I'm back after a long time!

[gentlegiver]

Hello Everyone,

I have been gone from this site for the better part of 2 years. During this time I have been fighting for my licence, and in doing so questioning why I ever became a Nurse. I was accused of the 3 most terrible things a nurse could be accused of, 1. abuse, 2. neglect, and 3. falcification of documentation. I am please to say the BON found me innocent on all charges using the "evidence" that the company sent to hang me with (and I have the letter to prove it!!). How these charges happened?? A brand spanking new DON decided she didn't like me, so from her 1st day on the job she was after me. What made her angry with me?? Her very 1st order was for "All Nursing Staff" to leave thier floors for a meet & greet with her. I refused to leave my unit, I had too many patients who were high fall risks and elopement risks. So my fate was set, by doing what I thought was right for my patients I ran afoul of a person attempting to "prove" her power. It took her 6 months and 4 Nurses looking over everything I did on a daily basis to gather what she felt was evidence to remove my licence from me. I suffered financial ruin, loss of reputation, stress related illness, and self doubt.

What have I learned from all this?? Many things, most not so good.

1. Don't trust anyone! even your "friends" at work will turn on you to impress the new boss & keep thier jobs.

2. If you are good at what you do, you probably have a big target on your back, so try to do things behind the scenes and don't let others know how good you are.

3. Do your job to the best of your abilities, protect your patients, and duck when the muck starts to fly.

4. Don't do extra work, even if it would make your job easier.

5. There are good Nurses who work together as a team (thier just hard to find around here)

Was (am) I perfect?? No, I am human, I make mistakes like everyone else. But I will and do own up to any mistakes I make and learn from them. Do I run to the bosses when I find another Nurses mistake?? Not unless it is a danger to the patient. If it's not dangerous, I let the Nurse know what I found and give her the chance to correct the mistake or at least own up to it on her own.

Am I a better Nurse because of what I went thru?? I really question that, part of me says yes and part says no. I am more aware of what I do that can be used against me, and therefore am more careful in what I do. At the same time it makes me question every move I make.

Am I going to stay in Nursing?? Jury's still out on that. I love my patients, I try my best to help them physically, mentally and emotionally. I worry what type of Nurse will take care of them if I leave. But, I'm not sure how long I can continue working while watching my back and waitting for the next person to come along who decides I'm a threat to them.

Am I bitter?? YES!!, but I try very hard not to let it show to my patients or co-workers. Not an easy task I assure you.

I was very lucky, I found a ADON who had worked for the same place & with the New DON (before she became the DON) and knew what she was like. The ADON chose to ignore the charges against me & give me a position in her staff. The Nurse's I work with had no idea what I was going thru, but, felt something was going on. They have been very understanding, giving me support without knowing why it was needed. Because of them, I am able to work on the stress/mental problems this mess left me with. In time I may heal, but I will never be the Nurse I feel I was meant to be.

It is so easy to destroy a Nurse's confidence in herself. And sometimes so difficult to help build it. I ask each and everyone of you to PLEASE!!! think twice before you go after another Nurse. Ask yourself what your reasons for the attack are. If they are fear based, try to understand your fear, deal with it. If you attack to impress your boss, leave Nursing, your not in it for the right reasons. If however, the Nurse is actually a "bad" nurse, follow procedures to help her learn to be better, or at least make her aware of her actions.

Wish me luck on my road to recovery! Pray that I will continue to make the best decisions for my patients.

[realnursealso/LPN, LPN]

In these United States of America..how does this **** happen???????????

I have seen some of the posts on this board, I have no problem seeing this happen with everyone's "ME", attitude. Just the other day, I saw part of a response from another poster, and it said," watch out for your job, there are plenty of us waiting to grab it from you" It's the attitude today, I need to step on the gas, can't have your car first. Oh my goodness, I bet they are jealous that I have the best children in the world, as this little brat screams and runs in the resturant at the next table. Today it is all about ME ME ME, what I want, what I can get. Oh goodness I know I am a nurse, but I need all the holidays and weekends off, don't they know I HAVE KIDS? Or how about a poster asking which part of nursing has the least POOP? Because THEY just can't stand it. I am an old hippie, time for a little kindness and caring in this world, instead of "WHAT WILL THIS DO FOR ME?" attitude.

Sorry for all that you have been through. Glad you made it through. Hugs to you for your continued sucess of late. So happy you met someone who cared enough about their fellow man, to help you. Hugs!

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

:spnngwlcm: BACK!!!

Thank you so much for returning and posting. I had similar things happen to me. Nurses looking for stuff and writing lists for the manager to wright up. Does happen, entails loss of job. Not nice. I have forgiven the meanies; I must move on! No one reported me to the BON, thank goodness. Sorry to hear of your maltreatment by others. We need to support one another not beat each other up!

I'm sure you regret not going to the meet and greet meeting with your DON. I mean, if you had started out pandering to the power monger, perhaps you wouldn't have had to suffer pain and trauma. Perhaps you could have requested assistance on the floor by an aide or RN to cover your patients while you attended the meeting. I know, catch 22 is always terrible to contemplate.

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

I'm sure you regret not going to the meet and greet meeting with your DON. I mean, if you had started out pandering to the power monger, perhaps you wouldn't have had to suffer pain and trauma. Perhaps you could have requested assistance on the floor by an aide or RN to cover your patients while you attended the meeting. I know, catch 22 is always terrible to contemplate.

The problem was that ALL the rest of the staff, CNA's and Nurses did leave thier units to go. I was the one who stayed. I don't regret not going, I did what was best for my patients. I believe I made the best decision by staying, perhaps not for me, but for the 48 patients in my unit who would have been left alone for the 30 minutes the meeting lasted. And being the stubborn person I am, I would do it again. I have the trust of the families that I will do my best for thier ill family member. It is a trust I hold sacred. I felt that by leaving my unit unattended I was abandoning my patients. What could have happened during that time I would have seen as my fault. I know, I can't do everything, but what I can do I do to the best of my abilities.