question about lawsuit

[aleites6885]

hi i am a lpn nurse student. i am in the pracrical clinical in psy. i went 3 times. last time i was there i had a problem with a patient husband. the patient was admited for a problem that i do not know yet since i was there to help translate fron spanish to english and viceversa. as the school told me that i have to offer my self and create trust with the patient. i went to the room and i introduce mysel, i was trying to be caring, and open to help in anything they need husband and wife. i asked them if they anything a couple of time. i tried to be as much help. also i had a nice convesation with the husband that was i though. the patient was in bed and did not want to talk so i ask the husband where they from, how long they have been in the country and so on.

he ask me many question that i said i did not have an answer because i did not have her report either was my patient. they insist when the wife going home, and what was her Dx . i saud i will be happy to bring the nurse or charge nurse to answer all their questions. in short words, the husband accused me that i pressure her wife, to talk to me and he want me be away from them. it took me as a big surprise. now i am suspend. my teacher blame of me because i made and advise to the patient , but also they believe that a harassment and bother the patient. i am 4 week apart to finished . i feel depressed because i did nothing to hurt them and i do not know what is going to happen with my future? any advice

[caliotter3]

Welcome to the world of nursing. Patients and their families often turn on the people who are trying to help them.

[karen121081]

That is so sad, I hope everything works well for you.

[Christine2009]

First off, why were you the one to translate from spanish to english for the pt? I would of called for an interpeter or asked my instructor how to proceed. Was your instructor in the room with you or were you by yourself? I am sorry, but something does not sound right regarding this situation.

[aleites6885]

well first time i was alone in pt room, teacher never is with student . we are in our own at least you request the teacher be with you . the hospital called and interpetrer but was not there , so i introduced myself and ask them if they need anything just to call me and i will be happy to translate since they need someone. but after i did present myself and pt said do not want to talk i left the room. i came back several hours later like 3 hours apart. i went to the room to see if everything was ok, but that time interpeter arrived so i just check on the patient, the only problem i was trying to be nice and support the female, i know i never should give and advice but i am student and i am still learning i said to the female that (she has to be strong) i know bad of me. my next mistake is when they ask me when she suppost to go home and what kind of theraphy she will get. i explain that i did not have that information and i was able to get the charge nurse and she will answer all the questions. i explain that the hospital offer theraphy and i did not which theraphy she will get or what kind of tx, one more time i did not have an idea why she was there, so before i left the pt room i said that when she feels to talk the professional ( nurses and doctor) will help her. and the staff was great. i always try my best. i do speak spanish but the pt and i we are from two different cultures so maybe the perception is not the same. i do not know. i am very confused i have been in different rotations in the hospital and most of the time i do have a great feed back and i never had a problem before.

[Christine2009]

well first time i was alone in pt room, teacher never is with student . we are in our own at least you request the teacher be with you . the hospital called and interpetrer but was not there , so i introduced myself and ask them if they need anything just to call me and i will be happy to translate since they need someone. but after i did present myself and pt said do not want to talk i left the room. i came back several hours later like 3 hours apart. i went to the room to see if everything was ok, but that time interpeter arrived so i just check on the patient, the only problem i was trying to be nice and support the female, i know i never should give and advice but i am student and i am still learning i said to the female that (she has to be strong) i know bad of me. my next mistake is when they ask me when she suppost to go home and what kind of theraphy she will get. i explain that i did not have that information and i was able to get the charge nurse and she will answer all the questions. i explain that the hospital offer theraphy and i did not which theraphy she will get or what kind of tx, one more time i did not have an idea why she was there, so before i left the pt room i said that when she feels to talk the professional ( nurses and doctor) will help her. and the staff was great. i always try my best. i do speak spanish but the pt and i we are from two different cultures so maybe the perception is not the same. i do not know. i am very confused i have been in different rotations in the hospital and most of the time i do have a great feed back and i never had a problem before.

Well, now that you explained the story you did make a few mistakes, but that is what being a student nurse is all about...learning from our mistakes...next time I would tell my instructor that there is not an interperter available and have them go with you to the room while you interpet for the pt. This way you are proctecting yourself from anything that might come up like the situation you are in now. I hope everything works out for you.