Is this illegal?

Published

Specializes in Assisted Living, Med-Surg/CVA specialty.

An administrator from an ALF to write nurse's notes (she will tell people in a second she "worked ___ years at the hospital" and let them think she was a nurse, yet I think she worked in administration or something. Even the office manager said to me today something about this person working in nursing?!). She doesn't sign the notes, but its definitely her handwriting, and has an RN on duty sign the note.

I'm not quite sure why she would even need to write a note herself?! Why can't one of the nurses do it?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Infusion therapy, Oncology.

I am not sure what an ALF is, but someone in admistration does not usually write in the chart, and if a nurse is signing behind her she could be setting herself up for a lot of problems.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Whoa.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sounds like a problem that could come back and bite someone on the backside. Is she even a nurse? And why can't she sign her own name if she wrote the note?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am not sure what an ALF is, but someone in admistration does not usually write in the chart, and if a nurse is signing behind her she could be setting herself up for a lot of problems.

Assisted Living Facility

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, psych, public health.

It's easy enough to find out if she's a nurse by checking with the online listing of nursing licenses for the state she's in. Check by name or for ALL nurses listed for your particular town. Hope this helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.
An administrator from an ALF to write nurse's notes (she will tell people in a second she "worked ___ years at the hospital" and let them think she was a nurse, yet I think she worked in administration or something. Even the office manager said to me today something about this person working in nursing?!). She doesn't sign the notes, but its definitely her handwriting, and has an RN on duty sign the note.

I'm not quite sure why she would even need to write a note herself?! Why can't one of the nurses do it?

Yes it can be legal. It all depends on the protocols of the facility. She should be signing the notes herself and not having someone else sign for her. The facility might want to consider changing to a progress not instead of a nurses note.

There is nothing illegal about it about it, but it may be considered impropper.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
Sounds like a problem that could come back and bite someone on the backside. Is she even a nurse? And why can't she sign her own name if she wrote the note?

That is the million dollar question I would politely ask her myself if it involved itself with any of my patient care..........:idea:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Assisted Living, Med-Surg/CVA specialty.

No, she is not a nurse, nor has ever been a nurse. Sorry, I didn't make that clear in my first post. I am a friend of someone in her family (who IS! a nurse!!!) and they are disgusted with her behavior, hence, why they have stopped talking to her.

I looked her up on the BON website anyway. She has a non renewed (2002) MT license.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion