I've been at my current job for over a week now. I'm eve shift at an LTC. While administering HS insulin to a resident, she frowned and asked, "Why are you guys always poking me?" I explained that I'm giving a long acting insulin to keep her sugars down. She asked why it was so important as to keep poking her with needles. I told her that, if left untreated, it can lead to poor health and effect eyesight. She nodded her head - I bid her goodnight and left.
I'm wondering if this could be considered verbal abuse.
The next day, this resident approached me and said "I'm going to tell my son you said I'll lose my eyesight." I asked what she meant - she responded, "That's right, I'm gonna tell him," and walked away.
I told my DON what transpired - she asked me to write a statement of what happened - and I did. So far, I've heard nothing from her son - nor that she told anything to anyone but myself.
I've been an LPN for just over a year. Looking back, it was poor judgement to have shared possible disease process consequences to a resident with (supposedly) mild dementia. This resident is fairly independent, and has been described by the faculty as "cantankerous." I'm feeling horrid because I don't remember the exact verbiage I used describing retinopathy. All I know is that I meant to reassure her that she was getting treatment to keep her healthy. Not 'if you don't take insulin - you're going to be blind.' I also know that intent doesn't always matter as much as the effect of words. I'm feeling guilty, and I can't quite place why.
Can it be considered verbal abuse if you describe the consequences of an untreated disease process?
