Sunday, May 20, 2012

Nurses Arena (Facebook), The War Against Amanda Trujillo, April 25, 2012, @MotherJonesRN, Nurse Ratched's Place #nurseup #amandatrujillo

Nurses Arena (Facebook), The War Against Amanda Trujillo, April 25, 2012, Mother Jones, RN, Nurse Ratched's Place:"I still support Amanda Trujillo and some people who have read the allegations against Amanda have questioned my judgment. Frankly, I don't believe these allegations because I personally know two other nurses who have been reported to their nursing boards by their former employers. One of my friends was reported to the BON after she spoke up about unsafe nursing practices at a shady nursing home, and the other was reported after he chastised hospital administration for placing psychiatric patients and staff in an unsafe environment. Their former employers cooked up all kinds of false allegations against my friends who are both stellar nurses. Their former employers crucified their character, but in the end they were both cleared of any wrongdoing by their respective state nursing boards."
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=269253806505065&id=218146348240931&notif_t=like

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For more information on Nursing & Patient Advocacy, Entrepreneurship: http://www.nurseup.com/

Kindly sign our petitions:

Petition: Amanda Trujillo, RN & Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona: Position Statements Requested
http://www.change.org/petitions/nurseup-com-issue-position-statements-on-the-amanda-trujillo-rn

Petition: Arizona State Board of Nursing: Remove Amanda Trujillo’s nursing license from ”under investigation” status | Change.org
http://www.change.org/petitions/arizona-state-board-of-nursing-remove-amanda-trujillo-s-nursing-license-from-under-investigation-status

Contribute to Amanda's Legal Defense Fund:
http://apps.facebook.com/fundrazr/activity/99fa97b4502c40939c18ae0da407793c?type=endorsement

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nurseup.com, A Nursing Advocacy Organization
38 Tattersall Drive
West Deptford, New Jersey 08051
856-415-9617, Fax: 856-415-9618, info@nursefriendly.com, @nursefriendly

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In memory of baby Grayson James Walker, by Amanda Trujillo, MSN, RN - #nurseup #Amandatrujillo #nursefriendly

In memory of baby Grayson James Walker

Reprinted by permission of Amanda Trujillo, MSN, RN:

graysonjameswalker2152012

I learned of this story on the news because apparently Facebook suspended baby Grayson’s mother’s account for posting the pictures she had of her son at birth. Grayson was born with anencephaly. He lived for 8 hours and passed in the arms of both of his parents and surrounded by the nursing staff. Grayson’s family celebrated his arrival into this world as well as his transition out of the world with such beauty, grace, and love. His mother documents her pregnancy, her delivery, and the day they spent with their angel here. It was his mother’s wish that Grayson James Walker’s memory continues to endure in the hearts of others, that his courageous 8 hours of life in their midst be remembered. As  a mother, I’m more than happy to do my part here on this blog in honor of her angel, a salute to her strength,  her bravery and grace, and in great respect of labor and delivery nurses everywhere who take the risk everyday they go to work not knowing whether they might be a part of something so difficult, so emotionally overwhelming—but equally as beautiful– as helping a family not only welcome life but to help them say goodbye in the most memorable way they know how. I knew early on in nursing school that I was not cut out for mom and baby nursing—for just this reason. I would always want everything to be sweet perfection and bliss, Id never ever want sadness or tragedy or anything less than everyone going home healthy and full of life. Labor and Delivery nurses accept that life can’t always be this way and I really don’t know where they get the bravery to do what they do. I continue to be in awe of the strength they possess to face their workday with the knowledge that there exists just the “chance” something could go awry and that nature, at times, has other plans for us. In many ways I have viewed them as superhuman because not just anybody can do what they do……

 

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For more information on Nursing & Patient Advocacy, Entrepreneurship: http://www.nurseup.com/

Kindly sign our petitions:

Petition: Amanda Trujillo, RN & Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona: Position Statements Requested

http://www.change.org/​petitions/​nurseup-com-issue-position-stat​ements-on-the-amanda-trujillo-​rn

Petition: Arizona State Board of Nursing: Remove Amanda Trujillo’s nursing license from ”under investigation” status | Change.org

http://www.change.org/ ​petitions/​arizona-state-board-of-nursing-​ remove-amanda-trujillo-s-nursi​ng-license-from-under-investig​ ation-status

