I got people fired where I work, and now hate my job

Isn't it funny how when people do bad things at work, they make others feel guilty. I agree that it's unlikely these staff members were fired on your word alone. An investigation had to take place, and I'm sure the DON interviewed others after you reported the situation. The crazy thing is that the person doing the wrong wasn't losing any sleep or having any attacks of conscience at all, right?

I would probably have gone the anonymous hotline route, and/or pressed whoever told me the information (assuming they were direct witnesses) to report it themselves. It's always best to be done by an actual witness. But no matter what, when the rubber hits the road, you did what you felt like you had to do to protect the patient, and it took some guts. Yes, now you have to live with the consequences. But if you feel like you did the right thing, then just wait and let time heal. Some other drama will come along and turn the focus away from you, if it's even on you in the first place. (it's probably not, as much as you think it is).

I wouldn't talk to the DON, your coworkers, or anyone else at work about it. I'd just wait for it to be far in the past where it belongs. If anything like that ever happens again, take a look at other options, such as hotline. And what about the person who told it to you?!? Looks like she got off scott free. In the future, if a witness tells you something in confidence, remind them that they are obligated to do the right thing. Besides, when you reported this issue, surely your DON asked you who told you? I'd be disappointed in her if she didn't ask where you got your info and talk directly to that person. Anyway, it's in the past. Let it RIP. Hope you feel better soon. We all just do the best we can, and that's all we can do!!! Don't beat yourself up.

well personally I wouldn't go directly to the DON instead I would write a note explaining whats going on. No one likes a snitch (Just trying to be honest).

EDIT: 3boysmom3 explained it very well. =)

So, it was the participants in the abuse themselves who reported to you in an effort to throw each other under the bus? Guess that plan didn't work out too well for them

That wasn't really clear in the first post. Under the circumstances I don't see that you had any choice in the matter. You did the right thing. Hope you're starting to feel better about it.

You did the right thing. Part of being a nurse is standing by your decisions. You had a responsibility to report that and let the proper people do the investigation. of course the people who did the abuse don't want you to say anything. THey know they were wrong. Way to go for being your residents advocate.

You did the right thing to report the abuse since one of the people involved in the abuse admitted the incident to you and acknowledged they knew their actions were abuse, BUT, LTC facilities are full of gossip, so beware in the future. I do not think this episode is over. Good luck.

You needed to tell this could of cost you your job. Those nurses don't care about you all they care about is themselves. I know you want to be loyal but if that was your family member or spouse wouldn't you want a nurse to spill the beans on the abuser ?

My mother called me last night frantic because she didn't report something bad that another nurse did. It almost cost her, her job.

Ok...I'll buy that.

But when you told the supervisor that abuse that you DID NOT WITNESS was being discussed by other nurses...why weren't those nurses that didn't report it subject to discipline by the facility....they should have been.

I also noticed that it didn't seem to bother you one bit that they weren't....which is strange, because if I stuck my neck out to protect a patient from abuse when the witnessing party didn't...and ended up catching flack for it to the point I was thinking about quitting...to me, that would be a pretty important part of my story.

YOU DID NOT GET THE NURSES FIRED, the decision to fire them came from the DON and ADM not you,
all you did was report something that you were legally obligated to do. I am sure you reported it as you heard it without embellishing, and I am sure you said you didn't witness it firsthand, so i am sure there was an investigation and other witnesses were produced, including the pt who was involved. I am sure there was nothing personal between you and the fired staff , all you wanted was your pt to receive good care and the abuse to stop, if you hadn;t reported it it would have been as if you did it yourself. Staff like that give nursing homes a bad name!
YOU ARE NOT GUILTY OF ANYTHING so stop acting like it. Stop interpreting every snarl or mean look as if you deserve it. Some people just had a bad day or havent had their coffee yet and just look like that, no relation to you.
You are innocent, believe in yourself and go about confidently in your day, ignor the threats, that is just stupid, the fired staff got themselves fired and can only blame themselves.
It is an unfortunate situation, whistle blowers are never appreciated but as they say- its a dirty job but someone has to do it.
This too will pass, keep your head held high, and be the best nurse you can!!!!

Two wrongs dont make a right, the OP reported the story as is, she doesnt provide the discipline and she doesnt decide who should be disciplined, that is the DON and ADM job, (and in my facility , also the SW) . It isnt the OP's job to judge anyone, just to report.

Why are you attacking her for doing the right thing?
It seems to me, by criticizing her , you are supporting the staff who abused the pt and their accessories.
Please remember, if you were the pt being abused, you would want a nurse like her to care for you, I sure would!!!