In Home Care Working Beside Nurse Who Goes Against Order

[Vee D]

A nurse I work with goes against orders, continuously breaks respiratory machine, does things without orders. What would you do?

So it's been going on for weeks... a nurse I work beside in home health has been breaking the patient's suction machine over and over and over. I talked to her about it and she denies it yet the family has caught her on tape and complains of the same issue.

We are down to one suction machine that only works when plugged up. If power goes out we are screwed. I reported her to the supervisor. 

The client is on a continuous feed via pump but the nurse takes it upon herself to bolus feed the client. Yes! Without an order.

The client complained to me it made her feel sick, full and has stomach pain. I reported to supervisor. She wrote up the wrong narcotic order higher than the original and gave to client. I reported. 

She removed the client from his ordered in-line suction and now the client has an infection. I reported and documented what she did. Because I documented what she did I had to receive counsel for my notes and signed the sheet. They said we cannot mention another nurse in the notes although I quoted her words verbatim.

I decided to leave the case because I am unable to help the client due to continuously having to fix the problems the nurse created.

[JohnHood, BSN]

You have gone up your chain of command without success. Your patient is in danger. I don't think you have any choice but to report her and the agency to the board of nursing. Include the actions you have taken and your companies response. You should be ale to report anonymously, but I wouldn't. I would immediately find another job.

[Vee D, ADN]

hollyvk said:

Another option is to report the situation to the state agency that licenses the home care agency. They certainly will want to know about the agency putting the client's health at risk.

How do I find that out?

JohnHood said:

You have gone up your chain of command without success. Your patient is in danger. I don't think you have any choice but to report her and the agency to the board of nursing. Include the actions you have taken and your companies response. You should be ale to report anonymously, but I wouldn't. I would immediately find another job.

Yeah who knows how that would turn out so I don't want to start with the nursing board. I rather call an ombudsman 

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

I'm surprised that the family hasn't called and told the agency to get destructo-nurse out of their home, or else they'll shop for another agency that will provide appropriate nursing care

[Kitiger, RN]

Hoosier_RN said:

I'm surprised that the family hasn't called and told the agency to get destructo-nurse out of their home, or else they'll shop for another agency that will provide appropriate nursing care

I know some families have so much trouble getting enough nursing that they're afraid to say anything against the nurses that they do have. These families use 2 or even 3 different agencies, trying to get the nursing that they need. 

Some nurses died with COVID. A lot of nurses retired earlier than they might otherwise have retired. Some have left nursing because they were burnt to a crisp. Some won't even look at home nursing, as the hospitals pay so much better. 

I understand that not all areas have a true nursing shortage, but in my area, we just don't have enough nurses willing to work homecare.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

Kitiger said:

I understand that not all areas have a true nursing shortage, but in my area, we just don't have enough nurses willing to work homecare.

Same in my area. The pay is lower as you mentioned plus we live in an area where Winter driving can be not so fun. I'm driving to work in snow again this morning. I know I wouldn't want to commit to a job with a lot of drive time living around here.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

Kitiger said:

I know some families have so much trouble getting enough nursing that they're afraid to say anything against the nurses that they do have. These families use 2 or even 3 different agencies, trying to get the nursing that they need. 

Some nurses died with COVID. A lot of nurses retired earlier than they might otherwise have retired. Some have left nursing because they were burnt to a crisp. Some won't even look at home nursing, as the hospitals pay so much better. 

I understand that not all areas have a true nursing shortage, but in my area, we just don't have enough nurses willing to work homecare.

With PDN, that's the case in my area as well. But I'd still be appalled at an idiot that, seemingly on purpose, continues to break life saving equipment that my child uses, or does things to make them feel worse. Usually a threat like that will get the company to shuffle folks around if able

[JohnHood, BSN]

As a RN, if your patient is in danger, you have a duty to report.

 

[Vee D, ADN]

JohnHood said:

As a RN, if your patient is in danger, you have a duty to report.

 

Exactly and that's what I did. Did you read the post

Hoosier_RN said:

With PDN, that's the case in my area as well. But I'd still be appalled at an idiot that, seemingly on purpose, continues to break life saving equipment that my child uses, or does things to make them feel worse. Usually a threat like that will get the company to shuffle folks around if able

Exactly and the agency does nothing about it. But like the person said the family doesn't have much coverage so she's desperate. Me personally I'd get rid of the nurse harming my loved one despite I may have coverage or not

[Vee D, ADN]

Update, the director has been fired ?.Now Hopefully the clinical manager is next because there's about to be an audit. She's in trouble. She's been trying to reach out to me but she's on mute. She is very incompetent and behind on her work. We have someone new who said he's overseeing the office so new management audits on the way.shes craping bricks right now