toomany

There is just no evidence to support that more education means better nurses. I just hope that a mandatory bsn would control supply and demand and help sustain nurse wages.

Yeah, I know in general you could complain any time but I just never see that happening. Personally, I have never made a complaint about something months later. never had that happen with doh reports either. Also, it's kinda odd, I thought the doh did investigations on site for all injuries and centennial (spelling, writing these on a phone) events but I have had a few incidents where they just took a copy of the incident reports and did no investigators on the floor. Events that lead to surgery and hospital stays. They (aparently) did not feal it was necesary to come in person. I read stories about doh coming and ripping apart charts and reporting staff to the nursing board but I have yet to see that kinda intense scrutiny. Anyone else have similar experiences?

Its really Odd they are so far behind in Massachusetts, if they're was a problem it seems incomprehensible to let it ride for three months. For most med errors or falls with injury they don't even come do inspections here. I fill Out a report after staff interviews and a chart review and they seem happy as long as they're not obvious issues. They don't seem to be all that eager to come. It's been 3 years since I have scene any on site activity. I even had a broken hip after someone slipped out of wheelchair to the floor and they still didn't come out, again no obvious wrong doing. So I'm surprised to see them coming over...... Nothing (that I can think of).

Things you reported..? Falls, med errors? How can they be months behind on "immediate issues?"

Ooooo I hope we are not getting old complaints coming out to haunt us... Smh. Any ideas if nys is backed up?

Ever heard of them coming months after the discharge of an angry patient..? In my experience they come right away.

Maybe 70 days ... Not 100% sure

This week I got notice the doh was coming to investigate an incident. The only thing is there have been no recent incidents. No patient complaints, no major incident reports, nothing in 75 days. It was very chill summer so far. Is the doh following up on an old complaint? How back logged do they get? I usually know if/when a complaint is coming like after an incident and the doh is usually requesting chart copies soon after. Any insight on this? If a complaint is lodged is it possible they're waiting months/years to follow up? I don't usually see that. I can't imagine what they want.... And experience with this ladies and gents?

How long after a complaint is filed before the DOH starts an investigation of an ltc center? My company recently got told the DOH is doing an investigation of my facility due to a complaint, I have no idea with regards to what though. No recent complaints or incidents in the last couple months. I haven't even had an incident report filed in 60 days, it was a nice summer for us. I can't imagine what they are coming to investigate. In the past the DOH call within a week of an incident and asks for charts and report copies I'm a little confused what the complaint was all about. Could someone have filed a report months ago and the DOH is just getting around to the investigation. And why are they not asking for a specific chart?

I don't think that insurance is a total waste. In fact i have looked into it for myself many times. its dirt cheap and gives you peace of mind. Even if it does get you stuck in a suit longer its the insurance company footing the bill. I just don't like the culture of fear that develops around civil litigation. Do your job, do your best, and hope for the best. I like my 100K company plan as far as civil stuff is concerned. Its enough money to cover me. even the NSO website only list cases where the nurses payed around 100K (i wonder why they couldn't find more expensive settlements (I suspect, not a lot exist or nso couldn't sell insurance that cheap and make a profit)). And PS i don't have PM so if ur a nurse who has lost over 100K in civil suit and was not insured you can email me at [email protected]. I really wanna hear this story and send prayer and well wishes your way.

addendum, To be fair. I think that the nso is great for license protection. I can totally see why you would want to have an attorney in front of the BON. Everyone i know says they are pure evil. But again, the only people i have known to go before the board stole drugs or made a HUGE med error.

Ok, I have never heard of a nurse being sued, ever. I Know a few you have been brought into the risk managment to answer questions and give some sworn testimony and then the case just settles pre-trial or goes to court. My HR department insist that we should stick with the hospital coverage and not get our own. I always hear people say on all nurses and the nso website that your company wont cover you because they will find some ltlle infraction of policy and use it to throw you under the bus but that makes no since to me.... or to my risk manager at my hospital. As an hourly employee (most rns are) the facility is responsible for your actions. If they throw you under the bus that is just admitting that thier employee messed up(think bigger settlement for them). No Attorney is going sue just me for 3 million, because I don't have it. You could garnish my wages for 50 years and still wont get it. no judge is gonna let a hospital wash their hands of liability and pin the blame on a 20$/hr employee. A pretty typical case is a fast food restaurant employee spills hot coffee on a woman in her car, I'm sure its "not policy" (insert laugh track) to pour coffee on drive through customers but does that mean the billion dollar corporation is free from blame and the disfigured costumer has to wait for the 7-10$ employee to garnish her wages and pay medical bills? Yes we are professionals, but we are not independent contractors like many of the MDs and NPs. I have never, EVER met a nurse who was sued as an individual. I read some trial briefs and always see a hospital and MD listed as defendants. But not nurses. I also see that the majority of cases get settled out of court with hospital. The only place i have scene case write ups where nurses have to pay is (drum role please) the NSO website. And even in those examples the nurses pay 100Kish and no where close to 3 million dollar limits. Guess what protection my hospital has on me, you guessed it 100K plus a legal team. Seriously, if I'm wrong private message me. If you personally are an RN who is uninsured and sued and a couple 100k in the red PM me. I will send 20$ so you can buy a meal (seriously). Im an RN who wants to become a risk manager myself and am extremely interested in these stories. Unfortunately, I find more fear mongering and law suit legends than real examples of nurses being sued and actually having to payout (being called to testify does not count as being sued).