If a nurse in a nursing home is being investigated, does the hospital have to tell her why or what it’s about?

My mother works in a nursing home in North Carolina and recently a patient went “beserk” (her own words). He was kicking, fighting, screaming obsenities. Nurses on his hall called for help and my mother, on another hall, came to their aid. She helped to restrain the man (abiding all hospital procedures). Later that night, the same thing occurred. They placed him in a Geri-Chair and set him out in the hallway. Another nurse attempted to put the patient back into his room, but my mother told the nurse to leave him in the hall. (His episodes took place when he was unrestrained in his room.) A couple of days later, my mother got a call saying that she was under investigation, but they will not tell her why or what it’s about. Is this legal (on the part of the nursing home)? Can anyone provide any helpful websites/sources about this matter?

Unfortunately, because it is a private entity that is doing the investigating, this is legal and they do not have to provide you with information. Now, if this escalates to the state level, or the people who license nurses in your state get involved, then your mom will be afforded some due process protections. But as of yet, no adverse action has been taken against her – so there is really nothing that can be done.

Here are some helpful links:

http://www.healthcarelawnet.com/

http://www.nurseweek.com/goodquestion/label.html

http://allnurses.com/forums/archive/index.php/f-29.html

http://www.ksbn.org/legal/faq.htm

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