Please, could an experienced nurse help.

[soon_2Bnurse]

Hello All,

I am in desperate need of advice and am afraid to give details on a public forum. Could any of you advise me on who I could contact concerning witnessing an event that may not be illegal but absolutely unethical? Thank you in advance.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Where did you witness this? School? Hospital? Home? That affects the answer.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Were you a student, staff, patient, visitor family?

Location--class, school, long term care, home, hospital, rehab?

Patient care issue? Staff discussion? Release of information?

Some details necessary to guide you.

[soon_2Bnurse]

Patient care issue. Witnessed an event within an inpatient juvenile facility. I am afraid to say details...not sure if I can delete this post? I am an RN and another senior RN was present and performed a procedure that I know in my gut was unethical, while I am unsure whether it was illegal or if by doing nothing I am culpable.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Follow the institution's chain of command. You will never be in the wrong doing this- you owe it to the patient AND the nurse.

[soon_2Bnurse]

I "wish" it was so easy. My DON is unapproachable, and if I ring this bell..I can't unring it...ever. I will be ostrasized by staff..my DON will likely go into "CYA" mode and my desire to advocate will be forgotten. Work politics make this situation likely to force me to quit. I'm afraid for my license...I need to be able to ask a 3rd party if my license is in peril because I did NOT stop the other nurse. Is "nonaction" enough to make me just as guilty. And in truth I'm just sick about being afraid during the event and not having stopped it in the first place. I feel I let my patient down...and myself.

[soon_2Bnurse]

And...the nurse is a friend...the house supervisor is an aquaintance whom I have a good repore with. I can say nothing but live with the mistake I made by allowing this in my presence, and promise myself to never allow it again. I can go to the DON, whom will most certainly act. I let an innocent child down...and now I am ashamed of it and so afraid my license could be in peril. The job...is secondary.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

It depends. Inaction can be considered permission for the "bad acts" to have happened.

Do you have malpractice/personal Liability Insurance? You should. Call your carrier for advice. NSO has some interesting reading about similar situations on their website.

[RNIBCLC]

I "wish" it was so easy. My DON is unapproachable, and if I ring this bell..I can't unring it...ever. I will be ostrasized by staff..my DON will likely go into "CYA" mode and my desire to advocate will be forgotten. Work politics make this situation likely to force me to quit. I'm afraid for my license...I need to be able to ask a 3rd party if my license is in peril because I did NOT stop the other nurse. Is "nonaction" enough to make me just as guilty. And in truth I'm just sick about being afraid during the event and not having stopped it in the first place. I feel I let my patient down...and myself.

Talk to an attorney that represents nurses. It's confidential and you get to decide based on what you learn how you want to handle the situation. One thing though, what if it keeps happening because you stayed silent? It's easy for me to say since I'm not in your shoes but it is something to consider.

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Can you speak with the nurse who did it?

[OCNRN63, RN]

Patient care issue. Witnessed an event within an inpatient juvenile facility. I am afraid to say details...not sure if I can delete this post? I am an RN and another senior RN was present and performed a procedure that I know in my gut was unethical, while I am unsure whether it was illegal or if by doing nothing I am culpable.

​Do you have a Corporate Compliance Line? You can report anonymously if you've seen something you think violates your facility's policy.