Keep in mind I don't do well with confrontation, I usually get so angry I start crying...
Two weekends ago I had run out of blood test strips for our monitor on my last patient that morning. I removed the chip from the monitor, and grabbed a new box, intending to replace the new chip and put the new strips in the basket. I got sidetracked by a patient request and didn't follow through with my intentions.
When I got back to work that night, the box of strips was still unopened in the basket and the last readings were the ones I did that morning. The nurse who was on should have done 8 different readings. I also checked the other monitor (our back up) and there were no readings on it that coincided with the numbers the nurse had written in the MAR. Needless to say I was very angry, especially as she recorded that she had given sliding scale insulin to one patient.
I tried calling my DON on the phone to get her input on how she would like to handle this. No answer. I recorded everything on the monitor and the MAR. Worked my shift and reported off to the same nurse. She did the same thing that day. For two days the only readings on the monitor were the readings I had done myself at HS and in the morning on our patients who do not get sliding scale.
Luckily I did not have to report off to the same nurse on Monday morning or I would probably been fired for verbal abuse of a co-worker...
I did, however, write up a two page letter to the DON, highlighting the readings, the falsified numbers in the MAR and the circumstances that led up to it. As of last Tuesday, nothing has been done about this. The DON did tell me on Tuesday that she had gotten my note. I asked her what had been done, she said, "Nothing yet."
I am very upset by this. What should the next step be? Talk to my Administrator or the BON?
Could there be another explanation? Maybe she used the patient's home monitor (some pt's self-check or prefer their own)? Maybe she borrowed the chemstick machine from a neighboring nurse? Maybe she assumed that the "chip" (what's that, by the way?) & strips need to be replaced at the end of every shift, and she put out a fresh box for the next nurse? Anyway, I'd ask the nurse herself first just for clarification, not confrontation.
I am blown away someone would DAYS of different readings on a diabetic. I can't imagine any nurse who would do so. Is it possible this pt has his/her own blood sugar machine that you were unaware of and the nurse was allowing the pt to use his own? That happens once in awhile.
Melissa
Keep in mind I don't do well with confrontation, I usually get so angry I start crying...
Two weekends ago I had run out of blood test strips for our monitor on my last patient that morning. I removed the chip from the monitor, and grabbed a new box, intending to replace the new chip and put the new strips in the basket. I got sidetracked by a patient request and didn't follow through with my intentions.
When I got back to work that night, the box of strips was still unopened in the basket and the last readings were the ones I did that morning. The nurse who was on should have done 8 different readings. I also checked the other monitor (our back up) and there were no readings on it that coincided with the numbers the nurse had written in the MAR. Needless to say I was very angry, especially as she recorded that she had given sliding scale insulin to one patient.
I tried calling my DON on the phone to get her input on how she would like to handle this. No answer. I recorded everything on the monitor and the MAR. Worked my shift and reported off to the same nurse. She did the same thing that day. For two days the only readings on the monitor were the readings I had done myself at HS and in the morning on our patients who do not get sliding scale.
Luckily I did not have to report off to the same nurse on Monday morning or I would probably been fired for verbal abuse of a co-worker...
I did, however, write up a two page letter to the DON, highlighting the readings, the falsified numbers in the MAR and the circumstances that led up to it. As of last Tuesday, nothing has been done about this. The DON did tell me on Tuesday that she had gotten my note. I asked her what had been done, she said, "Nothing yet."
I am very upset by this. What should the next step be? Talk to my Administrator or the BON?
As I stated before, I don't do well with confrontation, in order not to blow up I will cry instead...not an effective way to handle things. But, that is my hang up and I am seeking ways to fix the problem. Peri-menopause isn't helping, either...talk about an emotional roller-coaster.
Thank you for your support.
I'm not good with confrontation either, so I know how you feel. On the other hand, my perimenopausal (sp?) wife makes up for it. :)
I noticed that you're in MT. I used to live there. What part? Maybe I can help somehow...?
Maybe she assumed that the "chip" (what's that, by the way?)
"The Chip" is what you put in the glucometer so it is in synch with your teststrips. For example, you open a new box of teststrips that are #502 so you have to put the #502 chip in the glucometer. Clear as mud? :) I don't know if "chip" is the technical name, but that's what I call them too. lol
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
I would NOT confont her directly either-the DON has to gather her facts and then speak with this nurse-don't tip her off.....In our LTC we can't just use the glucometer we may have in our purse or a resident's or whatever.....We have to run tests on the machine every 24 hours, for quality control....Your readings may be all over the place if you use different machines...I haven't read a plausible explanation in this thread yet-I don't believe one exists...I've seen it all-from an RN that charted 75% to 100% of meals on patient's trays in the hospital ( the patients were dependent for all adl's and the trays were not touched-FIRED!) to an ADON that charted negative PPD's without giving them (FIRED!)to a current co-worker that decided on of our PVS tube feeders was getting "too heavey" to re-position so he decided to just not give him his prescribed amount in the evening....The resident started loosing wt-the doctor ordered labs...the wt loss continued....The doc was ready to order more invasive tests when we realized we seemed to have lots of extra cans of feeding at the end of each week.....We figured it out one weekend when we cleared the flex-flow pump...The nurse did not have the smarts to figure out how to completely cover his tracks.........Anyhoo---NOT FIRED! The nightshift supervisor took the info to his evening shift supervisor and it never went any farther....Maybe I'm a RAT too-every amm I peruse that med cart and check the eye drops,liquid meds and new boxes to make sure they were used the evening prior...Any of those residents could be MY loved one....Poop on being a rat.........Nurses like that are unsafe and it's ethically and morally WRONG to NOT report it...A nurse that would falsify vital signs,blood sugars etc could EASILY become a mercy killer That's just my theory but I bet that IS exactly the pattern that they follow......
