will I be sued?

[dumaralos]

I forgot to note in my nurse's notes that a family member verbalized that her dad might have UTI because his urine is very light pink to yellow in his urine bag and his newly admit and I also forgot to endorse that the patient will have a urinalysis to the next shift. will I be sued for this?

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

I agree with making a phone call-report is verbal anyway...what difference does it make if it takes place in person or 20 minutes later from your cellphone in the car. As long as the informations is disseminated that's what counts!

Definitely carry your own malpractice insurance!

The UTI part is kind of tricky-if the patient was admitted through the ER it should be noted so your agency is not liable for UTI associated billings. If the patient was a direct admit, again whoever did the paperwork should've asked this question if uti was suspected. HOWEVER with a foley insertion and subsequent lab test-UTI will be proved anyway, but it's always better to define from the very beginning.

Had a very smart nurse tell me once "nursing is 24/7" that's why there are shifts....there will always be undone work at the end of your shift...there will always be a fresh nurse to pick it up.....don't beat yourself up!

Maisy

[ItsTheDude]

I forgot to note in my nurse's notes that a family member verbalized that her dad might have UTI because his urine is very light pink to yellow in his urine bag and his newly admit and I also forgot to endorse that the patient will have a urinalysis to the next shift. will I be sued for this?

most nurses don't have enough money/property worth going after, the lawyers want the money the docs and hospitals have, the real targets.

[PunkinLPN]

Did you or could you go back and write a late nurses note? You can do that to CYA

[dumaralos]

Did you or could you go back and write a late nurses note? You can do that to CYA

I think I'll make a late entry, but I'll need first to verify to my supervisor about the process. thanks again for all of your replies. I'm now carrying a checklist for the things that should be done.

[nurseogden]

One last note. For a lawsuit to be viable, there has to have been irreversible damage to the patient. Going one shift with UTI, if it didn't result in septic shock, is not irreversible damage. I think you are safe on this on.