Send video tape to state boards

Nurses Professionalism

Published

im a male nurse and I have been employed at my hospital for 5 1/2 years now. A month ago, I saw that a patient was screaming for help (he was not my patient) and I over heard the CNA telling him (he's alert & oriented by the way) that he needs to be quiet before she closes the door on him (he is bed bound) sure enough, he kept yelling and when I came back I saw that his door was closed and the CNA was asleep on a patients room right next door. I was disgusted so I took a video of him crying for him, that he couldn't breathe and to open the door.. I then captured the lazy & heartless CNA asleep in the patients room , behind the curtains all together. I wanted to report it but where I work at, the upper management likes to keep things hush. I'm still sadden by this & that CNA continues to verbally abuse patients & no one bates an eye. I want to make a stop to it but I fear they may come after me as a result. So, instead I want to report it anonymously by sending this video to the cna boards & so on anonymously. What should I do? Would it get traced back to me? Is this wrong? I need advice. Thank you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, ER, Home Health, Corrections, School Nurse.

I would not take the approach you suggest-taking pictures of patients can get you in a LOT of trouble. There are several things you can do. Most facilities have anonymous lines to report abuse and neglect definitely counts as abuse If you feel you cannot go to an immediate superior, go higher up to a CNO or to risk management. Also, you did not indicate in your posting what your actions were in that episode. If all you did was take pictures, then you are complicit in the patient neglect. If you did take care of the patient, then that will reflect in the documentation, which you can present to your higher ups.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No photo of video was taken of any resident. I would never. Only shows patient yelling for help while the door was closed as I taped from the outside & the CNA was asleep behind the curtains. This will be anonymous only. No documentation was taken & the video is unknown by anyone else besides myself. Just a video showing neglect I was going to send to the boards & have them further investigate on their own without saying a word.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you are a nurse, as you say you are, you are obligated to report abuse and/or neglect of patient. Apparently, you witnessed this. You must follow the policy and procedures for reporting...what are you waiting for?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Why did you not immediately wake the CNA and notify the superisor? This is a fireable offense everywhere I've ever worked.

Taking video - are you kidding me? Again, why didn't you IMMEDIATELY notify your supervisor. Days later is NOT the time to do something.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Why did you not immediately wake the CNA and notify the superisor? This is a fireable offense everywhere I've ever worked.

Taking video - are you kidding me? Again, why didn't you IMMEDIATELY notify your supervisor. Days later is NOT the time to do something.

Yes, videoing a patient yelling for help and not assisting the patient immediately seems a bit negligent itself.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

You must get another coworker, preferably at the level or above what your position is, to witness what you're seeing (who is willing to back up your claim), then wake up the cna and instruct to do her job. By getting another witness, then you can report this CNA to bosses that are higher-up or to HR, who will want a written statement of what you both observed, so they can either fire or discipline this lazy person. Video of patient or even of door closed if there is a sign or door number identifying the room will be against HIPAA policies and cause sanctions to be put against you and in your personel file. I understand your frustration as there are nurses and CNA's in my workplace that aren't equipped with what it takes to work with people, as in, why be a healthcare worker if you don't care for other people. It's not so simple to get someone fired so get another witness, for your own safety, then tell that lazy cruel person to do what they're supposed to without adding your own thoughts or insults to the instructions you give them, as this will get used against you. CYA! Cover Your Ass and DOCUMENT the entire incident, and have your co-worker (witness) document it, too!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

There are no "CNA boards".

CNAs are supervised by nurses... in other words... you. You should have handled the situation immediately.

It's now a month later. What happened that you suddenly wish to report this? Were you creating a blackmail tape?

This looks very bad for you.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.

Are you allowed to take videos at work?

Are you allowed to video record someone in your state without their consent in this scenario?

Did you record yourself immediately helping the patient who was, in your words, "screaming that he couldn't breathe"? Or would that have been impossible because you were busy recording the CNA sleeping?

When it comes back that this video is from you, how do you expect to defend yourself for taking a video rather than assisting the patient?

What do you expect a supervisor to do about a safety incident that happened more than a month ago that was not reported?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

Anonymously?? No.

As a nurse you should had addressed that situation right there and then, since what you are describing is considered elderly abuse. Your lack of assertiveness is kind of concerning...are you a new nurse?? I would have a conversation with your supervisor about the situation. Part of being a nurse involve protecting and advocating for the patients (regardless if they are yours or someone else)... you kind of dropped the ball there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in nursing education.
im a male nurse and I have been employed at my hospital for 5 1/2 years now. A month ago, I saw that a patient was screaming for help (he was not my patient) and I over heard the CNA telling him (he's alert & oriented by the way) that he needs to be quiet before she closes the door on him (he is bed bound) sure enough, he kept yelling and when I came back I saw that his door was closed and the CNA was asleep on a patients room right next door. I was disgusted so I took a video of him crying for him, that he couldn't breathe and to open the door.. I then captured the lazy & heartless CNA asleep in the patients room , behind the curtains all together. I wanted to report it but where I work at, the upper management likes to keep things hush. I'm still sadden by this & that CNA continues to verbally abuse patients & no one bates an eye. I want to make a stop to it but I fear they may come after me as a result. So, instead I want to report it anonymously by sending this video to the cna boards & so on anonymously. What should I do? Would it get traced back to me? Is this wrong? I need advice. Thank you.

You stopped to make a video when a patient was yelling he couldn't breathe? Surely you are not serious. This might be a troll post, but I'll respond anyway.

Maybe do some self-reflection, how you could have handled this better next time. open the patient's door, holler for the CNA to get in there and help you. Then report the CNA for sleeping on the job and abuse. Go up the chain of command. Be the change you want to see.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I highly doubt OP is a nurse. They sound more like a disgruntled family member or passerby. You heard a patient state they can't breathe, but instead of helping or assessing the patient, you decide to film the nurse assistant? You sound like a great "nurse".

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment