What happens if the nurse forgets to get AMA form signed and pt leaves hospital??

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What happens if the nurse forgets to get AMA form signed and pt leaves hospital??

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Specializes in Trauma-Surgical, Case Management, Clinic.

I don't think anything happens. I have been the nurse running down the hall chasing pts to the elevator to get them to sign the AMA form. I have also had pts just leave before I could get the papers signed. I documented well but nothing ever happened to me. You can't control things like that sometimes. The form is to protect the hospital but what if a pt threatens to leave AMA, you instruct the pt against it and step out of the room to call the dr and get the form in case they are still planning to leave. You go back to the room and the pt is gone. What can you do? That has happened to me before.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I have had patients outright refuse to sign the AMA form, then leave. Nothing has happened.

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Specializes in Med/Surg,Cardiac.

That has happened to me as well. Document thoroughly that you taught them the risks and that they understood. I think the usual reason most leave AMA is due to them wanting to smoke.

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Just document well.

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We have patients leave without telling anyone and patients that refuse to sign the form. You just document well and in the end it's their decision.

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The "AMA form" is just a formal notification and patient acknowledgement of the risks of terminating treatment prematurely. It is meant to help limit liability on behalf of the hospital in case of patient harm. Having the patient sign the form only gives the facility a slightly more defensible position, I say this because the signing of the form is usually under duress.

If the patient does not sign the form then simply document the patient's orientation and mental status along with a statement that you educated the patient on the risks of terminating treatment prematurely.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Document thoroughly, especially that you notified them of the risks of leaving AMA and that they verbalized understanding, and let your supervisor know ASAP. You can't force patients to sign.

Also, if the error was on your end (as in you did forget to give them the form--happened to me once or twice as a new grad) then management knows so they can work to minimize their liability.

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Just document well.

Exactly.

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