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Discussion

Signing things you didn't do

I make it a practice to not sign things out unless I do them myself. I have an lpn who constantly signs things she didn't do or signs them for other people. I have told her to not sign out things in my name but yesterday I went to do a flush on an ng tube and it was signed out that the line was patent with no residual. I said thanks for doing the flush. "Well I didn't do it but I wanted to make sure all the papers were signed" :angryfire I told her that if I hadn't said anything about it and just assumed she'd done it I wouldn't have done it myself. If it happens again do I talk to the don? I like this nurse but she has a habit of signing things she hasn't done. I don't want to risk my license for her. I am so glad I have this place to ask questions at. I know the answer to this question. Yes talk to the DON.

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As a new grad, this scares the crud out of me. Did she miss this day in school or has she forgotten what legal and ethical care is? Wow!!!

Ask her to sign a blank check made out to you. Would she do it? Ask her why not?

If she is taken to court for her falsifying, she is literally putting herself at the same risk.

Why would she do that to herself?

Is she really that stupid or that naive? She helps no one by this.

It's time to start documenting about her (these incidents) for your own protection. Keep a file. And report it up the chain and/or to your BON.

did you say she signed her name or your name???if she signed YOURS...whoa !! not good ...not legal...I would be livid if someone signed for me.....she needs written up..before you get written up .YIIKES!!

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I'm not condoning what this LPN did. She is absolutely wrong. However, I do know from where she is coming. Sometime in the past, the facility, as most LTCs do, had a problem with "blanks" on the medication and treatment sheets. What I usually saw was one of the supervisors or the DON herself fill those blanks in. That's wrong too. When they are inspected by the state, the surveyors will look for all those blank spaces on the MARs and TARs. They know it happens. I suspect it comes from the fact that after awhile most of the nurses know each patient's medications and treatment by heart and it's just quicker to sign everything off at one sitting--this is wrong and it is a bad habit that a lot of LTC nurses unfortunately get into.

Aside from the action that needs to be taken with this LPN, the way you protect yourself is this. If the LPN has filled in a spot and you disagree with it, go to the narrative notes and make an entry about what you actually did or found abnormal when doing your procedure and how you followed up on it. Do not make any reference in your charting to what the LPN did on the MAR/TAR. Although it takes up a little more time, narrative charting is always an option for you.

Yes, you should immediately speak wiith your supervisor. This is not only bad nursing, but it could potentially cause harm to the resident, then would be considered abuse. This nures has gotten into some very bad habits and may not fully understand the implications of her actions. If no one says anything just to "keep the peace" you become part of the problem. I can't image her signing someone else's name to something, this is a completely intolerable act. (not to mention probably illegal) Think of your resident's first and not only will you know the answer to your question but you won't be able to sleep at night until something is done about this very serious situation.

SLEEP WELL TONIGHT!!

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