Pt found dead!!!

[glascow]

Last month we had a patient die at our hospital, he was strangled from his posey vest.

The nurse who admitted the pt from ER was overwhelmed with 7 pts, this admit made her 8th patient. She made an admit note, placed him in a posey.

Her next entry in the chart is 4 hrs later, the patient was dead.

Needless to say, they have now discontinued the use of poseys at our facility, and all staff is required to attend a 2-hr inservice on use of restraints. This is on top of our already annual mandatory on restraints.

How awful is this?? I have heard the family is not going to pursue legal action.

The nurse caring for the pt recieved no counceling or support from the hospital. The hospital lawyer questioned her and wanted to know why she removed the restraint when she found him dead.

[kc ccurn]

It is a vest that zips up the back and has straps that are attached at the sides of the vest to secure to the bedframe, tie to each other behind a chair. We used to criss cross the straps but don't anymore. We use them in the beds and chairs.

[nursecompassion]

At my LTC facility the most common devices we use are patient protectors. In bed we use the pad. Which is half the size of a bed pad and goes underneath the sheet, if the pt or r starts to try and sit up it will alarm.

If we have frequent fallers, they are always given a low bed or mattress on the floor.

Also, they have what I call rolling pins, which slip in side of the front of the wc and lock with a code, usually the wc is a non-tipping one.

Also, there are geri-chairs, etc. Never saw r be forcefully restrained here though. Our facility does everything possible before any means of restraining are necessary and anything has to be by the dr orders. Unless it is an emergency situation then the rn supervisor can write one up.

[Skate]

Thanks, very good information to pass on...