Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Wrong side for amputation(loss of license)

I forgot who told me this story but they said that there was a story about an RN, who federally, lost their license after writing down the wrong side of the leg for the surgeons to amputate. The leg that wasn't supposed to get amputated was removed as well as the one that was supposed to. Huge lawsuit, RN lost their license nationwide. Is this true? Is it possible? I think she basically cannot ever work as an RN anywhere ever again. I just want to hear from the experts how serious this can get. My mom once told me, she's not an RN or doctor or any of that, that doctors are recommended to carry a special insurance for lawsuits that range from 1-2 million dollars in possible losses. I think I saw somewhere that nurses carry that as well?

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    Your first issue is, you listen to gossip.

    Second, yes, carry malpractice insurance.

  • Quote

    Sounds like an old wives tale to me. I've never heard of "federally" losing a nursing license, considering all licenses are issued by state governments.

  • Quote

    I've heard too many of your stories to take them seriously.

  • Quote
    • Author
    Sounds like an old wives tale to me. I've never heard of "federally" losing a nursing license, considering all licenses are issued by state governments.

    That's what I thought.

  • Quote
    • Author
    I've heard too many of your stories to take them seriously.

    If you've got nothing nice to say, then don't say nothing at all. Simple. Easy. Common sense. If this post wasn't worth your time explaining to, other than expressing your feelings about the logic behind the OP past posts, withhold your negative judgement and frolic onto another post that you would feel is more intellectual and worthy of your time. Thank you.

  • Quote
    If you've got nothing nice to say, then don't say nothing at all. Simple. Easy. Common sense. If this post wasn't worth your time explaining to, other than expressing your feelings about the logic behind the OP past posts, withhold your negative judgement and frolic onto another post that you would feel is more intellectual and worthy

    of your time. Thank you.

    Oh my. Guess this post was just trying to stir the pot. Sorry I responded.

  • Quote
    Oh my. Guess this post was just trying to stir the pot. Sorry I responded.

    Exactly. A quick check off the OP's history might save some well-meaning individuals from spending too much time on a serious answer.

  • Quote

    Hmmmm. I declare this one cray Cray.

  • Quote

    aren't the docs supposed to talk to the patient and mark the part to be removed, themselves?

  • Quote

    Stories like this tend tend to run rampant in hospitals and schools. Usually they exist to "scare" students or staff into paying close attention to certain issues having the potential to cause harm. Yes, wrong site surgeries do happen, but they are never due to the error of a single person.

    Sometimes these wives' tales begin as humor and get perpetuated because it just sounds so crazy it must be true. You know, even though I work in one of the largest children's hospital systems in the country, and even though everyone and their mother knows someone who knows the infamous twins, Lemonjello and Oranjello, I have yet to see their name on a census board.

  • Quote

    aren't the docs supposed to talk to the patient and mark the part to be removed, themselves?

    Gossip is fun. Isn't that why we all became nurses in the first place, so we can talk about everybody?

    JK ... But if that actually happened... wouldn't the good doctor be held accountable as well, why just throw the nurse

    under the bus?

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.