Recently a close relative of mine was admitted to the hospital for surgery. Post-operatively she had quite a bit of pain and had one day in particular in which the pain was uncontrolled for her. Her nurse came in and suggested a shot of IV Ativan that was on her order set as standard protocol by her physician for anxiety or insomnia. The nurse strongly encouraged her to try the Ativan and stated that she would be getting no more pain medication per the doctor's new orders. My relative refused the Ativan because she felt like it was an absolute pain control issue and not one of anxiety. After a short time the nurse came back in and gave my relative something in her IV stating, "This will make you feel much better". She asked what it was and to her horror the nurse said, " I went ahead and gave you the Ativan because I think you needed it. You are very anxious".
To make matters worse, (this was a 12 day hospital stay) we found out after a nurse friend assumed care the next day that the IV pain meds had not been discontinued and the nurses has only told her that to keep her from asking for it. This was an abdominal surgery that was laproscopic but extensive and the surgeon had to deal with a lot of complications during the surgery that included a lot of manipulation becaude of severe scarring from previous surgeries. He explained that pain would absolutely be an issue and he covered this by ordering Dilaudid 1 mg every 2 hours as needed for pain. I believe that the nurses became tired of giving this medication and when he felt a PCA pump would not be appropriate for my relative (she became oversedated before) this was the way they handled it. They lied to her and led her to believe that she had no medication for pain and gave her the Ativan as a way to try to sedate her.
The timing of this entire event coincided with the surgeon being out of town for several days so he was not there to witness this. When it was addressed upon his return he sent in the nurse manager and a patient representative. He also consulted a pain management doctor to help get her pain under control. We are frustrated because we feel the hospital has not taken appropriate action to resolve this matter. No one has contacted my relative to discuss this and she has such a fear now that she has cancelled 2 surgeries and several minor procedures that she needs to have. She has admitted that she has had nightmares about this incident and feels like she can no longer trust anyone that she encounters in a hospital setting. I am unsure what to do to help her. I would never dream of giving someone a medication that they clearly refuse. I have encouraged her to contact an attorney at the very least. I am wondering if anyone has any advice as to how I can help her handle this. I have been a nurse for 8 years but I am at a loss as to what to do. I think the hospital is avoiding her and I think they need to address this issue and do something about it. I have thought about reporting the nurse to the nursing board but I don't necessarily want to cost someone their job. I think at the very least the staff should be reprimanded and re-educated about pain and patient rights. I know this has not been done because I have a close friend who works on that same floor.
I have accompanied her to her follow-up appointments to her doctor and he did admit that he investigated and found that the ativan was given and that no pain medication was given for 2 shifts when it was in fact ordered and not discontinued. He himself after doing this investigation involved the nurse manager and a patient representative.
Lawyer time for your relative. Crying time for Hospital, Doctor and Nurse. Don't be coned by the hospital. Don't let it be swept under the carpet. Sue them! No nice lawyer get one that wants the largest settlement he can get. We are compassionate,
Hospitals aren't. Complain to the BON, the nurse needs to have her license take a vacation for a while.
I have accompanied her to her follow-up appointments to her doctor and he did admit that he investigated and found that the ativan was given and that no pain medication was given for 2 shifts when it was in fact ordered and not discontinued. He himself after doing this investigation involved the nurse manager and a patient representative.
Good for him. He sounds like a proactive doctor. This sounds like a VERY serious case to me...and I really would NOT want to be that nurse who gave the ativan against the pt's wishes.......and also witheld the pain medication.
Just out of curiousity...does the nurse under investigation have any idea this is going on?
and if this happened to me, or to a close member of my family who was not in the profession...I would be LIVID...and gunning for bear....
WOW. That is absolutely outrageous, and if the situation is as you describe, that nurse deserves to lose her license. Ativan could be administered against someone's will only if the pt was a clear danger to themselves or others. I can't imagine being a pt, helpless and out of control, in pain, and having someone push something into my IV against my will- how scary that must've been. I hope this issue is addressed appropriately and resolved- good luck to you and your family member.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
WOW. That is absolutely outrageous, and if the situation is as you describe, that nurse deserves to lose her license. Ativan could be administered against someone's will only if the pt was a clear danger to themselves or others. I can't imagine being a pt, helpless and out of control, in pain, and having someone push something into my IV against my will- how scary that must've been. I hope this issue is addressed appropriately and resolved- good luck to you and your family member.
Actually, there are other reasons to give Ativan IV, not just the one you described.
Losing her license is the least of this nurse's problems....this is a Legal issue...this is the same as battery....this nurse can (and should) be prosecuted and do prison time in addition to monetary dicipline. I hope she has malpractice insurance.
WOW. That is absolutely outrageous, and if the situation is as you describe, that nurse deserves to lose her license. Ativan could be administered against someone's will only if the pt was a clear danger to themselves or others. I can't imagine being a pt, helpless and out of control, in pain, and having someone push something into my IV against my will- how scary that must've been. I hope this issue is addressed appropriately and resolved- good luck to you and your family member.
Actually, there are other reasons to give Ativan IV, not just the one you described.
True, but I think this all hinges on the fact that the ativan was refused and given against the patients will. Not a good thing. Even if someone gave Koolaide against the patient's will...it's still battery...
i think some of us REALLY need to review what hipaa is really about. this is definitely a hipaa violation. this other nurse had no business explaining the details of the case or even identifying the patient. Just because she is a friend and co-worker means nothing. if she is not directly involved as a nurse of the patient then she has no business disclosing details. A friend of mine was recently fired for reading through files of patients that she was not involved in with. This goes to show that just because the OP works at the facility doesn't mean that she is entitled to her friends protected health information.
The MD having been the provider. The hospital admin being the owner of the record. These can meet and discuss records brought up after discharge without formal request.
If suit is brought against the hospital/treating nurse, they will (have already) reviewed all record, as well as all who accessed record and when record was accessed.
This is where your family's friend will lose her job, and maybe more, if she accessed those records at all when she was not assigned, she's done for. Even just discussing the floor's reaction to anything with you is enough to get her fired.
i think some of us REALLY need to review what hipaa is really about. this is definitely a hipaa violation. this other nurse had no business explaining the details of the case or even identifying the patient. Just because she is a friend and co-worker means nothing. if she is not directly involved as a nurse of the patient then she has no business disclosing details. A friend of mine was recently fired for reading through files of patients that she was not involved in with. This goes to show that just because the OP works at the facility doesn't mean that she is entitled to her friends protected health information.
First of all, it is the OP's FAMILY member, not friend, and she never said that she worked at the facility. Secondly, the OP's friend DID care for the pt, and the OP found out this info with/from her family member. I see no HIPAA violation here.
nurse7272
9 Posts
I have accompanied her to her follow-up appointments to her doctor and he did admit that he investigated and found that the ativan was given and that no pain medication was given for 2 shifts when it was in fact ordered and not discontinued. He himself after doing this investigation involved the nurse manager and a patient representative.