Contribute to Amanda’s Legal Defense Fund:

http://apps.facebook.com/fundrazr/activity/99fa97b4502c40939c18ae0da407793c?type=endorsement

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nurseup.com, A Nursing Advocacy Organization
38 Tattersall Drive
West Deptford, New Jersey 08051
856-415-9617, Fax: 856-415-9618, info@nursefriendly.com, @nursefriendly

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Saturday, May 19, 2012

1,000 Shades of Nursing: Why are we “really” Celebrating Nurses Week? Amanda Trujillo MSN RN #nurseup #amandatrujillo

1,000 Shades of Nursing: Why are we “really” Celebrating Nurses Week?

Reprinted by permission of Amanda Trujillo, MSN RN. May 9, 2012 By  8 Comments


There was an interesting tweet chat taking place this evening with regards to Nurses Week and how everyone celebrated their week or reflected on their profession. Several great view points were offered up. My own perception of Nurses Week is that it is a metaphor for every way our profession has stagnated, failed to progress, remaining fractured and at odds with itself about where it should be and how it should get there. Hell, we’re still trying to bridge the gap between academic nursing and clinical nursing. It’s not difficult to empathize with some of the views raised this evening: The disdain with the recycled food offerings, the traditional ice cream social that makes some of us seethe inside, the hospital logo stamped on nursing “swag,” the lack of any gifts of appreciation, the “lumping in” of Nurse Week with “Hospital Week,” or whether we even need the proverbial “pat on the head” as one nurse blogger put it. I’m conflicted: As a profession—HOW are we leading, and HOW are we advocating?

 

Truth is, as our healthcare system has become more profit driven, so has the corporate model for care. Every corporation has a team of administrators who design and implement strategic goals so they can reach the ideal vision they have for their organization. Over the years, our profession has been redesigned and groomed to fit in with that ideal. What’s happening in hospitals, and how we are viewed or treated is a direct reflection of the current state of the healthcare system and healthcare politics. Those values you’re taught—regardless of whether you agree with them or the hospital’s culture—become who you are supposed to be and expected to be within that corporation. They need you to think and be and believe a certain way so that they can accomplish their goals and succeed toward their vision. Autonomy? No. Any kind of autonomy is always a perceived threat because it leaves room for interpretation by employees that they have a say in how an organization runs or how it accomplishes its goals for the future—in a nutshell, autonomy fosters empowerment and knowledge and opposing views, views that question the “status quo.” For instance, the color blocking of scrubs– It isn’t just so patients can recognize nurses. Just as any corporation has a brand image to maintain—so do hospitals. You become part of the brand, the image, the package that they are selling in an increasingly cut throat and competitive market.

So, what does this have to do with nursing? Simple. We have no seat at the highest levels of policy making that involves our practice or the care of our patients. We are talking about advancing Nurse Practitioners as primary care providers when we as entry level nurses can’t even practice to the fullest extent of our licensure at the bedside. Furthermore, the Nurse Practice Act even varies in all 50 states. Why? Because we as a profession haven’t learned to function as one unified, strong, independent entity that goes to battle for its standards of practice and for the tenets upon which it has been built. We censor each other. We hurt each other. We battle amongst each other. We jockey for power. The fact that nurses I know now turn the other direction instead of speaking up in the best interests of their patients should be alarming enough, signaling a serious erosion in the moral fabric of our profession—not to mention its integrity.

Let’s take a moment to examine Nurses Week. How has it changed over the years? Has it evolved with the times? With the profession? I’m going to boldly say no. Nurses Week is another example of what is done to pacify us within the corporate world—to make us “feel better” or feel ‘less invisible.” I don’t like lip service, and I don’t like smoothing over major problems within our profession with cutesy nurse sayings on a mug, or a backpack with a hospital logo stamped on it accompanied with a cold, clinical, impersonal preformed “thank you email.” I’d settle for a clinical ladder that affords me the opportunity to be creative, learn, grow, and advance within my profession and within an institution (not subject to the notions of popularity or kissing up to anyone). I’d be thrilled with the chance to research and design patient care policies that are not privy to administrative officials butchering them until they have taken all the nursing out of the policy and divided the tasks up to ten different people.   But, I digress, those work environments are far and few between nowadays. I’m sure many of you could agree that there remains an ever growing gap between the management and “some” nurse educators who spend more time in their offices every day than they do in the trenches with their staff. This would be a perfect illustration of how I perceive the upper echelons of our profession are so disconnected from us as bedside nurses. Could they really “survive” a 12-14 hour shift with us? Could we easily hand over half of our workload to them and confidently believe they could handle it? If the answer is no, then how can they relate to who we are and what our concerns are?

