State reportables

For number 1&2, I would not report. As for #3, if you are going to report to the health dept, then I would also report the nurse to the Board of Nsg.

Number 1,,,I'd report it. It was an injury no matter how small.

The others I wouldn't report and I have been told I over report. When in doubt, report it. If the DPH doesn't want it that's up to them.

Number 1,,,I'd report it. It was an injury no matter how small.

The others I wouldn't report and I have been told I over report. When in doubt, report it. If the DPH doesn't want it that's up to them.

i agree.

The reason my choice was not to report it was, it was not an injury of unknown source

State laws vary. In New York, only #3 is a probability, even a toss-up. Since this is an acute change, the outgoing nurse's statement and witnesses' accounts will determine if negligence really took place.

The reason my choice was not to report it was, it was not an injury of unknown source

With that reasoning, you wouldn't have to report a witnessed fall with a fracture. I didn't report a burn once to the DPH...I was the assistant at the time and the DNS said not to. Corporate came in and picked that chart for mock survey....they hit the roof.

No I wouldn't as it was witnessed and there is not an unknown.

No I wouldn't as it was witnessed and there is not an unknown.

Wow..in Massachusetts if we didn't report a significant injury---fracture---we'd get cited for sure.

With that reasoning, you wouldn't have to report a witnessed fall with a fracture. I didn't report a burn once to the DPH...I was the assistant at the time and the DNS said not to. Corporate came in and picked that chart for mock survey....they hit the roof.

CCM.. that is exactly what happened with the burn I referred to. Mock survey hit the roof (luckily, I guess, the burn occurred only 2 days before they came in).

But.. I see a fracture as a significant injury. I DO NOT see a 2nd degree burn that resolves itself in less than an 8 hour shift as a significant injury...but I don't get to be the boss either.

According to the regulatory language a second degree burn could be harm for the resident. Fortunately the family did it and not the staff, but it could be harm none-the-less. This is something that definately should have been reported. Even though the area resolved quickly and it did not "change the person's life" (short-term or long term) there could be some potential problems. You should be concerned about the possibility of this happening to other residents in a more serious way. Although you have no control over the family, the resident is under your care and you are responsible for what happens to them while they are there. I would be investigating how all this happened and what could be done to prevent such occurrences in the future. If something like this is reported and you have all the documentation of the investigation, and how you are going to keep this from happening again, and how you are going to protect not only this resident but others as well, then I can't see where you have failed. However, if you try to "sweep this under the rug" ( and please don't take offense to my verbage) you could set yourself up for problems- not only with the regulatory agency, but with the potential for future events as well. I am not just talking about this instance but think about it: an incident occurs, you know about it, you took care of your resident, however, you did not investigate if this could also affect others and how could you prevent anything like this from happening again to all residents. Okay, then some family member comes in and does the same thing, but this time it is much worse. There is a real problem there. I am not criticising anyting that you have done. I just want you to explore and thing about the whole picture.

2. Not reportable, UNLESS the report taken from the resident is considered an allegation of abuse. Then it is reportable definately and investigation MUST happen.

3. The off-going nurse needs to be counselled, disciplined, or whatever, and education done regarding job duties and monitoring of residents, unless she is a habitual offrender and this is documented, then if terminated for neglect, this is reportable to the board of nursing and to the state agency because she was neglectful to the residents needs.

I hope this helps.

#1 does not meet the criteria of which we report. We report for abuse, neglect, mistreatment, misappropriation of resident property, and injuries of unknown origin per regs. We do always document what our action is for insuring something does not repoet itself. Since documentation is there, surveyors can & do read it when they are in. No problem. Nothing is swept under the rug.

We report on ALL those plus significant injury even if witnessed.