NursingLink

I think that her DON must have suffered a head injury. This man was admitted for trying to kill his wife. Excuse me, but I would not have put this patient in my car period. I would have gone back to the facility and informed security, end of story. This DON unfortunately is setting the stage for employees to simply drive on by. If I were this nurse I would be looking for an attorney and another job!

And maybe this will be a small reason why there is such a shortage of great nurses! Shame on the DON, good thinking Ms. Diasparra. Scene safe is 1st priority! Wake up America we are losing what is value.

She cannot be disciplined off duty. Now that IS the law!!

(1) One Sunday morning several years ago I was having breakfast at a fast food restaurant several blocks from a hospital where I was a psych nurse manager (off duty.) Through the window I noted one of our patients drinking a quart or two of beer while sitting behind a gas station. I used the pay phone at the restaurant to speak with one of the unit's nurses, who restricted the patient to the unit when he returned on his own. There was no consideration of sending security after him (they do not go off campus; this patient was a voluntary patient.) I didn't hear a single thing about the actions taken by me or the staff nurse. It was a matter of "case closed" and our decisions were respected if and when the administration reviewed them.
(2) I can't imagine circumstances in which any staff member would be __compelled__ to transport a patient in his/her personal vehicle, especially under the circumstances described (dangerous, agitated patient, RN off duty and away from facility, no immediate security back up.)
(3) The administrator's behavior is one cause (among many) of the nursing shortage.
(4) If you want to retain PROFESSIONALS, you have to treat them PROFESSIONALLY.

That's rediculous, She acted as a better person than most. The average person would have ignored it, or called the cops when they got home. Even with the Security Guard, she was putting herself in danger. I don't know about you but that shows a great essence of character, which in turn makes her a great nurse

you were 1000000000% right on!!!!!! You protected yourself and the patient. Your supervisors need to have disciplinary action taken against them for rediculous judgement. How long have they been behind that desk? Time for them to get some serious time in on the front line. Continue to practice using your good judgement regardless of the upper idiots. I'm sure your family is grateful you are safe...unlike your employers, They don't even deserve you. You can work anywhere, I'd tell them to go to..............the ungrateful*&%^$#@!#%%

I have noticed a lot of deficiencies in nursing supervisors over the years. They make strange decisions and inappropriat disciplinary actions. However, I have also run acrossed a few great supervisors! I think there should be standardized training for supervisors and directors. Some of them got their positions just by their number of years as a nurse or because they have an advanced nursing degree. There should be training in handling "incidents", pt and family complaints, respectful disciplining of their nurses and other employees. I have been treated very disrespectfully on occasions when the superviisor's choice of priority is different from mine. Since we can't control how many things "need to be done" all at once, this is an increasing problem because of the increased number of patients nurses are expected to handle and the decrease in availability of patient care help-like PCTs, transport, pharmacy staff, etc.... The hospitals and other pt care facilities are budgeting themselves and us into impossible situations and then second guessing nurse's decisions. I think I could go on and on!

And people wonder why there aren't more Good Samaritans, why more people don't go above and beyond their duties. I wonder. I agree, she should have been awarded a medal , not punished. That is what is wrong with alot of employers today, and may likely relate to the nursing shortage. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.