Inside the courthouse, Vaught came face to face with the loved ones of her victim: 75-year-old Charlene Murphey, who died in late December 2017 at Vanderbilt. Nothing thats harmed a patient, of course, but I have mismatched records and stuff like that. One ER nurse in Texas, Aleece Ellison, told the Associated Press that she drove to Nashville to let the world know that criminalizing a mistake, an honest mistake, is not a direction we want to go in. She said Vaughts sentence could impact whether she stays in the field. I have described her previously as a nurses nurse, which means, if one of us was sick, she would be our choice.. It seemed like a natural choice when Kim decided to pursue a nursing degree at Pacific Lutheran University in Seattle. And if youre bad at math, get a tutor or take a course on the sort of math you need as an RN, including improving your skills in estimation---so even if you calculate wrong, youll know you made an error before administering the medication to a patient. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group. Never got fired for making a mistake although my boss was quite upset . One of your peers commented that they would hate to see you get hurt by giving so much of yourself to families.. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. But, according to the Tennessean, Murphey needed a final scan in the radiology department first. You are such a wonderful advocate for your patients and families, Kims supervisor, Cathie Rea, wrote in Kims 2009 annual performance review. RaDonda Vaught, 37, is facing a reckless homicide charge following 75-year-old Charlene Murphey's death in December 2017. I am simply sick about it.. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Court TV) The second day of testimony is underway for RaDonda Vaught, a former Vanderbilt University Medical Center nurse on trial for the death of a patient in her care. But in her 2010 review, Rea raised the possibility that Kim might care too much. (Vaughts lawyer pointed out the former nurse did express remorse publicly, but Chandra clarified not directly to her family. Id be super pissed if I were them. She told NPR in an emailed statement from her lawyer that Vanderbilt terminated her employment after the incident. Nurses should immediately report exposures to a supervisor. 2023 Registered Nursing.org All Rights Reserved | About | Privacy | Terms | Contact Us. And many in the patient safety community say they don't understand what prompted the DA's office to prosecute this case in particular. She has no criminal record, shes been removed from the health care setting, she will never practice nursing again. The American Nurses Association issued a statement criticizing the charges, saying that "the criminalization of medical errors could have a chilling effect" on health care workers' willingness to report errors. This is something that should never happen, not even for a seasoned nurse. Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. Here's why. A former nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., was arrested and charged with reckless homicide and abuse in February for making a medical mistake that resulted in an elderly patient's death. Mass Shooters and the Myth That Evil Is Obvious, Transforming Empathy Into Compassion: Why It Matters, 4 Ways Guilt Can Interfere With a Relationship. Although doctors were able to revive Richard Smith, he was brain dead. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. When I met Sydney in 2015, she told me that seeing her moms workhow much she loved it, how she helped peopleinspired her to consider a career in health care. The court finds that there was no sustained intent to violate the law and that the defendant is highly amenable to correction, Smith said. Did the dog survive? Knowing what you value will help you build the most meaningful life possible. She was questioning her self-worth.. She was acquitted of reckless homicide. When he did, he says, the doctor told him, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this but the nurse administered the wrong medication and sent your dad into respiratory arrest.". Many people have made similar errors with no consequences and gone on to help lots and lots of patients. Kim, you do a great job at the bedside with your patients and families, wrote Rea, who ran Seattle Childrens Hospitals intensive care units. Vaught faced up to eight years behind bars. In each installment of this daily series, I respond to a composite letter that asks for my career advice. Its easy to write off the anguish of these health-care providers as insignificant next to that of the patients and families theyve hurt. 1. Vaught was ordered to collect the Versed from a computerized medication cabinet but grabbed vecuronium instead, leading to Murphey becoming brain dead. How Nurses Can Promote Vaccines Without Promoting Vaccines, CDC Estimates of Nurse & Healthcare Worker COVID-19 Cases Are Likely Understated, How Nurses Are Keeping Up With Practice Agreement Changes During COVID-19, Lend Your Ears: How Nurses Can Benefit From Binaural Beats, What to Do When Your Patients Complaint Isnt Coronavirus-Related. His 8th book, just published, is The Best of Marty Nemko. Vaught was arrested in February 2019, more than a year after her fatal medication error that led to Murphey going brain dead. But on Friday, after an hours-long hearing, Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Smith ruled that Vaught qualified for judicial diversion. Applying the Bare-Minimum Monday Philosophy to Relationships, Mass Shooters and the Myth That Evil Is Obvious, Transforming Empathy Into Compassion: Why It Matters, 4 Ways Guilt Can Interfere With a Relationship. But Vaught's case has the potential to change that, she