When the nurse has to leave because of an emergency

[LPNtoBSNstudent, BSN, RN]

This is a topic that some of my coworkers have discussed in the past and I am curious to know about others experiences as well.

I was taught and still believe that no matter what, you have to give report and chart before you leave. Here are some of my experiences in the past...

In 1990, when I was in clinicals for LPN school, my clinical instructor pulled me aside and told me that she had recieved a phone call from my mother and she had bad news for me...my grandmother passed away that morning. Ok, so I needed to leave clinicals and at the time, being a 19 year old student, I was surprised that I was required to chart before leaving. However, I did it, no problems.

In 1998, I received a phone call at work that my father was dead at age 51. It was a huge shock. After falling to the floor in shock and a bit of crying I got myself together and finished charting and gave report so I could leave. My coworkers were surprised that I didn't just walk out the door.

My friend was working and found out her 3 year old child had broken her leg and was at the hospital (with my friend's husband-the dad). My friend really wanted to leave to go and be with her child and was LIVID that management would not let her leave because they did not feel it was an emergency. I felt bad for my friend. My friend says that there should be more compassion for nurses who experience crisis.

Another nurse I know got a phone call that (I later found out from her) her daughter was raped. She was able to leave work, but didn't tell anyone why (at the time), except for quite possibly, the nurse manager. She did not report off to anyone but did her charting.

Ok, those are a few of my (and other's) stories. I am curious about your stories and what happens when the nurse has an emergency. What constitutes an emergency (for the employee)? What happens where you work? What if someone has an emergency that they are not prepared to tell someone about yet needs to leave?

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

We expect a report and charting if feasible. This points up a good reason to keep abreast of charting in case someone has to pick up your patient and only has your notes to go on. It is possible to chart later, but in our facility the nurse must have permission from the manager and risk managment if > 24 hr has transpired. Otherwise, the chart has the appearance of being "doctored". Nurses are people too. We try to do the reasonable, responsible thing but sometimes life gets in the way.

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

We've had similar situations where I work, too. We usually let the nurse finish charting while we take over everything else from that point on for her pts. The charge RN and nurses with pts near hers will usually know mostly what's going on with her pts so it's just a quick, quick report.

We HAVE had situations where the nurse herself was hurt and had to go to the ER and then home. She had been blown in the face/eyes with a fire extinguisher (don't ask why we were using a fire extinguisher in the NICU :uhoh21: ) and couldn't finish her charting. About the best we could do was ask which meds she had already given and immediately do an assessment and vitals on her pts so someone else could start charting on her pts. A good reason to not get too far behind on charting!

[adidas99]

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[Blackcat99]

I had to leave work twice for emergencies. One place asked me to chart before I left but I said NO. The other place didn't ask me to chart. They told me to go home. Charting is important but when I got the call that my dad was dying I left immediately period. To hell with my job when a member of my family is dying. :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I can see both sides of the issue.

If it wasn't charted it wasn't done. On the offhand chance that it came to court or to the board, while being very understanding of your emergency, they would also find that negligent. I can understand an institution wanting to protect themselves, and we should probably want to protect ourselves. Fortunately, I haven't had bad news at work, so I'm not sure how I would react.

[missmercy]

she charted while in labor:rolleyes: nurses! Are we exceptional people or what!? I hope she finished charting before she got into transition!!! :)

We have computerized charting and encourage staff to document ASAP -- in the even of an emergency, if possible we like a report and to have charting up to date -- however, in reality..... if you've got to go, you've got to go!! We reassign, reassess as needed and get micro reports to find out where we are in the course of the treatment plan!

[cannoli]

I had to leave work twice for emergencies. One place asked me to chart before I left but I said NO. The other place didn't ask me to chart. They told me to go home. Charting is important but when I got the call that my dad was dying I left immediately period. To hell with my job when a member of my family is dying. :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

I agree with your last sentence, definitely if someone is dying.

If someone has already died, I think I would prefer to get that news after I got home, rather than someone calling me at work.

I think one would have to report off on the patients under any circumstances, for the safety of the patients and the nurses taking over, just a quick, abbreviated everyone's fine, need to know type of report. Also, couldn't it be considered abandonment otherwise?

I agree also that the charting is important but would have to be done at a later date. As far as the chart looking "doctored" as someone mentioned, couldn't an explanation be placed in/on the chart as to the circumstances of the late charting? It would seem that even an attorney could understand that.

I remember working at a hospital as a federal employee and one of the LPNs just took off early in the shift because her daughter's car had broken down on the road, no report, no anything, just took off and left. No repercussions, I can imagine myself being fired or worse for doing something like that.

[sweetcheekers]

Interesting topic, had never thought of this. I've never had an experience with this so I don't know what to expect, but I can tell you that my children would never wait for me in an emergency so I could take care of ANYTHING at my job. I am completely devoted to maintaining the highest standards of care for my patients and I take that responsibility very seriously. However, my children will ALWAYS come first. They are my #1 priority and no patient or job will ever take precedence over them.

[nurses4all]

Stuff happens.

If a coworker has an emergency, we'll try to get report, but we don't require that they chart before they leave. We'll just split the assignment and pick up the slack. We all use "cheat sheets" and can figure out the important stuff from the coworker's cheat sheet, the chart, and the taped reports. We can also figure out if a med was given by what was checked out of the Pyxis and when.

I feel sorry for some of you whose managers don't realize that you're human too, and deserve to be treated better.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I concur with Tweety's answer.

[RNKPCE]

I don't think I would want a nurse to stay and work if I knew his/her 3 year old had just broken his/her leg. I can see in that instance charting but let the mom/dad go.

I can just see what we as nurses would say if a child came into the ER with a broken leg and she is crying for her mommy and the reason the mom isn't there is because she is at work and can't come over. We would be blasting the parent for not having the right priorities.

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One night at work I got a call that my husband had severe abd pain(never ever sick) and his dad was driving him to the ER where I work. With supportive co-workers I was able to finish up my charting and go downstairs just about the time my husband arrive.

We as nurses must practice the compassion that we preach on each other.