Will I get into trouble by checking my own blood sugar using hospital device?

jess.mont, ADN, RN · Sep 8, 2020

There is most likely a policy that says you can't check your own blood sugar with hospital supplies (that's what our hospital policy is) because you are technically stealing equipment and a billable service. Also, I'm curious what your supervisor's response was when you tried to come up with an answer, but maybe they emailed you or left you a note and that's why you have time to respond? In answer to your question, yes - you can get into trouble for doing this. Go out and buy your own glucometer; they're very inexpensive. Look up the policy so that you know what it is, be honest and tell your supervisor what you did and say that you understand you violated policy and accept the consequences, and tell them that you will only check your BG with your own recently-purchased glucometer. Don't make any excuses - not even that you felt sick. Then let the chips fall where they may. Good luck.

JKL33 · Sep 9, 2020

On 9/7/2020 at 11:17 PM, Ncap said:

What should I say? Will I get into trouble if they find out I am checking my own sugar at work?

Tell the truth. You will be very lucky if you receive verbal counseling and no formal written discipline but lying will only make this situation worse, not better.

BSN-to-MSN, ADN, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2020

Yes, tell the truth.

I do not think you will get in trouble, just couched about what to do next time.

MunoRN, RN · Sep 13, 2020

I'm not really clear on why you felt you needed to check your BG for what sounds like having too much coffee, but every hospital I've worked at allows staff to check their BG using the hospital's glucometers, there is usually a 'dummy' number available or actually on the device for checking staff or visitors. It's certainly possible that your facility prohibits using the glucometers on yourself, in which case we can't really predict what sort of trouble you might be in, but it's not necessarily a rule you're guaranteed to find everywhere.

CKPM2RN, ASN, EMT-P · Sep 14, 2020

Kinda depends. Is it a computer-linked glucometer that uploads to a patient chart, or is is a standard, off-the-shelf type that leaves no record? Either way, tell your manager and lead with the attitude of "Maybe this was wrong but here's what I did..."

rockchickrn, ADN · Sep 14, 2020

Good lord have things changed. I can remember years ago we would occasionally check our own sugar, sigh

JKL33 · Sep 14, 2020

On 9/12/2020 at 8:12 PM, MunoRN said:

every hospital I've worked at allows staff to check their BG using the hospital's glucometers, there is usually a 'dummy' number available or actually on the device for checking staff or visitors

Mine will hunt you down for such behaviors now. They have an answer for everything....if a visitors don't feel well they are to be given the option of checking in (in the ED). If staff don't feel well they should report to CN or Sup., etc. Dummy numbers should "never" be needed--and no, they don't care if time is wasted in getting a reg# for every person who requires a glucose check. If we waste time because of the way they want things done, that's different than all other types of inefficiencies and is just fine. ?

**CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN** · Sep 14, 2020

Well I’ve checked my own sugar a lot, and even my own A1C on our equipment at the FQHC. I guess it’s different in hospitals! Ours are not linked to computers or anything. The only way anyone would know I was doing it is if they counted and kept track of the cuvettes. Also, they do not care. Our MAs are all young and female so a lot of HCG testing goes on.

anyway, I agree with everyone else. You say “Yes, I was feeling unwell and I was curious about my blood sugar. I didn’t realize it would be a problem but I won’t do it again.” They’ll just tell you not to, and move on.

JadedCPN, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2020

I think the bigger issue here is that you entered random numbers to make up a MRN, more so than you actually checking your own sugar.

I completely agree with everyone else that you need to just own up to what you did and say you didn't realize it would be an issue. You can even sprinkle some of the buzzwords that they love to hear. Just be humble, own up to it, and definitely do not dig yourself a bigger hole by lying.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2020

15 hours ago, rockchickrn said:

Good lord have things changed. I can remember years ago we would occasionally check our own sugar, sigh

And there was Tylenol and such available too...

MunoRN, RN · Sep 14, 2020

15 hours ago, JKL33 said:

Mine will hunt you down for such behaviors now. They have an answer for everything....if a visitors don't feel well they are to be given the option of checking in (in the ED). If staff don't feel well they should report to CN or Sup., etc. Dummy numbers should "never" be needed--and no, they don't care if time is wasted in getting a reg# for every person who requires a glucose check. If we waste time because of the way they want things done, that's different than all other types of inefficiencies and is just fine. ?

That was the same view as a place I've worked, which changed drastically after a CMS investigation.

There's a common assumption out there that when a visitor or staff member complains of a health issue, that the best way to reduce liability, both to the hospital and your license, is to not get involved other than tell them they should go the ER if they are concerned.

The problem with that is once a visitor says "I think my blood sugar is low, can you check it?" they have now triggered EMTALA, and hospital is required to provide appropriate evaluation. While it's certainly appropriate to initiate whatever mechanisms are in place to hand off the visitor requesting medical evaluation to the appropriate staff (ER, House manager, RR nurse, etc) there may be appropriate initial assessments indicated to avoid unecessarily delaying care prior to that, such as a BG check or vitals check.