N.B. nurse was double assigned because of limited resources on night of ER death in Fredericton

Details about the death of a patient at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton last July show that, at the time of the death, the LPN assigned to the waiting area was also assigned to the department and “couldn’t commit to the regular checks.” During the quality process review, it was determined that the lack of consistent patient monitoring and the inability to meet standards in the ED waiting room decreases the likelihood for early recognition in a patient health decline. The province’s nurses’ union said the LPN shouldn’t also be assigned to the department and that 30-plus people is too much for one person to take care of alone. On the night the patient died, 17 people were admitted to the emergency department and 29 people were registered in the waiting area.
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