Im Worried...............

[jdc1026]

hi everyone, im a LVN in a LTC facility, i work nights 11-7, and have been an LVN for a year and a half already. i have a mix of long-term patients and rehab/short-term patients. i recently had a patient fall, and he ending up dying of a C4, and C5 fracture of his neck, at the hospital. i have dealt with a lot of falls , but never anyone dying of a neck fracture. it ended up being a coroners case, and the police/CSI came to my facility to asked questions. im freaking out, and wonder if this is rountine protocol. PLEASE HELP.

[ns lpn]

That's awful I would be freaked out too. I've never seen the police at work for anything except the odd time an alzhiemers pt's called and filed a complaint.

?? if it's because that type of break is uncommon and they need to follow up. Or ? Would the family have requested an inquiry? Maybe they're checking the facility over to see if it meets safety standards?

[jdc1026]

the family had nothing to do with it. the reason why the cops/csi came was because the kind of break, and the pt died that day at the hospital like 2 hrs later after falling. well i do feel a lot better now, it was a freak accidnet and i have to accept that, there was nothing i could have done. the facility is protecting me too, and my license is safe.

[ns lpn]

Thank heavens. I didn't even think it was something you did or didn't but I know the questions that always go through my head anytime something unforseen happens. Take care.

[Lexxie, LPN]

Sounds like it was "a reportable incident" and that's why police etc are involved. Whenever someone falls at my facility and it ultimately results in death, they have to report it to the state. This happened within the last year - with TWO residents! Anyway, scary I know. Good luck to you.