Nurse Curses at Injured Toddler
The Virginia Department of Health Professions disciplined a nurse who was accused of verbally harassing a patient. The patient in question was a non-verbal toddler.
The nurse defended her actions by claiming her words were “terms of endearment.” While every nurse has a right to defend against allegations of misconduct, the quality and strength of their defense matters.
The Professional License Defense Team at the LLF National Law Firm helps nurses who are facing disciplinary action. We assist our clients throughout the process with the goal of protecting their licenses and careers. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form.
A Brat with a Traumatic Brain Injury
In this disciplinary case, the patient in question was in treatment following a traumatic brain injury. While working with the two-year-old patient, the nurse allegedly:
- Called the toddler a brat
- Cursed at the toddler
- Told the toddler that if the toddler continued to scream, they would give themselves another traumatic brain injury
The nurse admitted to saying these things. She justified her words by claiming they were terms of endearment.
In response, the Virginia Department of Health Professions reprimanded the nurse. She’ll have to complete three hours of a board-approved course about verbal abuse of patients.
Unprofessional Conduct
People often interact with nurses at some vulnerable points in their lives. Having patients trust nurses is key to both patient well-being and enabling nurses to do their jobs.
For parents, trusting nurses who interact with their children is especially important. This is why state nursing boards will discipline nurses for unprofessional conduct.
Unprofessional conduct covers a wide range of actions. It can include violating patient confidentiality, misuse of supplies, and sexual misconduct. There’s no one definition for unprofessional conduct, and states may leave the definition open-ended. The downside of this type of vague description is that nurses may have trouble knowing what may result in disciplinary action.
Most states view putting patients at risk or undercutting their trust in medical care as actionable misconduct. Nurses are more likely to face disciplinary action when they put patient care at risk.
Verbal abuse can be difficult to define. A nurse may be curt but still provide an adequate level of care. What one person considers a joke may insult someone else. Miscommunication or misunderstandings can inadvertently cause offense.
Verbal abuse should be placed in the larger context of events, which investigations may or may not consider. A complaint of verbal abuse shouldn’t be treated as the truth, and nurses need to provide evidence and their version of events.
Build a Strong Defense
Allegations aren’t facts. Being accused of verbal misconduct doesn’t mean a nurse engaged in unprofessional conduct. It may be necessary to put events into context. Evidence of a strong, fact-based defense is crucial during any disciplinary hearing or other action.
If you’re facing allegations of verbal abuse or unprofessional conduct, the Professional License Defense Team at the LLF National Law Firm can help you. We assist our clients with navigating the disciplinary process and minimizing damage to their careers. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form.