Suspended from work for an investigation,can i resign and take another, will i look guilty

Nurses General Nursing

Published

OK so to keep it short but it isn't, I've been suspended from work due to a med error. Basically I was going to waste meds with my coworker who vouched for me but someone found the meds and turned them in, so I got suspended that day took a drug test the following and now it's been a whole week with no response from current job. I got a new job offer esp since at this point I'm probably fired and because I can't not work, so what should I do? I even called them and left two messages wondering if I can either come back to work and no response. Should I write and send a letter of resignation now so that I can work else where or does that make me look guilty? I'm so stressed mad and sad about everything. Never been in this mess before. Any advice?

I was recently falsely accused of nurse diversion because of computer screw ups. The computer system was glitchy every single day, multiple problems. I have been a nurse for 17 years and never had issues with wastage, never questioned. I have ALWAYS been diligent about wasting narcotics, never leave them lying around, diligent about charting. Started traveling and went a this one hospital where I was told for 10 weeks, "We have a huge nurse diversion problem here", I got pulled in to HR and accused of drug diversion. It was stated that I pulled drugs on patients when the narcotic was never ordered, however, when I scanned the med, it let me chart it. I was told that my wastage didn't match my charting. So many red flags with this hospital on their accusations. My defense was it was their computer system because if it wasn't ordered, it wouldn't have proceeded with the documentation, it would have told me that it wasn't on the patients profile, they accused me of overriding the system, which I didn't know how to do. I was the only one drug tested, which it was negative so now the board is accusing me of stealing narcotics to resale. So YOU ARE guilty in the eyes of the Board AND if you are lucky, you will get away with a fine. Why do you think they try SO HARD to find you guilty. MONEY!!!!! If I come out of this, still with my license....I have NO DESIRE to continue in patient care. I don't want to pull ANOTHER narcotic for anybody. I have poured my heart and soul into this career, missed many things for my kids while they were little. Missed many things with my family, mainly 17 years. I discourage ANYONE from going into nursing!

Get a lawyer and fight this. This is still America, where we are still, I believe, innocent until PROVEN guilty. Maybe you can also sue the accuser and the Board for treating you so savagely. Presumption is so very wrong, so destructive.

A famous jurist said something like "better for 10 guilty men to go free than for one innocent man to be convicted". Amen

But you have got to fight. Good luck.

How does the Board make money by finding people guilty?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I do have a lawyer and he let me know up from that fighting the BON is not a cake walk. Even being innocent. With the BON it is not up to them to find you guilty, it is up to you to prove you are innocent. You can not sue the accuser or the Board. The investigator goes into the investigation with the thought of you are guilty and that is what they are looking for. ANY minor slip in charting and you are guilty. The BON is a government entity and have you ever heard how it is to fight City Hall. Same. If I were a minority or could accuse them of discrimination then maybe, but I am not and have no special exceptions to me. You are correct Presumption is wrong and destructive. How many nurses on this website have you seen, when someone states they are having to possibly fight or are fighting an accusation of drug diversion, immediately presume you are guilty. Going through nursing is extremely difficulty to achieve and then your entire career you fight. You fight the eating of the young, you fight petty ******** and cliques, you fight back biting and back stabbing and you fight abusive patients and you fight bottom lines with administration. I am extremely tired of fighting my whole life. I am exhausted and now I am going through another frigging fight for what is right. I am fighting the board and I am begging EVERYONE that I know, EVERYONE to write a character letter for me. But even after all of that and if I get to keep my license.....I don't want to take care of another patient or pull another damn narcotic to risk all this **** again. DONE!!!

The Board makes money in finding people guilty, by fines. They usually are in the thousands. I have seen them under the rulings of the BON in TN, thousands of dollars.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The BON can't just revoke your license with out you knowing it. It is a HUGE and long drawn out process. You would know if the BON is investigating.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If there is too much hit in the kitchen.The best solution

is to get out immediately.Yes,get another job,learn from your mistakes.You now have rooms for improvements.Focus,focus,and focus.

Good luck .

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Most likely your present employer is not responding to you because they have contacted the State Board for an investigation. If you are investigated, you must tell all employment prospects (At The Interview) that you are being investigated. Most likely you will not be hired. If you lie about this situation, any past employer will be interviewed to see if this is a chronic issue of your Nursing career. This could cost you your license. You will receive a letter from your State Board what the allegations are and what you must do to satisfy the board. Your present employer may call and ask you to return for a meeting with the Director of Nursing. You may be offered the opportunity to resign or be fired. What you choose is up to you and how much vacation time, PTO, etc. you may have. Make a wise, unemotional choice, if you can. Find a non-nursing friend for support. One who will not agree with everything you have said and listen more than offer advice. Your hurt. Use your pain to motivate you to move through this tough time. Been there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you have been there, can you share your story? What was the situation, what was the outcome? I am there right now and the pain is crippling, not motivating. Yes I am heartbroken and angry at the same time. I am furious! But I want to hear other's stories.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sorry your really hurting. I'm in a different state, but our Board does not receive monies except for licenses. Renewals and such. You will recover. Try not to determine the rest of your life by this difficult situation. I've been there. Will pray for you to have peace.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My situation in a nut shell is, I was accused of giving a patient IV K+ through a peripheral site instead of a bag of solution. The problem was my patient went into V-Tack and almost coded. I was still in the room, called a code and hauled the crash cart into the room. The patients lines were tested and no K+. The bag already had K+ so that didn't show anything.The syringe I used was already in the sharps container. Family was at the bed side. They remember nothing about what I did. The patients labs came back with decreased K+. Do I remember? No. Such fear comes over you. You could have killed someone. Please see the rest of most of the story in another response to someone else. I know this hurts. You need, as tough as it may, write your version. Your memory will not retain it due to your pain. Praying for your peace

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am sorry, I don't see your response to someone else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If there is too much hit in the kitchen.

The best solution is to get out immediately.

Yes,get another job,learn from your mistakes.

You now have rooms for improvements.

Focus,focus,and focus.

Good luck.

Florence Nightingale "Do no harm to the sick".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in tele, med/surg, step down.

Be very careful about how you handle this. Perhaps you should consult with a lawyer. If your workplace goes to the board of nursing, they are going to do an audit of your employment history. Per BON you cannot lie on job applications regarding resignation and how you left jobs. It's not worth your license.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Medication error is very serious. If you have been suspended for a week you should resign before termination.And you should get another job STAT .I am hoping that you have not been reported to the BON.If you have been reported explain what happened.Be strong and confident do not guess.Write things down to remember what you said.

I am not sure if hiring a lawyer will be a good idea since some lawyers will quickly throw you under the bus.

Sometimes every disappointment might be a blessing in disguise. So be strong learn your lessons and reorient yourself for the best.

Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment