Safe Harbor

[mstere]

I just have a question for anyone out there who understands safe harbor. I live in Texas and I am a new nurse. I am learning about safe harbor right now and need some clarification. If, for example, I believe in good faith that I cannot accept an assignment one day at work because I feel my patients will be placed at risk for unjustifiable harm & then I request safe harbor.

But, later the nursing management staff discusses a new assignment with me and I accept/agree with the new assignment. At this point, do I still have to go through with the process of Safe Harbor and the peer review committee?

Thank you.

[sjt9721, BSN, RN]

Not necessarily. The initial goal of Safe Harbor is to open the communication between staff nurses & supervisors so that assignments can be revised to keep patients (and licenses) safe. If a revision to the assignment is done which removes concern of violating your duty to your patients, then there's no need for the entire peer review process. The exception might be if this is the same scenario day after day....

Also note that simply "declaring" or "requesting" safe harbor is not enough. You must document the minimal information required prior to beginning the assignment and give it to the person making the assignment. (Always keep a copy for yourself.) Then...the full-length form must be completed before you go home at the end of the assignment.

I hope this helps...

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

be sure to look at the T-BON website for guidance.

Also, if you are a member of TNA we have a Director of Nursing practice to guide you (not as a legal representative of course).

[belgarion]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that Safe Harbor can also be invoked if a nurse feels that an assignment will place the nurse in jeopardy. An example would be an assignment to deal with a violent and potentially dangerous patient.