Thoughts - Nurse Mistake

bill4745, RN · Oct 25, 2007

1. Did the nurse have the pt's permission (either pt) to give out info? (HIPAA?)

2. Info that is so upsetting should rarely be given out over the phone unless there is a good reason that the family can't be seen in person.

3. Unless the brain scan results were expected, this info should have been presented by the attending doc, not a nurse.

4. Yes, this should be reported to nursing administration. It may be a HIPAA violation, and the nurse's error put the family through a major stress. This is the type of thing that leads to MIs, and traffic accidents while driving to the hospital, thinking the worst.

leslie :-D · Oct 25, 2007

i'm thinking the icu nurse feels pretty horrible.

but...

why did this happen?

how did she confuse you for another pt's family?

i think contacting the nurse mgr, would be appropriate.

it's not necessarily to stomp on her, but rather, to review as to why it happened, and what can be done to prevent this from happening ever again?

more of a counselling session, would be appropriate, rather than a write-up.

i know that if i did this, i would expect my superiors to be informed, and to be talked to.

i can only imagine the hell you and your family went through.

best to you and yours.

leslie

pagandeva2000, LPN · Oct 25, 2007

Hello All -
Just curious as to everyone's thoughts on this situation:
My aunt had kidney surgery earlier this week and was in ICU following. Our family called to check on her and, over the phone, the nurse advised us that she had gone for a brain scan which revealed "no activity" and she would be transferred to hospice. My family was understandably hysterical. Although she was in ICU - she wasn't in imminent danger of dying. My family, including my aunt's only child, a 30 year old son, drove 45 minutes to the hospital - all the while discussing what they would have to do (funeral arrangements, etc). I'll save the details - but, her son became violently ill due to being so upset. When they arrived at the hospital - the nurse greeted them with sincere apologies and advised that she had given them the information of another patient and my aunt was doing well. How do you think the family should have responded? Should they have reported it to administration? DON? As a brand new student nurse - with worries of errors that would harm a patient - I can see both sides - especially due to the fact that no one was "physically" harmed. Just curious on the perspective of nursing professionals.

It is hard to say; the family dealt with a sincere trauma, thinking that their loved one was close to death. Understandable that they would react this way, vomiting, etc. However, I also know that overworked nurses make mistakes. High patient ratios, misdialing a number, maybe picking up on someone else's work, etc...this unfortunate incident can happen. I think that if the nurse and the facility have sincerely apologized, and your aunt is well, then, try to forgive. That's my humble opinion.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Oct 25, 2007

1. Did the nurse have the pt's permission (either pt) to give out info? (HIPAA?)
2. Info that is so upsetting should rarely be given out over the phone unless there is a good reason that the family can't be seen in person.
3. Unless the brain scan results were expected, this info should have been presented by the attending doc, not a nurse.
4. Yes, this should be reported to nursing administration. It may be a HIPAA violation, and the nurse's error put the family through a major stress. This is the type of thing that leads to MIs, and traffic accidents while driving to the hospital, thinking the worst.

I have to revise my original statement to say that I concurr with some of yours; the physician should have been the one to actually make the call.

Seven, RN2b · Oct 25, 2007

It is hard to say; the family dealt with a sincere trauma, thinking that their loved one was close to death. Understandable that they would react this way, vomiting, etc. However, I also know that overworked nurses make mistakes. High patient ratios, misdialing a number, maybe picking up on someone else's work, etc...this unfortunate incident can happen. I think that if the nurse and the facility have sincerely apologized, and your aunt is well, then, try to forgive. That's my humble opinion.

I agree with the forgiveness. I am in AZ and they are in OH. When they called and told me (having started nursing school on Monday - Yes, this Monday) - my first reaction was "Don't be mean to that nurse!" because I know how I would feel if I had made that mistake. It would take me forever to forgive myself. My family has no ill feelings toward the nurse. We all make mistakes and thankfully nobody lost life, limb, etc. due to the error. I was just curious as to the opinions of those on this site.

