Old IV tubing from HIV patient hooked up to a new patient!

[RNStudy]

Just curious,

If you new of a nurse who "accidently" hooked up old IV tubing that belonged to a prevoious patient who had AIDS, to a new patient thinking it was that patients IV tubing, what would you think of that nurse?

In my opinion, if you do such a thing as a nurse I would deem you UNSAFE and would NOT want you as my nurse.

Does anyone agree with me that the nurse should have been fired?

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Just curious,

If you new of a nurse who "accidently" hooked up old IV tubing that belonged to a prevoious patient who had AIDS, to a new patient thinking it was that patients IV tubing, what would you think of that nurse?

In my opinion, if you do such a thing as a nurse I would deem you UNSAFE and would NOT want you as my nurse.

Does anyone agree with me that the nurse should have been fired?

No, I don't agree with you. This points to a systems error. The IV tubing should have been thrown away when the previous patient was DCd.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

First, the nurse for the previous pt should have dumped it - you do not leave contaminated biohazardous items around for housekeeping to dump. It does not matter whether the pt has a bloodbourne disease or not, used tubing is still biohazards.

Second, housekeeping should have brought to the attention of the nursing staff that there was tubing there to be DC'd, or if in their job description, trashed it themselves. How could housekeeping completely clean the room, the pumps, poles, etc., ithout dumping the tubing.

Third, the nurse that brought the pt in the room/initially saw the pt should have dumped the tubing, if it came from an outside facility/EMS.

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Virtually, all of this is moot. YOU (the OP) need to stop focusing on other people's mistakes. That issue is for the management to handle, not YOU.

YOU need to focus on your mistakes and stop blaming/comparing with others' errors and focus on working on YOU!!!!!!

On your other thread, you said that you were two seconds late - you never answered how many times, etc. And how many total absences that you had. You blamed your issues on being too pretty, that it might be your race (whatever that may mean). You said nothing about skills, interpersonal relationships with coworkers, contributions to the unit.

Guess what, while politics on the unit often does have a great effect on your career, when you commit concrete rule infractions, that allows TPTB to take action.

It does not matter if "others" get away with things or make mistakes, what matters is what YOU do.

I suspect that after the warnings (and there generally are several for absence/late infractions) and the notice that you were being terminated, if you had shown some contrition and demonstrated that you were taking responsibility for these infractions, that the outcome might probably have been better.

But if you walked into those meetings with TPTB with the "other people do it, and it's because I am pretty/ a different race, etc. that you are just picking on ME" shtick/attitude, management would figure that they are cutting their losses, by getting rid of you.

[sissiesmama, ASN, RN]

Wow! Scary situation for the pt. I think some othe posters said they have some of the same policies that we do at our facility. It seems to be a "comedy of errors", so to speak, but OP, I don't mean that any of this was funny. Please don't think I intended it to be.

At our facility, when a pt has been d/ced, there are things that our housekeeping dept discards and some that they are told to call us if it is found in there, and it includes IV bags, tubing, ect that is hanging on the IV pole. Our housekeeping staff cleans the IV equipment and they are great about reminding us if we leave tubing, ect in the room and they get there to clean it.

Seems to me that there were more than just the 1 nurse that should have caught it - the d/cing nurse from the previous pt, housekeeping (depends on policy) when the room was vacated, the nurse taking the new patient. I know here it wouldn't be just that RN that would be held accountable. If it did happen and you or another nurse witnessed it or knew about it, that nurse would also be accountable at the least for knowing and not stopping if the other nurse knew the facts and didn't try to stop it.

Just my opinion-

Anne, RNC

[Mike A. Fungin RN]

It sounds more like a process issue than an issue with the nurse.

[RN1982]

Sounds like the OP should start focusing on her own problems. After all, she was the one terminated for attendance policy violations....

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Okay....while I agree that there might be some secondary gain here, lets try to refocus our energy on the topic at hand.

Personally, I agree with those that say its a process error, not an individual nurse error.

[CeilingCat, ASN, RN]

Hospital policy and her previous work record should determine if she should be fired. She might be a great nurse with a spotless record and this was her first big mistake.

You put quotes around the word accident, as if you're saying it wasn't? Do you imply she TRIED to give Pt #2 HIV?

[BluegrassRN]

CeilingCat--name WIN!

[kcochrane]

Hospital policy and her previous work record should determine if she should be fired. She might be a great nurse with a spotless record and this was her first big mistake.

I'm with you on this one. It really is based on this nurse's record.

[snoopy29]

I'm sorry to say this but I am left feeling really uncomfortable in that the OP's main focus is on getting a colleague in trouble rather than any real concern for the poor patient.

Just think maybe a little self reflection rather than finger pointing might be in order here

[LovelyOverload]

Hello umemployment! Yea it sounds like there may have been a bigger issue as to why you where fired. And as for the other nurse I wouldnt even worry about that. Besides would you really want to work for a hospital who lets nurses make mistakes like that without consequences? God gave blessed you with that job and and he can do it again. I'd be thankful you had the "opportunity" to "resign".

P.S. I saw that you mention race -in this post or the other one, cant really remember which one - but sadly a lot of times the minority isnt always treated fairly which means you have to work twice as hard! It sucks but sometimes thats just how it is! Let this be a lesson.. BE ON TIME!! When you start your new job girl you better be there early!!

You may also want talk to equal opportunity about mgmt firing you. Just a thought!

[RNStudy]

Thank you for your support Me'Chelle! I have learned a lot from this experience.

I find it interesting how my intent of this particular thread was taken far from its context. This thread is how an experienced RN was completely negligent by connecting old tubing to a new patient.

Personally, as an RN, ones main concern is always patients safety FIRST. This means, whether it is airway or even properly identifying tubing and fluids prior to just "hooking" up tubing to a patient...tubing which you didnt even see who put it there. This RN was extremely unsafe and also negligent.

Anyone who posted negative commenets towards me such as "L OOK AT YOURSELF": I have. I feel I am a good nurse who is continously improving and growing. I learn something new everyday. I have no anger or hostility against this particular RN, nor do I have hostility to you guys who have posted such negative things.

As a minority nurse I feel I have to work twice as hard. Guess what? Thats fine by me. I am strong and have faith in my skills and ability to be a great nurse. Unless you personally have walked in my shoes (or CROCS, lol) then I feel you cant state that everyone is treated equally.

In closing, I just wanted to add that this thread was about an unsafe nurse and how she is still practicing...to me this is scary.

Thank you all for listening.