Falsifying Observations

 Scenario: You are working as a RN in one of the wards. You are observing one of your colleagues is entering observations which she has not taken or monitored. What will you do in this situation?

  • Recognises that their colleague has deliberately misrepresented the care given by falsifying vital observations.
  • Identifies the need for immediate action to assess all patients’ vital signs to ensure patient safety.
  • Documents events, actions and consequences in the patients’ records, and completes an incident report.
  • Acknowledges their professional duty to report their colleague’s dishonest behaviour to their manager, which may result in a notification to the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Failure to report concerns may bring their own fitness to practise into question and place their own registration at risk, reflecting the duty of candour.
  • Reports concerns to the manager at the earliest opportunity, verbally and in writing.
  • Recognises the need to be clear, honest and objective about the reasons for concern.
  • Recognises that the fundamental tenets of the nursing profession are truth and honesty, and that this behaviour does not promote the standards and values set out in ‘The Code’ of promoting professionalism and trust.