Nurses Week, to me, is a very big roaring metaphor for the uppers to make the lowers feel like “all is well and all will be just fine if you keep on doing what you’re doing.” But yet, many of us can’t even decide what Nurses Week should “look like” to fit the times we are in with regard to technological advances, increased knowledge base, and the risky responsibilities of clinical bedside nurses. This, too, is representative of the fractures within our own profession—so many specialties and groups and views and “ways” and no overall consensus on what we should do to more appropriately and authentically celebrate a profession so noble, so complex, so “American as apple pie.”  Furthermore it seems we can’t even begin to decide what or if we should receive anything for Nurses Week from our employers…some argue it’s just insulting to try and even dignify the enormity of what we do and the lives we touch by thanking us with a mug, a piece of cake, a banner, or a pin. Others enjoy the tangible gesture and value what it represents. I can’t say I disagree with either view.

     I don’t dislike or disapprove of celebrating Nurses Week, or Nurses Day, or even a Nurses Month …What I do disagree with is allowing a profession so large, so strong, so knowledgeable and exquisitely timeless to become swallowed up in tired, reformatted logos or what some organizations now call “Hospital Appreciation Week,” which is—yes—another example of how corporations keep their employees situated and categorized so everyone fits in a nice little politically correct box. What I take exception to is promoting a Nurses Week that has remained the same year after year. What I can’t understand is why we aren’t utilizing Nurses Week each year to perform a thorough and honest nursing care plan on our own profession to see just how far we have come, or haven’t come, in the growth and evolution of our profession. With every Nurses Week, there should be some sort of critical appraisal of what we’d like to accomplish by Nurse’s Week next year—and celebrate THAT GOAL REACHED.

We as a profession can talk a great game. We know all the glittery, shiny, powerful things to say, and how to look saying them. We’ve mastered how to walk and talk the inspirational stuff (with power suits and stilettos no less). We also know when and how to toss about  buzzwords like “innovation, patient centered care, interdisciplinary model of care, and evidence based practice” —but are we doing the down and dirty and difficult work to reach all the goals of the hundreds of nursing initiatives out there? Are we running up against wall after wall taking the hits it takes to get to where we need to be?? Again, I say no. We are worried about disapproval, we are afraid for our jobs, we are afraid of not fitting in with our peers and not being the same as everyone else, or our leadership positions being tarnished. We don’t want to be the “one” that rocks the boat and gets targeted at work. What has happened to us that we can’t be unique, creative, authentic individuals with great ideas and a voice to see them to fruition?

The beautifully packaged and well thought out nursing initiatives are *always* subject to the approval and revision of corporate hospitals all over the country. If initiatives don’t contribute to the hospital’s strategic plan (culture)—forget about it. It doesn’t matter how good an initiative is for nursing or for patient care. We all know that. We just don’t talk about it, and we don’t stand up to do something about it— or the whittling away of our role at the bedside to a less than desirable one. We stay silent, we remain submissive, we continue on about our shift…..take vital signs, admit the patient, discharge the patient, run the call lights, give the meds, assess the patient, clean the patients….but shhhhhhhhh! Don’t dare take initiative and show some leadership or offer new ideas…because as I’ve been told by one previous manager “your ideas just don’t fit in with the culture. So don’t offer them anymore.” Really? Shame on me for getting an MSN thinking I could use it.

This is the reality. This is why Nurses Week remains the same year after year with just a tired repackaging of presentation, and it’s why our profession will continue to sit in its nice little chair at the desk, raising its hand politely in hopes of getting called on by the illustrious teacher from whom we seek approval and validation. Can we stop pretending; stop sweeping our major issues under the rug, stop whining at the nurse’s station every day about how we are mistreated and unheard and unappreciated?… Is it even in the realm of possibility to imagine that every single one of us can, in honor of “our week;” step up, show the pride and love I know we all have for nursing, and do something small that creates a new beginning?

