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Post by achot on Dec 5, 2010 5:24:16 GMT -5
Here in Israel an experienced nurse (over 25 years working) punctured a rectum of a female patient while giving an enema ( the patient was sitting in a shower chair and she gave the Fleets enema "blindly"). The patient died of complications of this. The nurse was fired and she sued the facility for not teaching her how to give an enema correctly. She won.
Is a facility that hires a nurse responsible to teach her everything from scratch as if she just stepped out of nursing school and doesnt know that giving an enema blindly can cause a puncture (among other unpleasant adverse consequences)?
Any thoughts?
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Post by chayan on Dec 5, 2010 9:32:19 GMT -5
That's ridiculous. 25 years experience?
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Post by medic09 on Dec 5, 2010 11:09:13 GMT -5
Wow. Just....Wow.
Your question is really a legal one. It depends on what the nursing license really grants the nurse in the way of scope; what the institution grants the nurse in the way of scope; what is required and expected of the nursing schools.
Realistically, I think the nurse and institution would both be found liable. Not being a lawyer, I don't offer details. Just looks that way to me, based on general experience.
No one realistically expects a nursing school to have taught and verified every possible procedure with their students. That's why we have orientation. More importantly, that's why for the rest of our careers we'll ask how to do things and check the popular texts like Potter and Porter (a standard, like a drug guide, in nearly every unit).
Ultimately, when I agree and assert my ability to do patient care, I accept the responsibility for fulfilling Det. Harry Callahan's dictum - "a man's got to know his limitations."
Blows my mind that she won that suit against the facility.
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Post by achot on Dec 5, 2010 15:47:28 GMT -5
So now when I give orientation instead of having the nurse sign at the bottom of the page, she has to sign every line of the page which details her orientation- knows how to use the EKG, knows how to take blood etc.( like at the bank when you open a new account). While I dont expect "every possible procedure" I think there are basics that are beneath me to have to supervise the nurse in doing (I dont have a two headed stethoscope, how will I know if the nurse knows how to do a BP?)
Personally I think the nurse denigrated the whole nursing profession including herself with this lawsuit. I guess she felt since she lost her license she had nothing to lose-
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Post by medic09 on Dec 5, 2010 18:53:07 GMT -5
So now when I give orientation instead of having the nurse sign at the bottom of the page, she has to sign every line of the page which details her orientation- knows how to use the EKG, knows how to take blood etc.( like at the bank when you open a new account). While I dont expect "every possible procedure" I think there are basics that are beneath me to have to supervise the nurse in doing (I dont have a two headed stethoscope, how will I know if the nurse knows how to do a BP?) Personally I think the nurse denigrated the whole nursing profession including herself with this lawsuit. I guess she felt since she lost her license she had nothing to lose- I agree with your last comment, there. BTW, our hospital does require initialing every procedure mentioned in the orientation checklist. I guess this is why. |
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