HEALTH FORUM

Hi all below is a copy of a letter I have sent to CSCI / RCN / NMC ... I
feel it is self explanatory...

Hello... I am a qualified nurse working in a care home with nursing.
Therefore we have both nursing and residential clients.

I am unsure where my responsibility ends with reference to residential
clients. The residential clients, I am informed are under the direct care of
the G.P.s and the district nursing service. Therefore they are the
responsible ones
However would I be responsible for in house care.. that is to say IF a
client ( residential ) fell and suffered a slight cut needing a simple
dressing. Say a gauze dressing, is it my responsibility to apply this ..or a
HCA NVQ level 3. ( Who has the appropriate training.)

To take this further ... if a HCA NVQ level 3 ..who is authorised to give
medications to residential clients. Seeks advice, from me,as to give a
medication to a client ( residential ) who is on Digoxin and the HCA feels
the clients pulse rate is close to the cut off of 60 BPM ( beats per
min. ) Can I refuse to give advice as a qualified nurse as I am not
responsible for the nursing care or am I accountable for the act of
refusal?

Can I give advice to HCAs with reference to nursing clients and will I be
held accountable for any mishaps that may ensue.... or If I refuse to give
advice ( but ask the HCA to refer the questions to the G.P or D/N ) will I
also be held accountable for not giving advice?

.... and FINALLY .. just where does the duty of care fit into all of this?

I HATE the whole system of nursing in the private sector now! ....... It is
money driven and a nightmare for the nurse!
I am seriously considering leaving nursing now...

Regards Graham

Pemrgn wrote in message
news:dj3jat$p0c$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk...

Graham

Dont leave we need nurses with ethics

Not nurses who have work permits but work in three places and will go from
one to the other go to sleep on nights, leave their post at one home to go
to another home to start a shift irrespective of whether the nurse on the
next shift has arrived
(this was on page 2 of the Derbyshire Times last week she was stuck off but
had already returned to South Africa (unfortunately cant find it on the web
edition))


I agree with you on what a ****** mess (add whatever expletive you want
folks) this is

I used to be a manager of a Residential home but was banned from doing any
care as I would be delivering Nursing care not residential care
I argued, my group manager argued, our owners argued -- we all hit a brick
wall called an inspector


I moved to our dual reg home but we still have the situation you outline but
add to your problem when you get an overworked Community Nurse wanting you
to undertake care of her patients because she has not got enough hours in
the day to do so

IF you think private care is money led then take a look at NVQ training in
the private sector
now thats another story but MONEY takes the front seat and learner led
assessment is dead and buried last year at least
most establishments NEED to produce a completed unit per month per student
to get paid so there is only one way to do it..................
I leave it to your imagination



--
Regards
Gray

Registered Nurse level 1&2
Speciality - Elderly Care

Personally Im a basket case
www.madcaravanner.co.uk

Pemrgn wrote ...

... And thats the model the NHS aspires to.

Hang in there as long as you can; I wish I could believe it will get better.
Sadly theres two chances of that - fat and slim.

Andrew

(Oh, and good luck with the missive!)
--
Andrew Heenan
http://www.realnurse.net/