THAT—would give rise to a reason for celebrating what we do, who we are, and the tremendous transformational power we have yet to tap to improve our profession and the quality of patient care.

 

Friday, May 18, 2012

The ANA Finally Talks About the Amanda Trujillo Case, @motherjonesrn #nurseup #amandatrujillo #nursefriendly

NurseFriendly posted an update 8 seconds ago

The ANA Finally Talks About the Amanda Trujillo Case, @motherjonesrn #nurseup #amandatrujillo #nursefriendly:”Hear ye, hear ye, the great and magnificent ANA has made a statement about the Amanda Trujillo case. Well it’s about time. It only took a firestorm in the blogosphere to make you speak. Your slow response was noted. I’m sure you needed extra time to precisely craft your statement about Amanda’s case because you’ve really screwed things up.

This is their comment about Amanda’s case:

“ANA is closely monitoring the case of Amanda Trujillo, MSN, RN, and has been in contact with her attorney. ANA strongly supports nurses and their right and responsibility to engage in patient education and advocacy. ANA appreciates how difficult it is for a nurse to undergo an investigation of his or her practice by the state board of nursing. To be clear, ANA expects the Arizona Board of Nursing to follow its standard procedure, to render an unbiased judgment in this case, and to be fully transparent in its findings.”

http://nurseup.com/wordpress/2012/02/the-ana-finally-talks-about-the-amanda-trujillo-case/

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For more information on Nursing & Patient Advocacy, Entrepreneurship: http://www.nurseup.com/

Kindly sign our petitions:

Petition: Amanda Trujillo, RN & Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona: Position Statements Requested

http://www.change.org/​petitions/​nurseup-com-issue-position-stat​ements-on-the-amanda-trujillo-​rn

Petition: Arizona State Board of Nursing: Remove Amanda Trujillo’s nursing license from ”under investigation” status | Change.org

http://www.change.org/ ​petitions/​arizona-state-board-of-nursing-​ remove-amanda-trujillo-s-nursi​ng-license-from-under-investig​ ation-status

Contribute to Amanda’s Legal Defense Fund:

http://apps.facebook.com/fundrazr/activity/99fa97b4502c40939c18ae0da407793c?type=endorsement

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nurseup.com, A Nursing Advocacy Organization
38 Tattersall Drive
West Deptford, New Jersey 08051
856-415-9617, Fax: 856-415-9618, info@nursefriendly.com, @nursefriendly

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/​groups/nurseup/ (Most Active)

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Nurses undergoing state board discipline (Causes.com) #nurseup #amandatrujillo #nursefriendly #healthcare

NurseFriendly posted an update 32 seconds ago

Nurses undergoing state board discipline (Causes.com):”To provide support for nurses. To provide support for nurses. This group is for those who are undergoing a state board investigation and need to reach out for emotional and resource support.”
Cause Leaders, Rita Lawrence, Amanda Trujillo, Terri Spencer:

http://www.causes.com/causes/553432-nurses-undergoing-state-board-discipline

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For more information on Nursing & Patient Advocacy, Entrepreneurship: http://www.nurseup.com/

Kindly sign our petitions:

Petition: Amanda Trujillo, RN & Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona: Position Statements Requested

http://www.change.org/​petitions/​nurseup-com-issue-position-stat​ements-on-the-amanda-trujillo-​rn

Petition: Arizona State Board of Nursing: Remove Amanda Trujillo’s nursing license from ”under investigation” status | Change.org

http://www.change.org/ ​petitions/​arizona-state-board-of-nursing-​ remove-amanda-trujillo-s-nursi​ng-license-from-under-investig​ ation-status

Contribute to Amanda’s Legal Defense Fund:

http://apps.facebook.com/fundrazr/activity/99fa97b4502c40939c18ae0da407793c?type=endorsement

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nurseup.com, A Nursing Advocacy Organization
38 Tattersall Drive
West Deptford, New Jersey 08051
856-415-9617, Fax: 856-415-9618, info@nursefriendly.com, @nursefriendly

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/​groups/nurseup/ (Most Active)

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#Narcotic Count Off, Submit To Strip Search or You Are Fired? Three #Nurses Suing #Chicago Hospital (Jackson Park Memorial) #nursefriendly #nurseup #rncha

