Nurses have a 'need to know' outcomes!!!

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

In my opinion, if we nurses have a patient whom we transfer to another unit or facility, we should be able to obtain information as to the subsequent course of events and treatments of the patient. This information would be valuable to nurses so we can better understand the disease process and thus strengthen our nursing practise.

For instance, let's say I have a patient whose case is too complicated for my small hospital, who has a certain set of signs, symptoms, lab values, etc. The patient then gets transfered to a larger, better equiped facility for further evaluation and treatment. I think finding out the outcome of events would be extremely valuable to me, not because of idle curiousity, but because it would make me a more astute practitioner. It would broaden my perspective and give me a better grasp of what signs and symptoms led to what outcomes.

Therefore, I think we nurses have a 'need to know' the eventual outcomes of patients, even when they are no longer under our direct care. Knowing outcomes will make us better nurses!

[*ac*]

I agree with this, but I'm reading on other threads that we don't have the right to this information.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I agree with this, but I'm reading on other threads that we don't have the right to this information.

Yes, I read that too, but I think we do have a need to know, which is why I started this thread. I think that we should be able to call a facility the next day and get a short report on findings and outcomes. This would help us to understand what was the meaning of what we had seen while caring for the patient.

We are professionals and should be treated as such. We are highly trained and finding out final outcomes of the patients we have cared for is very valuable knowledge to help us become better nurses.

[EmmaG, RN]

I agree with you. However TPTB don't seem to think it's necessary. That was the point of my post. Heck, I had to argue my case as a charge nurse to be able to access all the information on patients on my own floor.

[anonymurse]

A person starts being my pt when I'm assigned him. When my shift ends or he's d/c'd or transferred, he stops being my pt and I stop being his nurse. When a pt gathers private information about a nurse and pursues her after d/c or shift end, what's he called? A stalker, right? So what are we gonna call a nurse who does the same?

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I would call a nurse who wishes to know medical outcomes a good nurse who wants to become a better nurse. That's entirely different than someone who wants to pursue a personal relationship with a patient or nurse.

[*ac*]

Stalking???? No, I don't think so.

Don't we need to know what happened so we know if our interventions helped/hurt, or that our assessements caught/missed something?

[anonymurse]

We have no right to invade anyone's privacy and follow them, most particularly those whose private lives we gain entree into under professional cover.

The legal requirements for establishing long-term studies are stringent. The patient must be informed of the methods and purposes of the study and render fully informed consent.

In the case you propose, there will be no records kept. There will be no institutions involved. No orders given. No study published. There will be no consent. The patient will not know.

It is for the nurse's personal benefit at her discretion. The patient's well-being is no consideration.

It quacks, walks, and swims like a duck.

[EmmaG, RN]

I would call a nurse who wishes to know medical outcomes a good nurse who wants to become a better nurse. That's entirely different than someone who wants to pursue a personal relationship with a patient or nurse.

Our ClinSpec would get around this at times by presenting anonymous case studies of patients we'd cared for, describing their hospital course and outcomes.

This is a touchy subject, and I can see both sides of the issue. While I agree with your premise, there's a fine line between wanting this info for genuine learning purposes and professional growth, and simple curiosity in knowing what occurred once they left our care.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Stalking???? No, I don't think so.

Don't we need to know what happened so we know if our interventions helped/hurt, or that our assessements caught/missed something?

You said it all in one sentence! :yeahthat:

[*ac*]

Our ClinSpec would get around this at times by presenting anonymous case studies of patients we'd cared for, describing their hospital course and outcomes.

This is a touchy subject, and I can see both sides of the issue. While I agree with your premise, there's a fine line between wanting this info for genuine learning purposes and professional growth, and simple curiosity in knowing what occurred once they left our care.

Evaluation of outcomes is not curiousity, it's part of the nursing process.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

HIPAA allows for release of information related to QA/QI activities. That falls under the healthcare operations purpose specified by the rule. However, it doesn't allow for follow-up on one individual patient by a staff nurse, as this really isn't the best way to bring about QI anyway.