Will my license be at risk?

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Mar 13, 2018

You are going to be ok with BON, I feel and I only have 45.5 yr experience as RN.

Unfortunately your facility was not more diplomatic.

At the worst they may discharge you...... But you will find another job....

Best wishhes

Elmstreet209 · Mar 13, 2018

Sue you for what? What damage occurred?
People threaten to sue ALL. The. Time. Good luck getting a lawyer to take that one- there are literally no damages.

Will any restrictions on my license?

I'm a new nurse.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Mar 13, 2018

If the resident is still deemed competent, the emergency contact can wait, in a non-emergent situation. I would have talked them down and notified administration and the provider, before sending them out.

The emergency contact should not be threatening you.

Hindsight is 20/20. Good luck with this mess.

Elfriede · Mar 13, 2018

"DonÂ´t think twice itÂ´s all right." (Bob Dylan)

Elmstreet209 · Mar 13, 2018

I don't think your license is in danger for not calling the contact, but you really should have done so. Did you consult with anyone before you sent this person off to the hospital?

I didn't notify anyone before calling 911.. he was demanding to be sent to the hospital so I immediately called, he's alert x3 but is forgetful.

Have Nurse, ADN, RN · Mar 13, 2018

It makes no sense to threaten and be angry, unless the contact feels that they should have been notified first, still no reason for them to lose their temper. What if you hadn't sent him? Would the contact threaten sue anyway? He has no case in any event. I wouldn't worry about it.

Secondly, your job is first to the patient. If he was itching, he may have been having an allergic reaction to something and that does need attention.

Not to address it would have been considered neglect. Since you are not a physician and he needed attention you addressed it.

There is no reason to do anything to your license. Medically you have done nothing wrong. Your employer should re-visit any training for you if needed, but that's par for the course.

It's always interesting to see how an employer will react. Will they be supportive or attempt to toss you under the bus? If the latter is true, it's time to jump ship and find a place that appreciates your effort.

And, in this day and age of violence, if he keeps making you uncomfortable (the contact), let Law Enforcement know. Never hurts to have it on record that you are being threatened if you truly feel that.

JKL33 · Mar 13, 2018

The only way I can see that they might have a legitimate bone to pick is if the emergency contact is also/actually the guardian/legal decision-maker for the patient.

If not, they are simply throwing a fit. If the patient makes his own legal (medical) decisions, well, then....he decided to go to the hospital. One could even make the case that there was simply no reason to contact them at all, as there was no emergency. [i do it's good customer service that they would be contacted in accordance with whatever contact policy they were informed of when everyone agreed to use your company's service, but that's a different matter - and a one-time deviation from that does not mean there are "damages" they could collect, as already mentioned].

Don't worry about this too much. If your employer is making a federal case out of it and pandering to this family's inappropriate behavior you'll probably want to find somewhere else to work anyway, simply because you don't deserve to be treated that way, and it likely won't be the last time.

Any idea why they are so upset? Are they the decision-makers or are they merely disappointed at not being involved?

brownbook · Mar 13, 2018

And, in this day and age of violence, if he keeps making you uncomfortable (the contact), let Law Enforcement know. Never hurts to have it on record that you are being threatened if you truly feel that.

I'm honestly not sure if you're referring to violence from the employer/boss or the patient! Sad but true!

Elmstreet209 · Mar 13, 2018

The only way I can see that they might have a legitimate bone to pick is if the emergency contact is also/actually the guardian/legal decision-maker for the patient.
If not, they are simply throwing a fit. If the patient makes his own legal (medical) decisions, well, then....he decided to go to the hospital. One could even make the case that there was simply no reason to contact them at all, as there was no emergency. [i do it's good customer service that they would be contacted in accordance with whatever contact policy they were informed of when everyone agreed to use your company's service, but that's a different matter - and a one-time deviation from that does not mean there are "damages" they could collect, as already mentioned].
Don't worry about this too much. If your employer is making a federal case out of it and pandering to this family's inappropriate behavior you'll probably want to find somewhere else to work anyway, simply because you don't deserve to be treated that way, and it likely won't be the last time.
Any idea why they are so upset? Are they the decision-makers or are they merely disappointed at not being involved?

Lets just say the emergency contact is not all that well upstairs.

I'm not sure if there decision makers, I know there married but don't live together.

i forgot to mentioned, when I called after 3 hours the contact didn't say anything bad and was thankful. It wasn't until the next day they call being upset, everyone thinks is because they just decided to be upset all of a sudden.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 13, 2018

Will any restrictions on my license?
I'm a new nurse.

No. There will be no restrictions on your license.

Guest219794 · Mar 13, 2018

I work at a adult day center, I sent someone to the hospital because he demanded it. It was for itching. I didn't call his emergency contact until 3 hours later. The emergency contact called the center and is upset, wanting to sue, call department of aging.
no dementia but forgetful.

Good you don't have dementia, and we can all be forgetful.

As far as your license goes:

For some reason this fear is drilled into nurses. It is a frequent subject around here. Go to your BON website, and have a look at what causes discipline. Believe me, it is not what you did.

Good luck.

Eris Discordia BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2018

Lets just say the emergency contact is not all that well upstairs.
I'm not sure if there decision makers, I know there married but don't live together.
i forgot to mentioned, when I called after 3 hours the contact didn't say anything bad and was thankful. It wasn't until the next day they call being upset, everyone thinks is because they just decided to be upset all of a sudden.

This is a customer service issue, not a licensing issue. Even if the spouse was the legal guardian, regardless of the competency of the patient, you made a nursing decision to listen to his complaint and send him on to the hospital. The family apparently pays to have him in a facility where nurses can execute their judgement.

Better customer service would have been to notify them sooner, but for discipline to happen, you will have needed to violate your state nurse practice act. I can't see for the life of me how this is even close to violating that.

Deep breath. What your boss does is another thing, but not notifying family fast enough in a situation where the patient is stable isn't going to ding your license. The family can try to sue, file complaints, etc...but that doesn't mean that a thing will be done with those complaints legally. People have the ability to complain about literally anything...but that doesn't mean that those complaints are anywhere near actionable on a legal or licensing level.

Best wishes.