NurseFriendly posted an update 30 minutes ago

‎#Narcotic Count Off, Submit To Strip Search or You Are Fired? Three #Nurses Suing #Chicago Hospital (Jackson Park Memorial)#nursefriendly #nurseup #rnchat:”A third Jackson Park Hospital nurse claimed like two others in the last eight months she was strip searched, and is suing the South Side hospital.
Named as defendants in the suit besides the hospital are Merritt Hasbrouck, president and chief executive officer of JPH; Diane Glenn, director of behavior medicine at JPH; and Vernell Williams, director of nursing at JPH. The hospital is located at 7531 S. Stony Island Ave.
JPH nurses Wilma Joubert and Mable Dortch, filed suit on Oct. 12, 2011 in Cook County circuit court. Camille Taylor filed her suit on February 1, and said
“Never in my 25 years of being a nurse have I experienced something this horrible. I have worked at Jackson Park Hospital for the past seven years and never would have imagined that my world would be turned upside down by having my dignity taken away,” Taylor, 54, said. “No one should have to come to subject themselves to such humility just to keep their job.”

http://nurseup.com/wordpress/?p=430

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For more information on Nursing & Patient Advocacy, Entrepreneurship: http://www.nurseup.com/

Kindly sign our petitions:

Petition: Amanda Trujillo, RN & Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona: Position Statements Requested

http://www.change.org/​petitions/​nurseup-com-issue-position-stat​ements-on-the-amanda-trujillo-​rn

Petition: Arizona State Board of Nursing: Remove Amanda Trujillo’s nursing license from ”under investigation” status | Change.org

http://www.change.org/ ​petitions/​arizona-state-board-of-nursing-​ remove-amanda-trujillo-s-nursi​ng-license-from-under-investig​ ation-status

Contribute to Amanda’s Legal Defense Fund:

http://apps.facebook.com/fundrazr/activity/99fa97b4502c40939c18ae0da407793c?type=endorsement

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nurseup.com, A Nursing Advocacy Organization
38 Tattersall Drive
West Deptford, New Jersey 08051
856-415-9617, Fax: 856-415-9618, info@nursefriendly.com, @nursefriendly

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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Nurse Sued For “Too Many Sticks” How Many Attempts Is Too Many? #nurseup #nursefriendly #healthcare

Clinical Nursing Malpractice Case Studies, January 29, 2002
Coleman v. East Jefferson General Hosp., 747 So.2d 1044- LA (1999)

Summary: Starting Intravenous Lines and Performing Venipunctures are basic nursing skills in the Acute Care or Hospital settings. In this case, a female patient would accuse a male nurse of negligence and causing a resulting injury when he needed three attempts to successfully start an intravenous catheter.

The female patient came to the hospital with vague complaints of abdominal pain and was evaluated in the Emergency Department. The physician’s orders for treatment included intravenous medications for which a line would need to be started.

“Up to 90% of patients who require health care services need some form of I.V. therapy. Unfortunately, many hospitals have done away with I.V. teams, so you may be responsible for inserting and maintaining I.V. lines even if you're inexperienced or have limited opportunities to keep your skills sharp.”2

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Sidebar:

Venipuncture and the insertion of intravenous catheters are basic nursing skills. If a nurse has not learned these skills in Nursing School, it will be often be learned “on the job” in the early months of orientation at an acute care facility.

As with most nursing skills, it is one that improves with practice. The prudent nurse will attempt once or twice and then ask another nurse to give it a try.

In rare cases, you will come across patient’s that are “a difficult stick.” In this case, if there simply are “no veins” the physician should be notified or an expert nurse should be called in.

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A male nurse was assigned to the patient when the Intravenous Catheter was to be placed. The nurse was having difficulty finding veins in the woman’s arms. He then attempted twice to start a line in her hand and was successful on the third attempt.

It was the policy of the hospital at that time, that a nurse may attempt an intravenous catheter insertion no more than two times before calling for assistance.

For the remainder of the patient’s treatment at the hospital, it would be documented that the patient complained of discomfort at the IV site and tolerated it poorly.

Pain or discomfort at the site of an IV insertion should present a “red flag” to an experienced nurse.

When combined with redness, swelling, puss or exudates at an IV site, pain can signal one of many potential complications of Intravenous Therapy including extravasation of IV fluids/medication, infection of the site or a dislodging of the catheter.

When pain or potential complications are reported, the site should be thoroughly evaluated for signs of a problem. If symptoms persist, the placement of another line at an alternate site should be offered for continued Intravenous Therapy.

