I feel terrible

[registerednutrn, BSN, RN]

Last friday I had a pt that i was preparing to discharge. The pt began to complain of numbness in left leg. i called the dr and was very rudely ask why the pt was not already discharged. I explained that i had been waiting for her to return my phone call and also explained what was going on with the pt. She said that the pt always complained and to send him home. i made of charge nurse aware of what was going on as well since i am still a new nurse and am very new to this dept. i document very well the phone call to the dr and everything that went on. Today i come back to work and risk management comes to see me and thank me for doctumenting on the pt so well. i asked why she then advised that the pt came back in over the week end and has had to have a bka. i check pedal pulses during my assessment on his and he did have them. i feel so terrible I just don't know what to do. Just had to vent thanks for reading

[Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN]

It sounds like you did your job well. The doctor had something up her craw for some reason. I wonder what that doctor thinks now? You covered yourself and reported a change with the patient--rock on you!

:up:

[leslie :-D]

wow, how tragic.

you however, did a wonderful job and should feel good about that.

and, as a new nurse, you clearly can appreciate the benefits of thorough documentation.

no matter how experienced you become, always (always, always!) write meticulous, detailed notes.

i'll bet that doc is kicking herself in the hiney right about now...

great job, registered!

leslie

[MassED, BSN, RN]

Last friday I had a pt that i was preparing to discharge. The pt began to complain of numbness in left leg. i called the dr and was very rudely ask why the pt was not already discharged. I explained that i had been waiting for her to return my phone call and also explained what was going on with the pt. She said that the pt always complained and to send him home. i made of charge nurse aware of what was going on as well since i am still a new nurse and am very new to this dept. i document very well the phone call to the dr and everything that went on. Today i come back to work and risk management comes to see me and thank me for doctumenting on the pt so well. i asked why she then advised that the pt came back in over the week end and has had to have a bka. i check pedal pulses during my assessment on his and he did have them. i feel so terrible I just don't know what to do. Just had to vent thanks for reading

you did what you could - charge nurse was made aware too. You did everything you should have - maybe slip in to the patient, "call your doctor tomorrow to get in" - is what I usually say if the ER doc seems a bit lackadaisical about the illness.... I don't get a person hyped up but just mention that they can call their doc to let them know what's going on, and they might want to see the patient sooner. Just a thought. You did what was right, though.

[ava'smomRN]

good job. sorry to hear about the patient outcome, it was not your doing

[MzMouse]

How tragic for the patient. You were a wonderful advocate for your patient; what a shame the physician wouldn't listen.

[muffinrn99]

you did what was right. you can't make the Dr do anything else. the only other thing I would add is to notify the nursing supervisor at your hospital. Had a situation once with a pt. who had a ruptured appy, the Dr wasn't going to take her for emergent surgery, so we called the supervisor. The patient ended up with a new Dr and surgery after all.

[suanna]

wow, how tragic.

you however, did a wonderful job and should feel good about that.

and, as a new nurse, you clearly can appreciate the benefits of thorough documentation.

no matter how experienced you become, always (always, always!) write meticulous, detailed notes.

i'll bet that doc is kicking herself in the hiney right about now...

great job, registered!

leslie

Unfortunately the patient can no longer kick himself or anyone else- I hope he looks into an educational law suit for the dotors enlightenment. When a patient has a new complaint and it is significant enough for a nurse to call you- you should at least have the resident do a CYA evaluation. Who knows, this patients leg could have been saved if the medical department was as goood as the nursing care. Keep up the good work and remember- you were addressing a serious problem- the doc was ignoring it. The moral is never be afraid to call- if for no other reason than to make sure you are not on the wrong end of an educational litigation.

[Batman24]

You are a great patient advocate. I'm sorry the end result was so terrible for your patient. Shame on that doctor for not listening and taking action. Poor patient.

[justme1972]

As a student, I have a question on what procedure that most hospitals follow.

I want to say FIRST that I am not questioning anything that the OP did, b/c I don't know the full procedure...this is strictly for my learnin'

The OP found a pedal pulse, but I am thinking as I'm reading that the numbness would come first before the pedal pulse would have stopped.

Our hospital too, checks for pedal pulse's and Homan's every time we walk into the room of a post-op patient...b/c it only takes a second and if you miss it, the results are tragic.

Obviously, that was a big sign for the doctor to miss.

Could the nurse have appealed his decision up the chain? Or the fact that a pedal pulse was present indication enough that circulation was present and it was just a tragic set of circumstances?

[Ahhphoey]

Good job with advocating for your patient and documenting everything. It is unfortunate the patient has to have a BKA, though.