Okay, I was rather appalled this week when a surgical patient was receiving 10 units of blood, 4 FFP's, ambumin, coded and then went back to the OR. All of this because....the surgeon cut through the aorta during a routine procedure. Yes, these things happen and I know surgeons are not above making errors, there are risks involved with every surgery, blah, blah, blah. The point is that the surgeons at my hospital didn't tell the patient or the family that an artery was unintentionally severed. Instead they say there was some uncontrolled bleeding during the prodedure...which leads the family to think the gall bladder being removed from the duct was where the bleeding occurred. When actually the sever was in a different location.
The nurses are not to mention the severed aorta to the patient or family and unless they request medical records, they will never know.
About a year ago a resident accidently placed a dialysis catheter in the carotid artery instead of the subclavian causing a huge internal bleed that almost occluded the patient's airway. This too was hush hush. Sheesh! Nurses can administer one medication two hours late and lose their jobs for it but docs get to cover up their errors. What is up with that?!?
Specializes in Acute Med, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.
She could lose her job, absolutely. But honestly in today's job market thats not really a big deal. A nurse who gets fired could easily get 10 job offers the same day. There is ahuge nursing shortage in just about every part of the country.
yeah, but a nurse thats gotten fired for an error that brought about a lawsuit prolly isnt gonna have hospitals knocking at her door eager to hire her
She could lose her job, absolutely. But honestly in today's job market thats not really a big deal. A nurse who gets fired could easily get 10 job offers the same day. There is ahuge nursing shortage in just about every part of the country.
You are misinformed. Nurses get sued everyday right along with the hospital, the Docs et al. More and more nurses are being named in lawsuits all in the name of recovering big settlements (of which usually 30% or more goes to the Lawyer) They don't care about what size your pockets are, only if you have pockets.
Nurses that loose their jobs this way, seldom recover their dignity or their careers. That IS a big deal.
As for the whole nursing shortage gig. I wish there was a nursing shortage in my area. (read: where I want to live and where I want my kid to grow up) We have several nursing programs at several colleges all close by and there is no shortage here. There are jobs ... a three hour's drive from home though. That only adds six hours to my twelve hour shift and six hours of child care adn with gas at 3 a gal... well, I would rather work for peanuts close by than drive all that way and still make peanuts.
nursesarah
109 Posts
yeah, but a nurse thats gotten fired for an error that brought about a lawsuit prolly isnt gonna have hospitals knocking at her door eager to hire her