My WORST mistake in hospice...sniff

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Specializes in Nursing Leadership.

Here is what happened. I am a hospice nurse who covers five facilities. I had two patients "circling the drain". One of them was actively dying but comfortable, and the other was on continuous care. At the actively dying patients facility, one of the floor nurses INSISTS on texting me unidentifiable patient information. She doesn't identify the patient, but she does text me requests and comments occasionally. I have asked her repeatedly not to text me, and I regret the day I called that facility and forgot to dial *67 before their number. Anyway, I had been texting the continuous care nurse who works for my company some basic stuff. Somewhere along the way the facility nurse's text came in-between the conversation I was having with the continuous care nurse. The facility nurse TEXTED ME "she died". I mistook her text for the continuous care nurses text, and told the family of the continuous care patient that their mother had died. I then walked directly into the continuous care patient's room to help the continuous care nurse care for the body, to find the patient awake and alert. My stomach dropped. I then quickly realized my mistake and called the family back within 60 seconds, apologized profusely and briefly explained to them my mix-up.

The continuous care patient died 15 hours later.

I am mortified.

The family accepted my apology and was greatful for our service, but I am heartbroken for many reasons.

1. I should have NEVER allowed the facility nurse to continue texting me, I should have gone to her supervisor.

2. I should have NEVER called that family without laying my eyes on the "deceased" patient.

I don't know why I am telling you all this, I think I am just trying to ease my pain. I still feel HORRIBLE and my heart is literally hurting.

Sniff...

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

You are a wonderful nurse. I have a mom with cancer and would love to have a nurse like you involved. This kind of stuff happens. You need to let it go and know it is ok.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. You do, as the other poster said, seem to be a caring, thoughtful and compassionate nurse.

Reasons like this are why nurses have to be hard, and are sometimes called b@tches. The only way to get some people to understand (eg "don't text me about pt care") is by being blunt and direct, which gets us labeled as "b@tches".

Again, so sorry this happened to you!!

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

I am 200% certain this will never happen to you again. And I'd have a strongly worded conversation with the text happy nurse and the appropriateness of how she communicates!!

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I think we all know this anguish after making a mistake. You're going to feel lousy for awhile but hopefully will soon be chalked up to experience and you can take some solace in that no outcomes were affected.

Hugs and wishing you peace.

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Specializes in Psych.

We unfortunately sometimes learn from our mistakes. Could you not have blocked the person? Do not beat yourself up about it, just process everything and move on knowing that you will not make that same mistake again!

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I can only imagine how awful you felt about the mistake, but that's what it was, an honest mistake. It sounds like it could have happened to anyone based on how things went. While we often text the APRN and MD from our facility (at their request) for small issues, anything as major as death is definitely NOT something that should be texted- unless you've set up that expectation from the start. Sorry it progressed that way, but it sounds like the family was understanding. Maybe it was just a good way for you to set up the expectations with future nurses for the best way to contact you. Good luck.

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Specializes in Peds Urology,primary care, hem/onc.

Well I can guarantee THAT will never happen to you again!!! Try not to beat yourself up too much. The families were not upset and that is the bottom line. Moving forward, I would use this as a learning opportunity with the staff. I would type up written guidelines on WHAT is appropriate to text you about. It should be clear (would give examples of things appropriate and NOT appropriate) so they can keep at the nursing station. If you get push back, use what just happened as justification. Texting a patient died is NOT appropriate- period (I do not care that they are hospice and it is expected they are going to pass away). I would be livid if a friend or family member sent me a text that someone died forget in a professional setting (I actually fussed at my mom for texting me my great aunt died).

(hugs). Turn this into something positive so moving forward you are not put in that situation again.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

..Accidents happen.Your #1 should be have been blocking your phone to prevent receiving texts.Why go over someone's head to their supervisor?You are responsible for allowing it to continue.I don't agree with your #2 either.In our facility when a hospice patient dies WE notify the family.We have to know what their plans are at that time.Making the notification ourselves prevents the family from receiving a number of calls.Don't beat yourself up,these things happen.....

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Specializes in Hospice.

I have mixed emotions about texts. I never use a patients name or personally identifiable information, but have sent info to physicians in order to get timely responses. I have used texting back and forth from office during visits, when the info is important and can't wait, but rarely. I have asked office staff not to text when I am out, due to the fact that it is dangerous for me to read, let alone type texts while I am driving. I never have the time to stop and pull over, and traffic doesn't always allow for that anyway. My car has Bluetooth, so it is easy to talk on the phone. The only problem I have is that many times I cannot get the physician to call back unless I have texted them. so lately, I give them a quick text, (while sitting still in traffic, or stopped) to let them know I need to speak to them asap. Luckily, most of the time I am only needing to talk to the medical director for our hospice, so I get a quick response.

I would suggest always having your address book up to date in your car. My set-up is such that I have to actually enter the phone number and name into the car. All of this new technology is great, and I know we will get it worked out over time. I remember doing hospice using pay-phones and Key Maps! And pagers!

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Specializes in Hospice.

I am sorry, I did not speak to the issue. I have been known to allow facility nurses to text me or call direct. Sometimes I regret it, but usually not. In a busy world, I need all the help I can get, and so does the facility nurse. Mistakes are made. We are human. You are a caring and attentive nurse. The family is ok, and the patient was well taken care of. Go on, and continue to do what you do the best way you know how, and chalk it up as a learning experience. My opinion is the same as yours, that you should have verified first, but as I said, you are human. I learned a long time ago that mistakes are learning experiences. We all hope that the mistake we make is not serious, but we all make them. Now and then I go back and think about some of the mistakes I have made in my 35 years, and realize they all made me a better nurse.

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