes to insert a picc line or midline!!!!!

That's a really good start! If you have any questions about Medi-ports or PICCs don't hesitate to PM me. That's my current area of expertise.

[spma1234]

Flying scot, sure thing , i will ping you for questions regards these needles.....thank you for your guidance....have a grt day!!!!

[passredskins1]

You should have Called IV nurse.....i don't deal with ports at all in nursing home

[ktwlpn, LPN]

Flyingscot, i did put some serious thought into this, i am never gonna mess with these needles again, if its found out or pulled out by the patient i am either going to get a new one and insert it with one on one supervision of another RN, if there is no supplies in building then im going to insert a peripheral line and start fluids, and if either of this doesnt work then im going to call doctor and family and state that the patient is not drinking and eating and she is not going to get her fluids at this point till an IV team comes to insert a picc line or midline!!!!!

I hope if happens with an end of life patient you refrain from try I g to ft fluids on board.Most hospice agencies will offer assistance even before the admission is completed.You can call them and ask for their advice.