Unprofessional Statement in Policy Book

[purplegal]

As I was looking over the guidelines at work about what nursing responsibilities are when a patient dies, I happened to notice a statement that did not seem quite right. It stated something along the lines of, "If a patient dies, shut the door, and let the next shift deal with it." This obviously cannot be a real policy, so I asked several of my coworkers what they thought about the statement. Several of them thought that it was meant to be a sarcastic statement, although we all agreed that it wasn't a very good joke. I actually enjoy sarcasm and joking around, but to me, it seems like a policy book, especially one regarding death, is not the appropriate place for that. So, I am wondering...would you say something about it? Who would you speak to? Something like this could reflect very poorly on the facility if an outsider was to see it...

[macawake, MSN]

As I was looking over the guidelines at work about what nursing responsibilities are when a patient dies, I happened to notice a statement that did not seem quite right. It stated something along the lines of, "If a patient dies, shut the door, and let the next shift deal with it."

That's absolutely ridiculous. Are you pulling our collective legs? Is that the policy/guidelines in its entirety? No additional instructions?? Is the next shift supposed to notify the deceased patient's physician and next of kin as well?

In every hospital I've ever worked facility guidelines (I assume yours are computerized and not just a note jotted down and posted at the nurse's station?) have included the name of who created the document, who reviewed and approved it and the date it was created. If it's revised it will say by whom and when. It wouldn't be a valid document/guideline otherwise.

If it really says what you say it does, I'd definitely take it up the chain of command.

[benegesserit]

Horrible idea. Not just that it's in poor taste, but regulatory agencies look at facility policy and procedures, or it could come up in a lawsuit.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

Screenshot of that policy or it didn't happen.

Part of the review process for policies goes through the legal department. Doubtful a lawyer would ever let something like that slide.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

Is it in the actual policies or something less formal?

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I too am curious to know if this is a real thing or.... As someone else mentioned, if it is a written policy it would have an author, management approval and, if applicable, author/approval of revisions. I have never heard of a formal policy with a joke (even a tasteful one), as it only takes one person who realizes it is not a joke to put the facility in legal hot water.

[MunoRN, RN]

Considering the "quote" was preceded by "something along the lines of", it doesn't sound like it's an actual quote from the policy.

[WheresMyPen]

An expired patient cannot stay on the floor for More than 4 hours in my state. Yes close the door/curtain. Do not leave the body for over 4 hours.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Considering the "quote" was preceded by "something along the lines of", it doesn't sound like it's an actual quote from the policy.

Which is why I want to know if it's a thing. Did the OP really capture the essence of the policy in his/her paraphrase?

[mrsboots87]

Pics or it didn't happen.

[mrsboots87]

But for real, I work in LTC with a Hospice of the Valley on site. So people pass on my watch often enough to know that in no way would a real policy ever say to leave the body for the next shift. Like another poster said, my state is the same in that a body must be moved from the unit within 4 hours unless there is some sort of open investigation preventing that from happening.

If if this was truly in your policy book, it would seem an u professional jerk added it as some sort of joke or something and very likely the big wigs of your facility are unaware. Pretty sure a state surveyor would not find humor in that. I also believe in dignity in death, and leaving a body in a room for hours on end does not do that person or their family any justice. They need to be moved to the mortuary for proper preparation of their body.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Considering the "quote" was preceded by "something along the lines of", it doesn't sound like it's an actual quote from the policy.

Unless the OP was paraphrasing in a nutshell fashion as a means of safeguarding his/her true identity, as I'm sure a policy like that has GOT to be one-of-a-kind.