Protecting license from negligence

[muffins20]

Well I have an interview for my first job. The client and an RN, are going to train me on the necessary skills I'll need to know to care for the client who lives with a chronic, degenerative condition.

I feel hesitant that the main purpose of this position seems to be to monitor and ensure a proper airway. As a new RN, I want to protect my license, and I feel like there's a risk for negligence with that.

So to minimize the risk I want to ask if there's anything I can do to protect myself or ask about during the interview. This is a whole new world to me. I feel like I need to assess and evaluate the respiratory system before and after the interventions, and document. I feel like I will also need to implement and document measures to prevent risk for infection and injury. And I feel like it'll be important to assess overall health status because of the degenerative condition. Is there anything I'm missing?

The company should have Policies and Procedures to refer to, right? I'm not sure what to look for.

Thank you

[Kyasi]

Well I have an interview for my first job.

I would recommend that before you do Home care, you get some experience under your belt first. Most HHA will not hire nurses who have not had at least 1 year's experience. If you are working in a hospital, there is always someone to contact if you are unsure of what to do. A Respiratory Therapist can be called to evaluate an airway problem etc. That is not true for Home Care. If you the least bit unsure of your ability to make a good judgment call when you are in a home alone with a client, you should not be there.

Kyasi

[caliotter3]

When I have been asked to work with a case that was beyond my level of competence, I have refused the case. This was in spite of my employer's insistence. I openly told them that I would not jeopardize my license by accepting a case beyond my abilities. The employer did not like it, but I stood my ground.

[muffins20]

But as a home health RN, is this normal to take a case just to ensure certain treatments are done, like trach care and suction, and be there in case of vent failure. Don't I have a duty (as an RN) to monitor more of his overall health status to prevent negligence?

[caliotter3]

I would think so, at least in theory.

[muffins20]

Yea, there is definitely a lot more to consider before taking this job. Thanks, you two for your input.