Question: if 1 of your patients fell?

[Elvienm]

Hi, I feel really depressed.

On Saturday morning 7am I start my routine, change diapers and get my patients up and ready for breakfast.

to make long story short, this is what happened. After I remove the tray from my patient, I left her sited on the Wheel chain, asked if she needs to use the bathroom(she said "No, I'm Fine") and left the call light within reached. I then continue removing trays from the rest of my patients, I was just next door when All of the sudden I hear another CNA screaming for HELP! so I immediately come out and ran to the room, when to my surprise my patient was laying on the floor. I didn't know what to do or say.. other than "I'm sorry" she was fine, she had no blue marks or mayor injuries. When they asked her what happens she didn't even knew. She though she was in bed.

Her family got told of what happens and her son come right away. I was in the room when he showed up.. I then felt scared and start crying. I told him "Sorry" and that I was out of the room when that happen. He said its Ok. But somehow I feel really bad, because I'm only here for about 3 weeks this is my first CNA job, and this is the first time this happen to me.. now I don't know if this is going to affect my record, and or if I should continue with this job. Any comments and support will be appreciated.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

Falls are going to happen.

I don't know all of the circumstances of this particular fall, so I can't tell you what you could have or should have done differently. But we simply can't prevent every single fall, no matter what a manager may say.

I can see that you're a caring, dedicated CNA. You'll learn from this and move on!

And, PS, I've been working in the hospital for six years. Recently, a patient fell while I was walking him to the bathroom. I still feel awful about it! So it happens, and it happens to all of us!

Also, I'm glad your patient wasn't injured.

*Hug*

[interceptinglight, CNA]

Wow, this must be the week of people falling. There's another post on this forum about someone falling while being given a shower and I just had one of my residents fall last week. It was partly my fault because I had forgotten to set her tabs alarm. I got a written reprimand for the incident and this report will stay on my employment record there for a year. I wanted to quit that day right then and there. It was painful for me to deal with, that someone got hurt because of negligence on my part. There was a sensor alarm on her chair as well, but the chair pad had expired and the alarm didn't go off so that wasn't my fault. This lady has dementia, that is why she has 2 different alarm systems, both of which failed as I said partly because of my forgetfulness.

Taking care of vulnerable people is always a risk. You have no control over what they do when you leave the room. All you can really do is make everything as safe as possible, follow your facility's policies as far as alarm systems, and just do your best. Even then people manage to fall, you can't stop it from happening no matter how hard you try. The only way to completely prevent falls is to restrain people and that is against the law. They have a right to be restraint-free, even if it means they might fall and that is exactly what happens sometimes.

I'm still having a hard time regaining my self-respect, but you have to realize that these things happening are the risks you take every day on your job. Lean on your co-workers, I'll bet they will understand completely -- and don't do what I did, don't kick yourself in the butt over this. You are still very new at this, so give yourself a break. You have learned a lot from this happening, and because of it you may prevent something even more serious happening in the future.

Kind regards ~~~~~

[JDZ344]

You did all you could; the resident didn't fall, for instance, because they needed the bathroom, because you had already offered to take them. People are going to fall. If they were not confused/unsteady etc then they would not need our care.

Point being: don't beat yourself up! People are going to fall, all we can is REDUCE the chance (offering frequent toileting, chair alarms etc etc) not eliminate it.

[Ev1987]

I normally feel guilty or get upset with myself everytime one of my residents fall, too. But I know that things like this happen often. This is not the first time a resident fell and it won't be the last. From everything I read, it sounds like you did the right thing. I don't know if the resident was assigned a chair alarm or not, but if so, just make sure it's set up. The call button was in reach, and the resident said she was 'fine.' So things like this happen. I don't understand why this would put you at risk of disciplinary action. You may just have to fill out a little paperwork. Keep a closer eye on this woman. Some folks are so confused, they require one-on-one supervision.

[Elvienm]

I just want THANK YOU ALL. I feel much better now. and I understand that some times things happens without expectations. And No, the lady Didn't need any special alarm. but I did forgot to mention that the left side of her body is paralyzed. But she felt on her right side. And after reviewing at my thought with my head cool. I remember that the way she was laying on the floor it looks like she did stood up then lose balance, because the wheel chair was to her foot and not near her head, ( Before I thought that may be she slide down from the chair but it this would of happen the chain could of be above her head.) ??

But I did notice that she may need more attention because she starts to get very confused.

I now understand that I may have to get used to all these different things.

Thanks you all and God may bless us all for doing our best EVERY DAY!!