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 was a mistake. Ever made one? I have. Welcome to being a HUMAN!
Unless this nurse is just a horrible person, I'd imagine that they are beating theirself up enough for everyone.
It is nice that your family isn't upset. Reporting it is the right thing to do. But maybe a letter to the nurse thanking them for the GOOD care they provided and that the family isn't angry about the situation.
I know if I was in her shoes, that would go a long way in letting me forgive myself.
As for the other issue, if the nurse apologized and her supervisor notified to implement a way for this to not happen again (biggest thing to me is giving out the info on the phone w/o MD present), then I think I'd just drop it. Like others (and you) have pointed out, she probably is making herself sick over her mistake. I sure would be!
I'm glad her son is doing better too. As morbid as it sounds, I am sure their relationship will be even stronger now than before. He had a taste of what it was going to be like once she was gone, and now has an even better understanding of how important their relationship is! :)
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
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.
I think the family could have tried to ask for more details and what kind of scan was done, when, and by whom. But, I think the family trusted that the nurse had the right person, and were understandably angry that the nurse made that mistake. But in the end things worked out, so as you said, no harm was done. I think if I were the family, I'd accept the apology and make sure the nurse knows that she should never do that again (i.e., give wrong bad news over the phone). I'd explain how upset I was and that the event hurt me emotionally. But, I'd leave it at that. If however, the nurse was defensive about it, I might tell a supervisor b/c I wouldn't want her to do that to another person, not for revenge. Glad to hear it was a mix up.
It was a mistake. Ever made one? I have. Welcome to being a HUMAN!
:yeahthat:
Before any of us pick up our stones and prepare to throw them it would be a good idea to stop for a moment and think to ourselves "There but for the grace of God go I"
We weren't there, we don't know the situation and as someone stated before I bet that nurse feels worse about herself right now than she's ever felt in her life. If she's any kind of quality person she's probably all ready reported herself to her charge nurse. Reporting her to administration is way over the top and would serve absolutely no purpose whatsoever.
I think the family could have tried to ask for more details and what kind of scan was done, when, and by whom.
Not having come from a healthcare background - the news hit them hard, and from out of nowhere. Panic was pretty immediate. Probably because they were, at a minimum, 45 minutes away from the hospital. Logical thinking, understandably, disappeared for the immediate moment. Thought was to get to my aunt as quickly as possible. Discussion regarding procedure details was secondary to their immediate emotions of fear, etc.
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
Not having come from a healthcare background - the news hit them hard, and from out of nowhere. Panic was pretty immediate. Probably because they were, at a minimum, 45 minutes away from the hospital. Logical thinking, understandably, disappeared for the immediate moment. Thought was to get to my aunt as quickly as possible. Discussion regarding procedure details was secondary to their immediate emotions of fear, etc.
Makes sense and sorry they had to go through that kind of scare,
And of course, this goes along with the story, where years ago we, had a preemie in the nursery for over 3 months, with the usual ups and downs, and he was finally doing well. The parents took a short, well deserved vacation, the four days before antcipated release. However, it turned out, that somebody called them and asked them to hurry over to the hospital a day or so early. Both were killed in a MVA on the way, and the big news was that the baby was ready early to be dismissed, and now had no home., This was years before HIPPA, and it was meant entirely to surprise them, not scare them. This is where you think of the possible consequences before you speak. Also, once had a post op Hyster pt. and she had been in and out a couple of times, was a HOOT, and always enjoyed joking with the nursing staff. SO somebody decided to take the baby we used for demos and wrap it up and go to her room. Nurse says: "HI
Once again, thank goodness things turned out well, for everybody except the mistaken patient.
First of all, why was a nurse calling family by phone to tell them something like that? I've always assumed that this would be up to a doctor to do and in person.
i am so sorry this happened .i am glad your aunt and her son are doing ok .clearly it was a mistake.but info like that should not be given by a nurse over the phone .the only way the hospital and staff ,supervisoer of course,can make sure it doesn't happen again is to be told about it .xplain your family is not angry they understand it was a mistake but it should not have happened at all.
Ok, you said the patient gave permision the release info. How is that possible if the patient whose family she thought she was calling was brain dead?
My aunt, NOT the brain-dead patient (that was incorrect information - information that belonged to another patient - for whom I wouldn't know if permission was granted to release information), did give permission to discuss "her" medical information with "our" family. The information given didn't belong to my aunt or our family.
Pat_Pat RN
472 Posts
It was a mistake. Ever made one? I have. Welcome to being a HUMAN!
Unless this nurse is just a horrible person, I'd imagine that they are beating theirself up enough for everyone.
It is nice that your family isn't upset. Reporting it is the right thing to do. But maybe a letter to the nurse thanking them for the GOOD care they provided and that the family isn't angry about the situation.
I know if I was in her shoes, that would go a long way in letting me forgive myself.
Pat