Lost Patient's Wedding Ring

Sabby_NC · Aug 7, 2007

Bless your heart I do pray it turns up so you can relax.

Are the family aware it is missing?

Lesson to learn in all that we do isn't there?

All will be fine I am sure.

allnurses Guide · Aug 7, 2007

Relax. Things like this happen. If it doesn't turn up, most likely it is going to fall on the patient's nurse, your preceptor, to gently let the family know that it was lost. Well, I shouldn't use the term "fall on", that sounds kinda harsh; it most likely wasn't her fault either. Sounds like it probably wasn't really anyone's fault; sounds like the ring simply got lost in the midst of all that chaos. You guys did what you felt you needed to do to keep the patient safe, by removing his ring. :icon_hug: I"m sorry this happened to you!

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Aug 7, 2007

Let this be a lesson to everyone. It is for this very reason that we should not be indiscriminately removing patients jewelry unless it is medically necessary. Its the same reason patients coming in for elective surgery are asked to leave it at home. It is also why if we do need to remove it in other situations and it can not be given directly to a family member or handed to the patient it goes in a valuables bag and immediately to safe at most facilities.

As well when documenting never refer to things as gold, silver, diamonds, emeralds, rubies.......use yellow metalic, silver colored, clear stone, green or red stones and the like. That way when things do get lost, as we see here and the hospital has to replace them they don't end up having to replace Maude's $100 CZ ring with a $2000 diamond one because you made it in to one in your documentation.

RJ

ZootRN · Aug 7, 2007

We had a similar story, when pt's family after discharge showed up and said that two of her rings are missing. Then they said there were three of them, all with diamonds. I've never heard of our hospital reimbursing for the lost items. All patients are advised on admission give all their valuables to the family members, or submit them to the hospital safe. Otherwise, we are not responsible for them. Maybe lost glasses are dentures are reimbursed, but how would you reimburse for missing jewelry, you don't know its value and is it really "missing" in a first place.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Aug 7, 2007

definately agree not to document gold, silver, diamonds ruby etc. Use yellow metal, white metal, red stone white stone. At the end of the day who are you to confirm it is gold, silver etc. Not everyone is unscrupulous but there will always be one who will try it on. Best thing all around is either get family to take it home, tape it on or make patient aware it is their responsibility not the hospital if it goes missing. Would also make sure if family take it home that it is documented where possible which family member took it.

To the OP I hope you get it sorted

woody62, RN · Aug 7, 2007

OR unless they were swelling and it would get stuck on their hands.

True but when I removed a ring, I charted if it was yellow metal, with a clear, red, green or blue stone. And it was put away in a security office so that it wouldn't go missing. To take a ring off, put it down and then not be able to find it, leaves one open to being found liable for the missing ring. And it makes no difference if one is a student or not. If a student removes the ring and doesn't follow proper steps to protect it, she can and will be found liable for the cost of it's loss. And when a patient was admitted thru the ER, they asked the family to take home all rings, watches, etc. When admitted to the floor, you had to ask if they were keeping it. And if they said yes, they signed a release for it's loss, along with credit cards and any cash.

Woody:balloons:

EmmaG, RN · Aug 7, 2007

As well when documenting never refer to things as gold, silver, diamonds, emeralds, rubies.......use yellow metalic, silver colored, clear stone, green or red stones and the like. That way when things do get lost, as we see here and the hospital has to replace them they don't end up having to replace Maude's $100 CZ ring with a $2000 diamond one because you made it in to one in your documentation.
RJ

We were taught this in school (many years ago...) and our floor actually had this happen way back when. A nurse made note of a 'gold ring and earrings with diamonds' in her admission assessment, and the patient accused another nurse of stealing her "diamond" jewelry. They were most certainly not diamonds (obviously fake), but the hospital had to settle as it couldn't be proven otherwise.