Need opinions

[blams2004]

A coworker of mine is being given a written warning for using vulgarity in a shift summary note in the electronic medical record. The nurse quoted statements made to her by the patient in a shift summary note and is now in trouble. This is significant because with a written warning she is no longer eligible for her clinical advancement bonus of 4000 dollars and is now not able to transfer to a different department which is something she has been waiting for. I have scoured the policies regarding documentation and see nothing where it states this is wrong. Now I personally would not have used specific vulgar language in my report but think she is being railroaded in this. Normally the corrective action policy states a nurse will be given a verbal warning for the first offense then a written after that, but it does leave some interpretation leaving it up to a manager to impose a written warning for a major offense. There is something that I read in the policy that states documentation should include subjective statements made by the patient. Anyone have any thoughts on this matter.

[OCNRN63, RN]

She should take it to the board.

​The BON exists to protect the public from errant nurses. It does not exist to protect or help nurses. IOW, the BON is not a nurse's friend.

[psychnursie]

I use quotes all the time to relay exactly what the pt said. it is perfectly acceptable practice. I think that they are looking for any reason to not pay her the $4000. look to see if this is a pattern. how many actually received the $4000?

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Lawyer. Immediately and without any regrets. There's $4000 on the line and opportunity for advancement. I think you'll find it's cut and dried in her favor.

[Katie71275]

Very unfair. I have done the same thing in the past and put it in quotes.

[ontheway2crna]

I also think they did not want her to advance and leave and did not want to pay her the money because that sounds like a lot of BS and she needs to go to someone higher up about this.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

She should take it to the board.

What board? Do you mean the BON? You don't just run there first off, she needs to go through the process of trying other things. And when it is all said and done, the BON is there to protect the public, not a nurse who was unfairly disciplined over charting

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

If you have a union, speak to someone regarding this. If you have malpractice insurance, call them for guidance.

There's a huge difference in "I could just slap you" and "I could f***** slap you!!" (neither of which are appropriate statements, however) BUT, could say a great deal regarding a patient's state of mind, and most especially if the patient then does this to a nurse.

Imagine this nurse working hard, getting a bonus for working hard, wanting to actually LEAVE the unit onto something else, thinking she is all that and a box of cracker jacks!! What, does she want a LEADERSHIP position?!?!?! Well, then, lets find some arbitrary issue to stop that nonsense right this moment!! Cause we ALL know that nurse managers who actually have WORKED as a practicing nurse are just not good for the bottom line!! Using profanity offends me!! OFFENDS. ME! You could get a point across without it. Oh, you mean asterisk'ed quotations DON'T hold up in court or anything...........Hmmmmm....well, it is the only way we can get out of paying that pesky bonus thing...whose idea was THAT anyways? Best not take away from MY bonus.......Quoted directly from my imaginary but often real manager playbook.....