Healthcare Traveler - February 2009 - (Page 43)

Advice of Counsel RNs must oversee unlicensed grad’s work A recent graduate, who has passed her boards but doesn’t have a license yet, is working on our unit and has been assigned a full load of patients. An RN is designated to sign off on her charting. At first I refused, saying I had my own full load of patients and couldn’t reassess hers to determine if her charting was correct. My supervisor told me I was making too much of the issue. Is it risky to sign off on her charts without performing the reassessments? Until this graduate receives her license, she’s performing her nursing functions as responsibilities delegated by the RN in charge. If you’re designated to supervise her work, you must take the time to ensure that she’s performing as expected. At a minimum, this includes reviewing her documentation. You also should make time to observe her performance with a couple of patients to get a sense of her competence. Then you might be I N FO R M AT I O N TO H E L P R E D UCE YO U R R I SK more comfortable signing off on her notes without reassessing every patient. The risk lies in assuming a supervisory position and then not performing the duties associated with the role, particularly with an unlicensed new grad. Her actions or omissions would be attributable to you. From a risk management perspective, it’s to your advantage to take some time to assess competence. Karen H. Geller, RN, JD and notations about unusual occurrences concerning coworkers, physicians, and even some patients—for whom you must use initials to protect confidentiality. Don’t keep your CYA file at work and don’t put anything in it that you don’t want others to see. Most CYA files are discoverable—meaning they may be disclosed in court—so be sure to tell your attorney about the file whenever you’re involved in a legal matter. Taralynn Mackay, RN, JD The views and opinions expressed by RN’s consulting attorneys are for general educational purposes and are not intended to take the place of specific legal advice, for which readers need to consult a personal attorney. This department originally appeared in RN, a sister publication. For subscription information, call 800-284-8945 or visit www.rnweb.com. What to keep in a personal ﬁle What is a CYA file? Do I need to have one? In my practice, I define it as a “cover your assets” file—one that may protect your employment, license, and money. Such a file is where you’d keep documents and information that you need to remember, but that have no place in the medical records. Some examples are memos to management, letters of appreciation from patients and their family members, letters of recognition from management, Circle Career Card No. 612 Circle Career Card No. 623 February 2009 Healthcare Traveler www.healthcaretraveler.com 43 http://www.rnweb.com http://www.travelphp.com http://www.travelphp.com http://www.healthcaretraveler.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Traveler - February 2009

Healthcare Traveler - February 2009 Editor’s Desk Contents In a Flash Paws for Thought Field Notes Med Ec-cerpts The Economic Meltdown What Really is a “Tax Home”? Beach Therapy Drug Update Professional Update Advice of Counsel Cityscape Advertisers’ Index Name It Contest Rules On Assignment Tax Facts Dot.com Big Deals Allied Corner Going the Distance Classifieds Tales from the Road

Healthcare Traveler - February 2009

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