Re: nursing home injustice? need advice!
What a miserable end to a problem that occurs so frequently. We are humans and make mistakes, the nurse that never made a mistake is the nurse that never worked.... It could have happened to anybody.
Your punishment was harsher than I would have wanted to see and I dont think you deserve it.
Was there any damage to the pt? Did the pt suffer because of the missing pill? Is there any long lasting effects d/t the incident?
Probably not!!
If you really want to work there, (and I don't recommend it),
I would write a letter to the DON explaining that you made a mistake and did not notice the patient spit out the pill ( I would not pass the mistake on to the CNA who was also wrong in not informing you). I would add how important this job is to you and if given a second chance you will prove to them what an asset to the facility you can be. I would offer to apologize to the family and explain your mistake, taking responsibility for the incident.
In truth, most pts would be better off skipping a pill here and there anyway- other than antibiotics, Synthroid, Digoxin etc., most pts livers and kidneys will thank you for the vacation!!!!!
Whatever you decide, if you move on, I would fully disclose this mistake when applying for a job elsewhere, better they hear if from you as a lesson well learned than from the DON while checking references...
Try not to be bitter, sometimes it is easier to find a scapegoat than answer the families...and in truth you were wrong (a wrong I too am guilty of...)
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