There was no indication in the hospital record, that other signs/symptoms of a complication existed other than the pain/discomfort. This may have been positional due to the location of the IV site in the patient’s hand.

There was no indication that placement of another line was either offered to, or refused by the patient.

“When an I.V. lawsuit is argued in court, top-notch I.V. skills don't mean much unless they're backed up by appropriate, accurate, and concise documentation. Unfortunately, documentation is where many nurses fall short.”2

Following her discharge, the patient would file a suit alleging negligence on the part of the nurse and hospital. Specifically, she claimed a poorly performed catheter insertion caused her to develop Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy in her right hand.

“What is Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome?

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) is a chronic condition characterized by severe burning pain, pathological changes in bone and skin, excessive sweating, tissue swelling, and extreme sensitivity to touch. The syndrome is a nerve disorder that occurs at the site of an injury (most often to the arms or legs). It occurs especially after injuries from high-velocity impacts such as those from bullets or shrapnel. However, it may occur without apparent injury.”3

Summary judgment was entered for the hospital finding that no negligence was evident.

The patient appealed.

Questions to be answered:

1. Was the nurse negligent in his catheter insertion technique? Were certifications and hospital policies/procedures adhered to?

2. Were standards of care, specific to Intravenous Catheter Insertions adhered to.

3. Was it plausible, that the patient’s “Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy” may have resulted from the multiple catheter insertion attempts that day?

On review of the chart and following expert testimony, no deficiencies in technique could be found in the placement of the catheter. By his employment record and training, he was fully qualified to place intravenous catheters as a part of his scope of practice as a licensed nurse.

It was noted that the hospital’s standards, allowed for a maximum of two attempts before calling for assistance. The nurse in question, attempted three times.

On further review, the “community” standards, which was the measure used for this case, allowed four insertion attempts. By this standard of care, the nurse was within reasonable limits by trying three times.

Expert Testimony addressed the issue of “causation” of the patient’s “Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.”

In statements made, no direct causative link could be established between the starting of an intravenous catheter, and a diagnosis of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

At best, the plaintiff’s expert stated that it was a slim possibility, that a link could be made. The physician offered no support to the claim that the plaintiff’s alleged injuries were caused by the catheter insertion.

The appeals court affirmed the judgment of the lower court.

It should be noted that Intravenous Therapy, while a basic part of nursing practice, is extremely prone to complications and resulting malpractice & negligence actions.

Related clinincal Nursing (Malpractice) Case Studies:

August 8, 1999: Pregnant Prison Inmate Complains of Miscarriage, Corrections Nurse On Duty Ignores Symptoms?
Ferris v. County of Kennebec, 44 5. Supp.2d 62 –ME (1999)
Summary: Nursing assessment skills are one of our most valuable assets. They allow us to effectively evaluate our patients and communicate significant findings to physicians and other members of the healthcare team. In this case, a pregnant woman with a previous history of miscarriage complained of vaginal bleeding and abdominal discomfort. The assessment performed by the nurse fell negligently short of the required standard of care.
http://www.nursefriendly.com/nursing/clinical.cases/080899.htm

August 1, 1999: Nursing Duty To Patient, "Does Not Guarantee" Safety Or Quality Of Care.
Summary: When a nurse accepts report and responsibility for the care of a patient a duty to the patient is also accepted. This duty is to provide a reasonable standard of care as defined by the Nurse Practice Act of the individual state and the facility Policy & Procedures. In this case, a post-op abdominal aneurysm repair patient was injured after falling from his bed to the floor. When a lawsuit was filed the court initially mistook expert testimony to imply the role of the nurse includes a guarantee of safety.
Downey v. Mobile Infirmary Med. Ctr. - 662 So. 2d 1152 (1995).
http://www.nursefriendly.com/nursing/clinical.cases/080199.htm

July 11, 1999: Nursing Home Rehabilitation Stay Proves Terminal. Was Quality of Care Given An Issue?
Nursing homes are frequently a patient's destination for rehabilitation following surgery.  Common conditions fitting this bill include large bone fractures, hip replacements and stroke. Following these acute episodes, the patients are too unstable to go home and not "sick" enough to have their hospital stays reimbursed by insurance companies.  The purpose of admission to a nursing home is to help the patient regain lost function, strength and health.  In this case, the patient would remain in the Nursing Home till her death of complications.
Lloyd v. County of Du Page, 707 NE.2d 1252 - IL (1999)
http://www.nursefriendly.com/nursing/clinical.cases/071199.htm

