NO ROOM FOR “HE SAID/SHE SAID” IN NURSING PART 2
I often receive calls about communications or actions which are taken out of context usually leaving the nurse in trouble because there is no way for her to defend herself. It’s a “he said/she said” situation.
Employers are likely going to believe the patients and not the nurse. Unfortunately, the same can be essentially true with the Board which can entertain hearsay, but it just can’t form the basis of their opinion.
In the hustle of your 12-hour shift, the handoffs, the Code Blues, and constant interruptions, it’s easy for communication to get muddled or people to take things out of context. That’s when the dangerous “he said/she said” scenarios creep in. Especially if you are the only person in the room with the patient or doing home care.
These moments can have real consequences, not just for our licenses, but for our patients. Anybody can report a matter to the Board which then has an obligation to investigate it. In fact, videos are the worst because sometimes they don’t have audio and, depending on the angle, things can look worse than they really are and can be taken out of context.
I suggest acting as if it is a video that’s recording 24/7. Anything that you don’t want to be seen or heard on video, do not do!
If you have a situation that you believe could be taken out of context, make sure you chart it. Charting who said what is your best defense because the they were charted at the time.
Were you concerned about the patient and called the physician? Chart it! Was
there a change in condition and you alerted the charge nurse? Chart it? Did the patient or their family refuse treatment? Chart it!
Be specific. Be objective. Avoid emotional language or assumptions. Just the facts. The clinical, thoughtful, caring actions you took.
If you have any concerns about a patient or a family member saying something that may get lost in translation, make sure that you go to the room with another nurse or witness with you.
You became a nurse because you care. Because you show up with compassion, even on the hardest days. But caring doesn’t mean staying quiet. It does not mean trusting that you will remember what you said because things can be taken out of context. Be sure anything that could possibly be used against you is documented in the record. Don’t be afraid to write your part of the story.
If you are terminated over one of these situations, be sure to put your version on the termination papers so that there is a record, and the Board can see it if further investigation is required.
