is this legal

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a new ER manager with a big problem. Pt. arrives by EMS with c/o CP and threatened suicide. Nurse documented on complaint form filled out by admissions and nothing else. No v/s, hx assessment, etc documented R/T pt. combative???? According to EMS nurse verbally provoked pt. No documentation by nurse to support or deny allegations. Pt. taken to jail because of ETOH intoxication. When nurse was questioned she blamed lack of documentation due to "doctor said there wasn't enough done to document" Dr. did not document anything either. Pt. was not even medically screened!!!! In my opinion the pt lost his "rights" when thoughts of suicide. Any suggestions on disciplinary actions for nurse. (the above nurse has suggestions on how i need to handle all other problems)

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Big problem - I totally agree. Need to ensure you have policies to cover your interactions and discipline. At any rate, this is sub-standard care and must not be tolerated. No excuses. Was there any MD documentation? IMHO, this is grounds for disciplinary action against the nurse as well as remediation in anger management and assessment and documentation skills. However, this will all depend on your hospital's policies. I would get inpu from HR also.

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

I truly hope that I NEVER get so jaded that I blow off patients in such a disrespectful and negligent way. Every patient deserves better than that, I don't care who they are.

Like the above poster says, go to HR and find out what policies are in place where you are and take this as far as you can.

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doctor did not document either. nurse wrote on admission sheet and dr. signed behind her.

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dr. only signed behind what nurse wrote on admission form.

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Specializes in icu/er.

pt should've been assesed fully, and evaluated by md. if there was an issue with pt safety d/t possible self harm or endangerment to staff, security or police should've been notified to secure the situation. we'll have episodes such as this d/t the fact we operate in a area of mississippi where alot of meth is being used. meth-heads will be brought in kicking,screaming,biting and spitting. but we'll just 4-5 point restrain them, with handcuffs if needed. evaluate and treat whatever wounds or issues they have and let the police take them out to the stockade.

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Specializes in icu/er.
I truly hope that I NEVER get so jaded that I blow off patients in such a disrespectful and negligent way. Every patient deserves better than that, I don't care who they are.

Like the above poster says, go to HR and find out what policies are in place where you are and take this as far as you can.

well i hope you don't get as jaded as alot of er nurses do at times including myself. it does'nt take to long to become somewhat cynical. but i can say be prepared to be blown-off and disrespected by the very patients you are trying to help...

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.
well i hope you don't get as jaded as alot of er nurses do at times including myself. it does'nt take to long to become somewhat cynical. but i can say be prepared to be blown-off and disrespected by the very patients you are trying to help...

I may just be a newbie to this site and student nurse right now, but I have been in jobs involving direct patient care for over 10 years. I know what it is like to be disrespected and abused (both physically and mentally) by patients. However, I still think that when a patient, any patient, comes into a facility they deserve a minimum standard of care and from the OPs description, this patient didn't get so much as the time of day from their healthcare professional team! You may be able to justify it, but it doesn't make it right.

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It seems they would at least r/o MI with c/o cp, we have had numerous pt. come in with c/o cp, also etoh intoxication, we always admit long enough to r/o. You just never know. Just because they are drunk doesn't mean they can't have a heart attack.

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The police were there. nurse also documented pt. made racial remarks to officer. it still does not justify the patient not being treated. if the patient did not want the er nurse to touch him the house supervisor should have been called.

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Specializes in icu/er.

i don't think you'll find anyone saying it was right the way the pt was treated. read my 1st post and it'll explain that i believe the pt should've been examined and there are ways to accomplish that task even with a extreme type patient.

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Specializes in icu/er.
I am a new ER manager with a big problem. Pt. arrives by EMS with c/o CP and threatened suicide. Nurse documented on complaint form filled out by admissions and nothing else. No v/s, hx assessment, etc documented R/T pt. combative???? According to EMS nurse verbally provoked pt. No documentation by nurse to support or deny allegations. Pt. taken to jail because of ETOH intoxication. When nurse was questioned she blamed lack of documentation due to "doctor said there wasn't enough done to document" Dr. did not document anything either. Pt. was not even medically screened!!!! In my opinion the pt lost his "rights" when thoughts of suicide. Any suggestions on disciplinary actions for nurse. (the above nurse has suggestions on how i need to handle all other problems)

simple...if your not going to can her, have her review the policy and protocols on dealing with unruley type patients. have her give a presentation and answer questions to and from the other staff and even ems on the correct procedure in dealing with this scenerio. and it would be a good idea to have the er docs present as well...

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