fears. A nursing advocacy group, meanwhile, fears the shocking verdict puts the future of the profession at risk. I hope that they are also just as relieved to be moving away from this process that has been held up in the legal system for four and a half years.. Didnt get to give her a hug or a kiss. But deep down were sure she is sorry. Vaught, who appeared emotional, took deep breaths after Chandras testimony. Some researchers estimate they're the third leading cause of death in the United States. Sustaining a needlestick injury or other type of exposure is scary. Latest posts by Amanda Bucceri Androus, RN, BSN. Daughter-in-law Chandra Murphey, who is married to Michael, testified that her family hasnt had peace or closure for four years and the situation has just been sickening to us. Chandra said, We did so much together as a family, and it just ended, in a split second for us., Speaking on behalf of my father in law he cries every day. This student's only saving grace was seeing how it bubbled in the subcutaneous fat, realizing "Huh, that's not right," and telling someone. Insurance companies use nurses to approve requests for care. EmmaG, RN. I calculated the wrong dose and he died. For example, HR departments use nurses to recruit other nurses. Medics see it. It was the first such hotline in the country, possibly in the world. Why Are So Many Young Men Single And Sexless? The patient died five days after the error. A hospital janitor accidentally causes several deaths by unplugging patients' life-support systems. This ruling will have a long-lasting negative impact on the profession.. Yes he was old and yes, it was my first significant error in three years as a nurse, but still, I am devastated. What do you say when you almost killed a patient?. Of course, you might want to slow down so you can be extra careful. (Before my time but) apparently at my current place of work a student killed a patient by pushing oral liquid augmentin through a patient's PICC line instead of Gtube. Earlier that morning, hundreds of nurses gathered in downtown Nashville, wearing purple T-shirts with the hashtag #IAmRaDonda to support Vaught in face of a broken medical system. A total of 114 residents returned the survey and admitted they had made at least one significant mistake. Thats all anyone can do. The CMS report emphasizes the hospital's responsibility in the mistake. ", Yaffa, who said he's handled hundreds of hospital death cases in his 22 years as a lawyer, added, "The hospital just seems to be thumbing their nose to this family.". Radiology technicians see it.. Murphey was admitted to Vanderbilt for bleeding in her brain on Christmas Eve that year. Some of them had caused deaths, Dr. Wu says. Uvo Ologboride, the nurse named in the lawsuit, had given Smith pancuronium. Your school's malpractice insurance would cover you. First med error in 25 [years] of working here. I was at work when all this took place, and I didnt get to say bye to my mom. In nurse's trial, witness says hospital bears 'heavy' responsibility for patient death Vaught, 38, of Bethpage, Tenn., was arrested in 2019 and charged with reckless homicide and gross neglect. Im an outcomes researcher, so it breaks my heart that we dont have good data, Dr. Wu says. How Do Nurses Protect Themselves from Highly Infectious Patients? Copyright The Student Room 2023 all rights reserved. Kim wrote the state investigators a lengthy statement about why she hoped to keep her credentials. Rather, creating a place where health-care providers are not just allowed but also encouraged to discuss their mistakes is a huge mental leap for a system that routinely demands secrecy. Her remorse during the case was of the attitude, in my opinion as an investigator, that she felt by telling the truth it would all go away, and that she should be rewarded for being honest., And I appreciate honesty. Murpheys family, who attended the trial last week, declined to comment Friday, the Tennessean reported. Their ghosts creep into exam rooms, and seeing new. I am just relieved that this portion of the process is over, Vaught told reporters Friday. On the other hand, 13 percent said they became more secretive about their errors. Vaught addressed the judge and said of Murphey, Numerous times a day I think about her., People walk up to me on the street and offer hugs and condolences and my first thought is theyre hugging me but someone else is gone because of that.. Im a registered nurse and I killed a patient by accident. That's 200 units when the patient was supposed to get two! Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [They] view themselves as being victimized by the health-care system. The hospital did, however, issue a statement to WPLG, saying: "Our hearts go out to the Smith family for their loss. Kim was terrified. After the verdict, the American Nurses Association and Tennessee Nurses Association issued a statement that read, We are deeply distressed by this verdict and the harmful ramifications of criminalizing the honest reporting of mistakes., The nursing profession is already extremely short-staffed, strained and facing immense pressurean unfortunate multi-year trend that was further exacerbated by the effects of the pandemic, the statement added. She used to write poetry about her patients, Crum says. RaDonda Vaught appears at a court hearing with her attorney, Peter Strianse, in February. Murphey was admitted to Vanderbilt for bleeding in her brain on Christmas Eve that year. Then, during a meeting, someone mentioned Kims story. What happens if a doctor date a patient? Her prosecution sparked outrage and protests from nurses across the country and inspired a petition signed by more than 200,000 people demanding a judge grant her clemency. The next day, July 30, 2010, he complained of an upset stomach, so the doctor prescribed the antacid. No need to use antiseptics or disinfectants. A former Texas nurse was sentenced to death this week for injecting air into the arteries of four patients recovering from heart surgery, causing fatal brain damage, a court official said. During that time, Kim hanged herself in the basement. