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> If a nurse injects the wrong medicine, they are gone. Um...I don't work in healthcare, but my union includes some, and they definitely try to protect members
by perl4ever 5y ago
> If a nurse injects the wrong medicine, they are gone.
Um...I don't work in healthcare, but my union includes some, and they definitely try to protect members who get in trouble irrespective of the circumstances.
There is a procedure for investigating someone who is accused of mistreating the vulnerable, that ends in putting people on a banned list, (if not prosecuted, etc) and the union has a guide to the minutiae of what someone under investigation is legally required to answer.
That's not the same as "injecting the wrong medicine", but wouldn't an honest mistake be considered less serious than neglect or abuse usually? I don't know, just guessing.
One thing that seems to be happening right now, is that nurses are being paid way less than market rates; there are ads for like $200+ per hour, but the regular employers don't match that.
I don't know if there is an analogy with police officers, but maybe they can do private security?
- V__ 5y agoThere is nothing wrong with a union standing by its members. But do nurses investigate themselves? The police does. Can you get banned from the police? They get rehired all the time in a different department. How many nurses get fired when testifying or speaking out against other nurses? Happens to cops all the time. Christopher Dorner himself as well as the manhunt should be enough evidence that something is seriously wrong. > but wouldn't an honest mistake be considered less serious than neglect or abuse usually? I'm sorry if I wasn't more clear but I'm not talking about honest mistakes but neglect and/or abuse. Of course mistakes can happen.
- profile53 5y agoAll of those happen regularly. Many nurses quit after a serious allegation and the hospital never reports it to the state board for PR and liability reasons. Then they move to a new hospital/assisted living facility/etc and do the same thing again. Just as well, I know multiple cases in my area where a hospital has tried to fire or destroy a nurse’s career over speaking out against a practice or staff member. I think you would be very surprised how much misconduct happens in the medical field without accountability (although, there is still more accountability than against police).
- V__ 5y agoThat is quite shocking to hear honestly. Thanks for the insight.
- perl4ever 5y agoSometimes I get downvoted for mentioning this on HN - but somewhere I read the facile seeming comment that the reason we underestimate the impact of medical errors is because there is no billing or procedure code for "oops, killed the patient". I briefly worked for a health insurer, and got the impression that everything revolves around the standard codes. And HEDIS and NCQA and stuff.