I had a patient fall

[Aneroo, LPN]

I feel so guilty.

I had a pt with a lower GI bleed in the ED. Hgb/hct had remained stable, no active bleeding. Was given golytely via NGT so they could scope him today.

We ordered a bedside commode. It was literally bedside.

I assisted him to the commode. When he stood up, he said he felt fine. BP was stable (140 systolic). Sat on the commode, given TP, given the call bell (into his hand), given instructions to call staff when he needed assistance back to the bed, he was not to attempt to get back in bed by himself and he verbalized understanding.

I then gave report to another RN, since my shift was over. I was already late leaving.

I get a call this morning telling me that patient fell trying to get back into the bed. She said he called and no one came to help him.

I *think* I have mostly charted by butt off. I charted at the time he was placed on bedside commode, given instructions to call staff when he was ready to get back onto commode and that he verbalized understanding.

I don't remember if I charted giving report though. That's what I'm worried about. That means on the chart it still looks like I am caring for the patient if I didn't chart I gave report.

I guess I am just worried about liability. I feel awful that the patient fell. I have second guessed myself most of the day- did I not hear the page? Should I have put him on the bedpan instead? I did alert the receiving nurse that the patient was currently on the commode and that he would call when he was finished.

[Haunted]

It happens kiddo. It's not like you PUSHED him!!!! You charted, he verbalized and had a call lite at hand, he was non compliant. You are really being too hard on yourself.

[ava'smomRN]

it happens, i just had a patient fall a month or so ago. you will be fine, you did what you were suppossed to do.

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

You did everything you were suppossed to do. If he was coherent, there was no need to stand there with him while he used the commode. Who could use a bed pan after drinking golytely? Its not your fault. These things happen all of the time.

[ClaireMacl]

GI bleeds can have horrible postural drops... but you handed it over and that completely relieves you of any guilt in reality, in your head, I know it's a different thing!

Try not to worry, it really wasn't your fault.

[mm82]

I am still in nursing school, and this is one thing that my teacher has beat into everyones' brains. If we assist someone to a commode or put a client on a bed pan, we have to get them off ourselves before we leave. Because, if we leave and there is a patient injury there is a chance the student will get blamed, even if we tell the nurse taking over.