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. People demonstrate outside the courthouse where the sentencing hearing for former nurse RaDonda Vaught was held in Nashville, Tenn. The family is seeking compensation for funeral expenses, medical expenses, and damages resulting from mental pain and suffering. A new line of research that Dr. Wu began found that many health-care providers experience emotional trauma in the wake of a serious medical error. The report details how Vaught mistakenly took the wrong medicine out of a dispensing cabinet. Stephanie Amador/The Tennessean via AP, Pool Prosecutors said the. Of course, this is something that should never happen but in the unlikely scenario that it did, I am curious as to know what the following procedures would entail. They would go through the hospital's procedures of when an accidental death happens. When did that happen?'". By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. She faces three to six years in prison for the gross neglect conviction and one to two years for criminally negligent homicide. Medicine ran in Kims family, but her daughter Sydney isnt sure if that tradition will continue. But as such my hospital does not allow students to touch IV meds without an RN present. Seattle Childrens Hospital says it made policy changes in the wake of Kims death. Likewise, sexual or romantic relationships between a physician and a former patient may be unduly influenced by the previous physician-patient relationship. Nov. 21, 2011— -- The family of a 79-year-old dialysis patient is suing a Florida nurse who accidentally gave him a deadly dose of a drug that induces paralysis, instead of an antacid. It hurts us to see him hurt so bad, and he has stated that he wanted her to have the max, Chandra said. I am starting clinical in the summer and had a morbid curiosity. He moved the family from West Virginia to Seattle for his residency at the University of Washington when Kim was a few months old. The hotline had no relationship with the hospitals legal department, and it didnt require callers to provide their names or any other identifying information, in order to make them more comfortable speaking openly. During Fridays hearing, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent Ramona Smith, who interviewed Vaught after Murpheys death, testified that the nurse didnt seem remorseful about what happened. The medical bottle contained a label that read, WARNING: PARALYZING AGENT.. It killed him. She labeled the patients name band and syringe with the time and size of the dosage. Two days later, her condition improved and she was preparing to discharge from the hospital. Some are even embarrassed, or are too frightened to face the possibility of contracting a disease or too much in shock to report. Get adequately skilled, then do your best, and when you make a mistake, learn from it, forgive yourself, and keep trying to be the best you can be. Even the medication override function that Vaught used, Manges says, can have an important function: Nurses need to be able to quickly access medications in an emergency situation when they can't wait for verification from a pharmacist. Marc Smith came by to visit that morning, and found his dad "unconscious, unresponsive and on a respirator. In addition, the hospital has since removed pancuronium from all nursing areas except for the operation room, where the medication will only be handled by anesthesiologists. Most high-profile cases tend to involve death, a significant injury or a patient well-known in the community, he says. Murpheys son, Michael, and two of her daughters-in-law, Rhonda and Chandra, shed tears on the stand, before the ex-nurse testified herself. The Nashville District Attorney's office told the Tennessean it made the decision to bring criminal charges against Vaught specifically because she administered the fatal medication after overriding the safety mechanism in the dispensing machine. There would be an investigation by the hospital. Nothing about it felt urgent; providers had made do without one for decades. Are Zoomies a Sign of a Happy Dog or a Crazy Dog? In higher doses, pancuronium is used to administer lethal injections. Im a registered nurse and I killed a patient by accident. The 75-year-old woman died a day after the injection left her brain-dead. Nurses may also benefit from counseling services. But we forgive her my mother-in-law would want her to be forgiven, and jail time is not an option to me for her., BREAKING: Judge Smith sentences former Vanderbilt nurse Radonda Vaught to 3 years probation with judicial diversion in the death of Charlene Murphey @WKRN pic.twitter.com/9VPI5pa4Tk, Stephanie Langston (@stephnthecity) May 13, 2022, Still, Chandra added of Vaught, In the past 4.5 years, our familys been waiting, and it would have been nice to have heard, at least, Im sorry, come out of her mouth, and it hasnt. You better buck up.. "That could have happened to me, or it could have happened to my friend," Manges says. Student Room and the Uni Guide are both part of the Student Room and the Guide! Several deaths by unplugging patients & # x27 ; life-support systems, Vaught told reporters Friday after! Understand what prompted the DA 's office to prosecute this case in particular approve for... Smith came by to visit that morning, and I didnt get to say bye to my.... 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