June 6, 1999: Emergency Department Nurse Verbally Abused, Physician History Well Documented
Official tolerance for verbal abuse and sexual harassment is approaching zero.  It is clear that both are still prevalent in healthcare settings today.  Enforcing and reporting instances of abuse are critical to an end being put to the situation.  In this case, a physician had a "history" of verbal abuse in the facility involved.  It was the documentation of previous events that made formal action and administration of a suspension feasible.
Gordon v. Lewiston Hospital, 714 A.2d 539 – PA (1998)
http://www.nursefriendly.com/nursing/clinical.cases/060699.htm

Resource Link Sections:

Clinical Charting and Documentation, Nurses Notes:
http://www.nursefriendly.com/nursing/directpatientcare/clinical.documentation.nurses.notes.htm

Courtroom Directory (National):
http://www.legalnursingconsultant.org/legal.nurse.consultants.lnc/courtrooms.online.htm

Direct Patient Care Links :
http://www.nursefriendly.com/nursing/linksections/directpatientcarelinks.htm

Emergency Department Nursing:
http://www.nursefriendly.com/emergency/

Intravenous Therapy: Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI), Conscious Sedation, Heparin Administration, Commercial Infusion Pumps, Home Infusion, IV Fluids, Intravenous Therapy Humor, Nursing Consultants, Nursing Societies, PICC Lines, Professional Associations, Starting An Intravenous IV Line, Venepuncture, Steroid Therapy
http://www.nursefriendly.com/intravenous/

Medical Legal Consulting Nurse Entrepreneurs:
http://www.nursefriendly.com/nursing/ymedlegal.htm

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSDS), Neurological Disorders, Chronic Pain:
http://www.nursefriendly.com/rsds/

References:

1. NLRR 8 (January 2000)

2. Satarawala, Rebecca . “Confronting the Legal perils of I.V. Therapy.” Nursing2000 August 2000. Retrieved January 23rd, 2002 from the World Wide Web: http://www.springnet.com/ce/p008b.htm

3. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Public Domain. NINDS Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Information Page. Retrieved January 23rd from the World Wide Web: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/reflex_sympathetic_dystrophy/reflex_sympathetic_dystrophy.htm

 

 

 

 

The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or Internet Street Address of this page is
http://www.nursefriendly.com/nursing/clinical.cases/020129.htm

 

Send comments and mail to Andrew Lopez, RN

Last updated by Andrew Lopez, RN on Wednesday, December 28, 2011


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Nurse with TV show shares her stories – (Karon White Gibson, #RN) #nursefriendly #nursingentrepreneurs #nurseup

NurseFriendly posted an update right now

Nurse with TV show shares her stories – (Karon White Gibson, #RN) #nursefriendly #nursingentrepreneurs #nurseup:”From ailing celebrities and injured emergency room gang-bangers to children tossing their cookies after turbulent amusement park rides, Karon White Gibson has “pretty much seen it all” as a nurse, she says.
Since the late 1960s the native Chicago southsider now living in Carillon with husband, Ralph, has worked at Chicago hospitals, the Old Chicago amusement park in Bolingbrook, and now hosts a cable television show titled “Outspoken With Karon” that is viewed in several suburbs.
She also is the author of “Nurses on Our Own”, a nonfiction novel detailing many of the incidents that have shaped her life.

http://nursefriendly.posterous.com/nurse-with-tv-show-shares-her-stories-karon-w

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For more information on Nursing & Patient Advocacy, Entrepreneurship: http://www.nurseup.com/

Kindly sign our petitions:

Petition: Amanda Trujillo, RN & Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona: Position Statements Requested

http://www.change.org/​petitions/​nurseup-com-issue-position-stat​ements-on-the-amanda-trujillo-​rn

Petition: Arizona State Board of Nursing: Remove Amanda Trujillo’s nursing license from ”under investigation” status | Change.org

http://www.change.org/ ​petitions/​arizona-state-board-of-nursing-​ remove-amanda-trujillo-s-nursi​ng-license-from-under-investig​ ation-status

