The large Hospital I work at, I transferred to an eye/plastics clinic-in interview I was told I would work clinic hours-stay over a little once in a while/in reality a Dr stays over 3 times a week and sometimes till 9pm-I questioned this and the (non medical) manager told me just to leave when I'm ready (with Pts still in exam rooms)-the only one left in this clinic is the Dr and a resident (not even a front desk person). when I asked to talk to the head nurse-they would not let me (she works at a different site). These eye patients are not optical Pts and some are in bad shape. I feel this is unethical leaving Pts.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
When pts are in our grounds, we are responsible,atter how they got there and yes, even the parking garage. We have had codes in cars before
You are fully mistaken. The patient in the parking garage that was discharged from the outpatient clinic is not your responsibility if they suffer random sudden cardiac death. Your fears are misguided. Are you even in the US?
You are fully mistaken. The patient in the parking garage that was discharged from the outpatient clinic is not your responsibility if they suffer random sudden cardiac death. Your fears are misguided. Are you even in the US?
Though the OP may not have articulated her concerns well ... I suspect she is referring to the hospital/healthcare organization as a whole.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Though the OP may not have articulated her concerns well ... I suspect she is referring to the hospital/healthcare organization as a whole.
I think she's projecting total liability for any random occurance whether random sudden cardiac death or a fall with a SAH onto a nurse as a "closer" rather than the physician and facility management
We have had codes in the garage , maybe the Hosp is.not responsible (maybe they are) but they do it and that is why I think a nurse should be with the eye Dr.
When pts are in our grounds, we are responsible,atter how they got there and yes, even the parking garage. We have had codes in cars before
Being on hospital grounds does not make someone a patient. I'm sure it depends on local laws, but I've been told at several hospitals that how you handle a code/emergency depends strictly on where it happens, and if it happens outside the hospital building, you legally CANNOT just drag them into the hospital and call them a patient.
By the current logic, no nurse should be allowed to leave campus if there are people in the parking lot, because someone might code in the parking lot and the nurse would be liable?
I'm looking for something like clinic nursing now, and I hope to goodness I find a place that will cheerfully tell me my services are not needed after the end of my shift!
When elderly patients wait 5 hours to be seen, and when they finally get to he exam room they could be hungry, tired or.many things ( and like I said, our hospital has pts that may have things going on with them, sick).
We have had codes in the garage , maybe the Hosp is.not responsible (maybe they are) but they do it and that is why I think a nurse should be with the eye Dr.
Understood. You are correct that medical response to those occurrences is the responsibility of the hospital, if the individuals are on hospital property at the time. However, do not infer that to mean that the clinic, or you personally, are responsible. The medical response team will do their job and respond and obtain the appropriate continuing care for the patient. I sense some worry on your posts that it will be judged that you personally somehow failed to rescue a patient ... and I think that is a big, big stretch for an outpatient opthamology clinic that may not even obtain vitals in the course of a typical office visit.
JustBeachyNurse, LPN
13,957 Posts
You are fully mistaken. The patient in the parking garage that was discharged from the outpatient clinic is not your responsibility if they suffer random sudden cardiac death. Your fears are misguided. Are you even in the US?