I had my day in court

[ShayRN]

This is no longer HIPPA violation as it is all public record. I will give you the short version. Man had a CABG 5 years ago. He was on pathway and scheduled to go home in the AM, however his Blood sugar was 360's. D/C held. Multiple notes throughout the day that he needed to keep his monitor on while on a tele floor. That night at 2:12 am he coded. I was the first one to the room. (did I mention I was extra that night?) Pushed the code button and hooked him to the cart. At the time practice on the floor was to take them off Central monitor and put them on the crash cart monitor so that you had a picture in the room. He was shocked while the machine was still calibrating. (Residents were there by that time.) He was stablized and in SB, then placed back on the central monitor at 2:19 am. Was now back in VFIB. Shocked a second time. The doctor refused to believe that the first shock ever took place, even when he was told by the residents and nurses there. He told the family the nurses on the floor were incompetant and they should sue.

Long story short is the nurse who had the patient did a poor job documenting the actions taken during the code.

The nursing supervisor documented med times based on her watch (10 minutes faster then central monitor) and not the crash cart (3 minutes slower than the central monitor) or central monitor.

I didn't document the doctor screaming at me for only shocking once or my response to that temper tantrum.

I expect a verdict tomarrow.

OH! I should say that this man who claims we didn't shock for 7 minutes is alive, well and rides a Harley.

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

If he is alive and well and riding a Harley then I would ecpect that the verdict is going to be for no damages. There can only be damages awarded in malpractice if there was harm done and this man is alive and well there is not any harm done.

[RN1982]

Shay you'll be in my prayers. I'm sick of our society being so money hungry and lawsuit-happy. That doctor should be slapped.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

If the man went 7 minutes without any effective circulation to his brain he would not be riding anything!!!! I bet you will be OK as all the nurses will testify that the shock was delivered and it seems you all figured out what happened. I agree that doctor should be slapped for first not believing many,and secondly for throwing you all under the bus. Let us know the outcome Please!!!!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

The Golden Rule of Nursing is true true true......document...document.....document.

Best of luck. Let us know how it turns out.

[Batman24]

I hope he doesn't get a dime as he seems to be doing pretty well for a dead guy. lol

Just another good reminder how important documentation truly is. I bet some day someone will return the favor to this doc. The hospital must be thrilled he told his patient to sue.

[Halinja, BSN, RN]

I'm with a previous post, there has to be clear damage for there to be malpractice. Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.

[dekatn]

Best of luck to you and keep us posted. I would bet this doc is still employed. I worked with a nurse one time that told a family they should sue the doc, she was out of a job within the week.

[ShayRN]

Thank you all for your kind words. I only hope a jury of laypeople understand how very, very unlikely that this man would be alive had we stood and admired his lovely shade of blue for 7 minutes before shocking.

Oh and BTW, this particular doctor no longer has privledges at the hospital. In part because of this case....

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

What a horrible situation!

Wishing all the best to you.

[ShayRN]

WE WOOOOOOOOOOON, WE WON, WE WON, WE WON, WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DID I MENTION? WE WON!

Honestly, it didn't affect my life in anyway, shape or form OTHER THAN I now feel JUSTIFIED in my actions that night.

[Cheri234, BSN]

Congrats!