Patient fell, Forgot to reset alarm

[PedsHopeful]

Ive been a CNA for about a year at a hospital working the Med/surg floor. Never had a fall. Today I had a 39 yr old patient, alcoholic dying of liver failure. Completely jaundiced but coherent and not confused at all. He was weak and wobbly, and needed help using the bathroom.

The first time his alarm wen off, he was trying to get out of bed alone to use the bedside commode. Myself and another CNA went in and told him he was not allowed to get up alone because he was so weak, and he said he understood. We cleaned him up, put him to bed, reset bed alarm.

The third and last time we take him to use commode, we get him back in bed. I leave room to get vitals machine. She pulls his covers up and leaves the room. I get his vitals and leave room, but forget to reset bed alarm. 1 hr later nurse goes in a finds patient on floor cause he once again tried to get up alone to use commode and fell doing so. Nurses come in and help patient back to bed. I was in the middle of helping a nurse admit a post-op. I go in and no ones looking at me, everyone is p*ssed. My manager informs me I need to double and triple check bed alarms. I shake my head yes and leave the room. This occurred 15 mins before the end of my shift. The patient is unharmed. I am now the jack@ss of the floor.

I go to give report to the oncoming CNA, when I go to tell her to be cautious of the guy that fell, she states she already knows, she heard, and she heard already I was going to be written up. News travels fast. The incident just happened.

To top it off, today was the first day the joint commission was visiting, so everyone was already nervous. :chair:

Needless to say, I know I screwed up, and its my responsibility, what Im concerned about is having this reported to the state and getting a black mark on my license.

So, how bad is this?

[kool-aide, RN]

It's not a good thing, but it happens. Nobody's going to call "state." It will pass.

[maxcat]

I work in LTC, where many residents have chair and bed alarms. I know for a fact that people forget to use them on occasion, and they are just sternly told "you forgot to put Mr X's alarm on". And that's it. Of course, I don't know of any falls that have occurred during those situations, but that's just dumb luck... I have never seen anyone get written up or reprimanded for it...it's an honest mistake that anyone can make.

[JSlovex2]

i seriously doubt that you'll be reported. calm down. forgive yourself. it happens! it's easy to forget to reset the alarm especially on a patient like you described who is constantly getting out of bed. we're humans and therefore not perfect. your co-workers should be ashamed for making you feel like crap.

[Orange Tree]

The patient was not harmed and I can't imagine that this would create any sort of issue with your license. I've made the same mistake and felt horrible about it, but in the grand scheme of things, it wasn't a huge deal. I didn't even get written up, unless you count the incident report that I made myself!

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

You aren't licensed, only "certified." As far as CNA's go the state is only really concerned about criminal offenses. As long as you aren't beating patients or being abusive the state isn't going to be involved. You probably be "written up" and a black mark will go in your employee file.

[FLArn]

It's a learning experience. Remember to reset your alarms in the future and move on! The alarms won't prevent ALL falls, they just alert you to the fact that the person is getting up without you. In our facility we joke amongst ourselves that the alarms just mean "come pick me up". You can't be in every room every minute and even with all the alarms in place there WILL be falls.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

Well you made a mistake. We all do. I wouldn't write you up for this unless it kept happening.

I mean if I was the nurse I'd of course be ****** because I'd have to fill out an incident report, call the MD, call the family.. assess the patient for injuries, on top of all the other work I have to do. I'd honestly get over it but you might not be on my happy list at the moment.

Alarms don't stop patients from falling. Their bottom is already off the alarm and they are probably on the floor by the time we get in there.

[ChristineAdrianaRN, BSN, RN]

It's okay. He was unharmed. People make mistakes. It's not like he absolutely wouldn't have fallen with the bed alarm set anyway (not saying that you didn't need to do it or the bed alarm is futile, but it's not foolproof). Besides, dude was A&O...but I'm not going to get into how I feel about how being in the hospital apparently means patients don't need to take personal responsibility....ahem. Anyway. You probably won't be written up. I don't think you should be. I echo the "shame on your coworkers for making you feel like crap" sentiment.

[BluegrassRN]

All falls in our facility are "written up" ie an incident report is filed. This does not typically result in any disciplinary action other than a stern reminder, unless there is a history of falls or some other blatant issue. Falls that result in harm are reported to the state. Fortunately for you, unfortunately for the nurse, in our facility it is the nurse's responsibility, and her license on the line if a pt is injured in a fall.

Learn from your mistake and move on. It's called personal growth, and it's painful, but you'll be a better CNA in the end.

[iwanna]

Joint Commission on floor = Nervous! They probably came down on you because they were in a nervous state to begin with. By tomorrow, they should be over it.

I am sure there are many who have forgotten, at one time or another, to reset the alarm. That is the result of under staffing and a cazillion things to do. Please forgive yourself. NO harm was done. And, you are not the jackass of the floor. Only, the ones that made you feel like one!

This too shall pass....

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

What's the saying about those living in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones?

You will not be losing your certification, so don't fret yourself sick.

People fall, regardless how many times we put on the alarms, walk with them or warn them to stay in bed.