Contribute to Amanda’s Legal Defense Fund:

http://apps.facebook.com/fundrazr/activity/99fa97b4502c40939c18ae0da407793c?type=endorsement

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nurseup.com, A Nursing Advocacy Organization
38 Tattersall Drive
West Deptford, New Jersey 08051
856-415-9617, Fax: 856-415-9618, info@nursefriendly.com, @nursefriendly

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Nurse fired for being a patient advocate, Amanda Trujillo – @avoidmederrors @PatIyer #nurseup #AmandaTrujillo #nursefriendly

NurseFriendly posted an update right now

Nurse fired for being a patient advocate, Amanda Trujillo – @avoidmederrors @PatIyer #nurseup #AmandaTrujillo #nursefriendly:”The story of Amanda Trujillo is a horrifying one. Briefly, she is a single mom who fought to get off welfare and fulfilled her dream of becoming a nurse. Not only did she become a nurse, she earned a masters and doctorate degree in nursing. One night while working at Banner Health in Arizona, she took care of a patient who was being asked to undergo a liver transplant. In talking to the patient, Amanda learned that the patient did not fully understand what was going to occur. Amanda educated the patient. She explained the option of hospice instead. The patient decided against the transplant. Then the physician came in, had a well- witnessed tantrum at the hospital when he found out his patient had decided against surgery, and Amanda was fired by the hospital. Her case came up for review by the Arizona Board of Nursing. The summary of her case written by the attorney representing her is below. Amanda has been devastated in terms of her career and her finances. She is back on welfare, her dream of being a nurse shattered.”

http://nursefriendly.posterous.com/amanda-trujillo-rn-fired-for-being-a-patient

******************************​************************

For more information on Nursing & Patient Advocacy, Entrepreneurship: http://www.nurseup.com/

Kindly sign our petitions:

Petition: Amanda Trujillo, RN & Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona: Position Statements Requested

http://www.change.org/​petitions/​nurseup-com-issue-position-stat​ements-on-the-amanda-trujillo-​rn

Petition: Arizona State Board of Nursing: Remove Amanda Trujillo’s nursing license from ”under investigation” status | Change.org

http://www.change.org/ ​petitions/​arizona-state-board-of-nursing-​ remove-amanda-trujillo-s-nursi​ng-license-from-under-investig​ ation-status

Contribute to Amanda’s Legal Defense Fund:

http://apps.facebook.com/fundrazr/activity/99fa97b4502c40939c18ae0da407793c?type=endorsement

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nurseup.com, A Nursing Advocacy Organization
38 Tattersall Drive
West Deptford, New Jersey 08051
856-415-9617, Fax: 856-415-9618, info@nursefriendly.com, @nursefriendly

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/​groups/nurseup/ (Most Active)

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Nursing Pins @nursingpins: Arizona BON Keeps Trujillo Under Fire | Notes from the Nurses’ Station

NurseFriendly posted an update right now

Nursing Pins @nursingpins: Arizona BON Keeps Trujillo Under Fire | Notes from the Nurses’ Station

https://www.facebook.com/nursingpins/posts/392438364101090

******************************​************************

For more information on Nursing & Patient Advocacy, Entrepreneurship: http://www.nurseup.com/

Kindly sign our petitions:

Petition: Amanda Trujillo, RN & Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona: Position Statements Requested

http://www.change.org/​petitions/​nurseup-com-issue-position-stat​ements-on-the-amanda-trujillo-​rn

Petition: Arizona State Board of Nursing: Remove Amanda Trujillo’s nursing license from ”under investigation” status | Change.org

http://www.change.org/ ​petitions/​arizona-state-board-of-nursing-​ remove-amanda-trujillo-s-nursi​ng-license-from-under-investig​ ation-status

Contribute to Amanda’s Legal Defense Fund:

http://apps.facebook.com/fundrazr/activity/99fa97b4502c40939c18ae0da407793c?type=endorsement

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nurseup.com, A Nursing Advocacy Organization
38 Tattersall Drive
West Deptford, New Jersey 08051
856-415-9617, Fax: 856-415-9618, info@nursefriendly.com, @nursefriendly

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/​groups/nurseup/ (Most Active)

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/​groups/​Nurseupcom-Nursing-Healthcare-A​dvocacy-4366517

Twitter: http://www.symplur.com/​healthcare-hashtags/nurseup/