Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You say nothing and hope Mr. Smith will not suffer too much.
You think to yourself, "I can't report my friend. And besides, she
probably knows more about these medications than the doctor does." Thompson
continues to refuse to give the medication when she is on shift, and you often
hear Mr. Smith moaning and calling out for help.
You feel sad and guilty about this. After several months, another LPN reports
Thompson for not giving medication to another patient. People begin to wonder
whether you also knew what she was doing but didn't report her because
you were her friend.
Some of your co-workers accuse you of covering up. Your supervisor doesn't
seem to trust you as much as she once did. You wish you had had the courage
to do the right thing.
"You always must report it any time a nurse fails to follow
a doctor's instructions, especially if the patient is harmed," says Michael
Lemaire. Lemaire believes that dilemmas such as these happen to every LPN
from time to time.
Helen Larsen is a licensed practical nurse. She says licensed practical
nurses must be decisive. She says decision-making skills can mean the difference
between life and death in many instances.
"They are usually making the decision as to whether or not to call in someone
with more expertise," she says. "If you don't make the right decision
when you see a reaction, if you don't know [what] to watch for...somebody
can be in big trouble quickly without somebody knowing it."