There is no reason you should have an outright confrontation with this individual. Take report, take care of the patients, and objectively report things if anything is amiss (just as you did previously).
Also please don't jump to the conclusion that the DON won't do anything about it. When accusations are made against an employee, management must conduct some kind of investigation and not act too hastily to avoid possible legal ramifications. (I'm not jumping up to automatically defend the DON, just trying to give her the benefit of doubt!)
I agree with this. Sometimes these things seem like they can take forever. And they may be doing something about it. They aren't going to keep you updated on what they do with this nurse. After you report it to them, it's "their" issue to deal with, not yours. You may be called for questioning about it but that would be about it, I would assume. And don't be too suprised if this nurse gets little more than a slap on the wrist...I wouldn't expect her to lose her license for it or anything. (No I'm not defending her...If she reported false results and medicated accordingly she SHOULD be disciplined)
Keep in mind I don't do well with confrontation, I usually get so angry I start crying...
Two weekends ago I had run out of blood test strips for our monitor on my last patient that morning. I removed the chip from the monitor, and grabbed a new box, intending to replace the new chip and put the new strips in the basket. I got sidetracked by a patient request and didn't follow through with my intentions.
When I got back to work that night, the box of strips was still unopened in the basket and the last readings were the ones I did that morning. The nurse who was on should have done 8 different readings. I also checked the other monitor (our back up) and there were no readings on it that coincided with the numbers the nurse had written in the MAR. Needless to say I was very angry, especially as she recorded that she had given sliding scale insulin to one patient.
I tried calling my DON on the phone to get her input on how she would like to handle this. No answer. I recorded everything on the monitor and the MAR. Worked my shift and reported off to the same nurse. She did the same thing that day. For two days the only readings on the monitor were the readings I had done myself at HS and in the morning on our patients who do not get sliding scale.
Luckily I did not have to report off to the same nurse on Monday morning or I would probably been fired for verbal abuse of a co-worker...
I did, however, write up a two page letter to the DON, highlighting the readings, the falsified numbers in the MAR and the circumstances that led up to it. As of last Tuesday, nothing has been done about this. The DON did tell me on Tuesday that she had gotten my note. I asked her what had been done, she said, "Nothing yet."
I am very upset by this. What should the next step be? Talk to my Administrator or the BON?
Thanks in advance...
Elizabeth
These patients who need their sugars checked, Are they A&Ox3? If they are then I would ask them if they are getting their sugars checked after you leave. They should be able to tell you. This happened to me once and I asked the pt(who was alert and oriented x3) and the patient said "no" that no one had checked her 11am sugar, however this RN told me what the reading was and that she didn't require coverage. I knew this nurse was lying so I said to her"Mrs. so and so is insisting you didn't check her 11 am sugar and she is adamant that I check it!" Wouldn't you know it she ended up needing coverage and her sugar was nowhere even near what she told me it was!!!!:angryfire How can a nurse have such disregard for her patients???!!!! People like this have no business dealing with peoples lives!!! "no crumping" I consider you in this category!!! Like one of the other posters stated, "I hope you never have to take care of me or any of my family!"
Ummm...guys. This is America. A few of you have this nurse tried and convicted before her side of the story has even been told.
Let's try to be fair, ok? There MIGHT be a reasonable explanation!
If there isn't a really good explanation, THEN hang her out to dry. But geez, jumping to the conclusion that she's evil and a potential mass murderer?!
Keep in mind I don't do well with confrontation, I usually get so angry I start crying...
Two weekends ago I had run out of blood test strips for our monitor on my last patient that morning. I removed the chip from the monitor, and grabbed a new box, intending to replace the new chip and put the new strips in the basket. I got sidetracked by a patient request and didn't follow through with my intentions.
When I got back to work that night, the box of strips was still unopened in the basket and the last readings were the ones I did that morning. The nurse who was on should have done 8 different readings. I also checked the other monitor (our back up) and there were no readings on it that coincided with the numbers the nurse had written in the MAR. Needless to say I was very angry, especially as she recorded that she had given sliding scale insulin to one patient.
I tried calling my DON on the phone to get her input on how she would like to handle this. No answer. I recorded everything on the monitor and the MAR. Worked my shift and reported off to the same nurse. She did the same thing that day. For two days the only readings on the monitor were the readings I had done myself at HS and in the morning on our patients who do not get sliding scale.
Luckily I did not have to report off to the same nurse on Monday morning or I would probably been fired for verbal abuse of a co-worker...
I did, however, write up a two page letter to the DON, highlighting the readings, the falsified numbers in the MAR and the circumstances that led up to it. As of last Tuesday, nothing has been done about this. The DON did tell me on Tuesday that she had gotten my note. I asked her what had been done, she said, "Nothing yet."
I am very upset by this. What should the next step be? Talk to my Administrator or the BON?
Thanks in advance...
Elizabeth
Did you ask the nurse directly if she used a borrowed monitor from another unit? Did you ask any of the patients if they remember getting a dstick at that specefic time? Before you accuse someone of falsifying records you need to make absolutely certain that is what happened and that absolutely on involves confronting that indivual with your information before you take it to a higher source.
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lady_jezebel
548 Posts
Could there be another explanation? Maybe she used the patient's home monitor (some pt's self-check or prefer their own)? Maybe she borrowed the chemstick machine from a neighboring nurse? Maybe she assumed that the "chip" (what's that, by the way?) & strips need to be replaced at the end of every shift, and she put out a fresh box for the next nurse? Anyway, I'd ask the nurse herself first just for clarification, not confrontation.