Am I responsible for a patient when I am off the unit on break and have coverage from another nurse?
Thursday June 25, 2009
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Dear Donna,
Is the nurse who is assigned to a patient responsible for the observation/care of that patient when he or she is off the unit (such as for lunch or dinner) and is being covered by another nurse? Is there any legal responsibility?
Valerie
Donna replies:
Dear Valerie,
I am not an attorney, but generally speaking, of course you can't be responsible for what happens when you are on a scheduled break and have coverage. But there could be mitigating circumstances if there was something you did before you left that caused harm while you were off the floor. It is really impossible to address this situation without knowing all of the details. I would recommend seeking the advice of a nurse attorney on this matter. Please post your question to Nursing Spectrum’s Nancy Brent, who has a regular column called Brent's Law. Questions can be posted online at
www.nurse.com/asktheexperts/brentslaw.
Best Wishes,
Donna
Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, well-known career guru, is Nursing Spectrum/NurseWeek’s “Dear Donna” and author of “Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional” and “The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses: Practical Advice for Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career.” Information about the books is available at www.Nurse.com/CE/7010 and www.Nurse.com/CE/7250, respectively. To ask Donna your question, go to www.Nurse.com/asktheexperts/deardonna. Find a “Dear Donna” seminar near you: Call 800-866-0919 or visit http://events.nursingspectrum.com/Seminar.
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