Thanks for everyone's response!!

Seven, RN2b · Oct 25, 2007

1. Did the nurse have the pt's permission (either pt) to give out info? (HIPAA?)
2. Info that is so upsetting should rarely be given out over the phone unless there is a good reason that the family can't be seen in person.
3. Unless the brain scan results were expected, this info should have been presented by the attending doc, not a nurse.
4. Yes, this should be reported to nursing administration. It may be a HIPAA violation, and the nurse's error put the family through a major stress. This is the type of thing that leads to MIs, and traffic accidents while driving to the hospital, thinking the worst.

1) Pt gave permission - no HIPAA issues.

2) That's what I thought.

3) Ditto - That's what I thought!

4) Agreed! The doctor advised the family to report it too - but, his delivery of that message was a bit unprofessional with regard to his opinion of the nurse, his co-worker! Ugh!

Thanks for your response!

Seven, RN2b · Oct 25, 2007

i'm thinking the icu nurse feels pretty horrible.
but...
why did this happen?
how did she confuse you for another pt's family?
i think contacting the nurse mgr, would be appropriate.
it's not necessarily to stomp on her, but rather, to review as to why it happened, and what can be done to prevent this from happening ever again?
more of a counselling session, would be appropriate, rather than a write-up.
i know that if i did this, i would expect my superiors to be informed, and to be talked to.
i can only imagine the hell you and your family went through.
best to you and yours.
leslie

Not sure why it happened. Yes, she confused our family with that of another patient.

Thank you for your response.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Oct 25, 2007

I agree with the forgiveness. I am in AZ and they are in OH. When they called and told me (having started nursing school on Monday - Yes, this Monday) - my first reaction was "Don't be mean to that nurse!" because I know how I would feel if I had made that mistake. It would take me forever to forgive myself. My family has no ill feelings toward the nurse. We all make mistakes and thankfully nobody lost life, limb, etc. due to the error. I was just curious as to the opinions of those on this site.
Thanks for everyone's response!!

Oh, goodness, you'll be surprized of the things you'll see and be a part of (whether you mean it or not) of backwards situations such as that. I am so glad that your aunt is better. How is her son?

Seven, RN2b · Oct 25, 2007

Oh, goodness, you'll be surprized of the things you'll see and be a part of (whether you mean it or not) of backwards situations such as that. I am so glad that your aunt is better. How is her son?

He is doing so much better. He couldn't eat or sleep for a couple of days. He was just beside himself. Being an only child and so young to have to think of something like that to deal with. He's a really good human being. One of a handful of my favorite people on earth! Love him!! :) Thank you for your kindness!

steelcityrn, RN · Oct 25, 2007

I have never new any nurse to give such a report like this over the phone, not to mention giving results that should have been explained to the family by the doctor. That is...the correct family. Geez, what a mess. Somehow greeting the family and saying oops, sorry, wrong patient just does not suffice.

cmo421 · Oct 25, 2007

One night about 10 yrs ago, I was charge in a busy 15 bed ICU. It was normally the nurse at night who called a family if a pt was going bad,or even had died. This was not uncommon practice in our unit at the time. I had no secretary that night,two critical pt's of my own ,and the staff had had four admitts,two codes and a death. I had a pile of charts in front of me. I notified the doc on call for the pt who had died,he did not know the family and was just covering. We knew the pt and family well, due to a long hospitilization. He asked if I would call and if they needed to speak to him,he would. So I called. "Mr so and so, this is Christine from ______,I am sorry to inform you that your father has just passed(he was a no code). Mr so and so said." My father has been dead for 15 yrs,but how is my mother?" Can ya imagine, I almost vomited! Luckily, I recovered quickly,aplogised profusely and said his Mom was doing fine and said good night. I then called the right family. Looking back , it was a real bad night and I goofed. But it turned out fine. Busy nurses can make errors!