Suspend within 1 month of hire

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Hi guys! I've been working in a LTC facility over a month now and I have problems dealing with my co-workers. I feel that I am alienated not only to them but also to my family. I have a hard time in my work since its busy and I have to deal with 20 patients max all the same time while honing my clinical skills. On top to that, I've got suspended because I have wrongly administered a medication which I report myself and file a medication error report. I know I am at fault and I accept it. What depressed me was that its so early for me to have suspension. I am only on my one month of hire. I am stupid. I dont deserve my title. I dont know what to do. Do you any experiences like this also? How did you overcome it?

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You are not stupid and just because you made a med error does not mean you do not deserve your title. Everyone makes mistakes...what is important is that you learn from it and plan ways to prevent making the same mistake in the future.

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"Watch your thoughts, they become words.

Watch your words, they become actions.

Watch your actions, they become habits.

Watch your habits, they become your character.

Watch your character, it becomes your destiny".

You are far from stupid, you are overworked and have not had enough orientation to handle 20 patients.

A suspension for a med error in this situation is ridiculous.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

And a self-reported mistake, at that! Utterly ridiculous!!!! Those managing some of these LTC facilities apparently are not up-to-date on current practices whereas errors are viewed as a learning opportunity aimed at prevention of future occurrences. No, current practices would bend that pointed finger backwards.:smokin:

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Thank you guys for lifting my spirits. The DON said to me that she will call this monday afternoon. I am scared in going back there. I just realize now that they have bad training program to newly hire nurses. I worked so hard. I study my patients like right now I am about to order a book from amazon for that. Im gonna read back to square one just to refresh everything that I've learned.

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Specializes in EDUCATION;HOMECARE;MATERNAL-CHILD; PSYCH.

That working environment is not suitable for you to grow as a new grad. Start looking for other positions.

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I am extremely honest and conscientious and I am finding out that in nursing this can work against you. At my first nursing job I made a couple of med errors within 11 months of being hired. I admit that the first med error was completely my fault and I switched two clients medications because I was hurrying. Fortunately they received a lot of the same type of medications so there were no adverse effects.

I feel that the second med error was not completely my fault, yet it was. At shift change the outgoing nurse did not report that he had given insulin to a client that normally does not get insulin on his shift. I gave the insulin, as usual and then upon returning to the MAR saw that he had signed already. Technically it was my fault for not checking MAR first, however I kinda felt like I had been set up because he normally did not give the insulin and did not report giving it either.

I also was so stressed out at this job that twice I had to miss three days of work because of tension in my neck that caused me to not be able to turn my head, therefore not able to work. They thought I was doing it on purpose, Which I definitely was not. I was about to get put on probation for all this when I decided just to quit and re-evaluate my being a nurse! Ugh.

From what I have observed unfortunately I think a lot of nurses don't report med errors like they should. it's only those of us who are honest to a fault that really get the blame because we report it. I have learned my lesson. I have not had a med error since being in home health because the pace is slower thank God. Also at that same job I was getting into trouble with my super for being slower than the other nurses, yet I noticed that other nurses would skip treatments or things they considered unnecessary or trivial to do, therefore they would get done sooner than I would. I was constantly stressed out at that job and was so glad when I quit!

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On top to that, I've got suspended because I have wrongly administered a medication which I report myself and file a medication error report. I know I am at fault and I accept it. What depressed me was that its so early for me to have suspension. I am only on my one month of hire.
Was the med error a serious one, as in did or could the patient have suffered irreparable harm or death? It sounds like you are still within your probationary period, if I'm correct. Your punishment does seem somewhat harsh, although I would think that if it was that serious they would have just fired you since you're still on probation. Just a thought.
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The last time I've been there, the patient is stable, moving and alert. She normally get a LOT of pills anyways. I think the management doesn't like me cause out of the trainees I am the only one who did not start in the morning shift. I was scheduled to my night shift and its hard cause night shift is slower than any shift so after my orientation, I was scheduled to the morning shift while the other trainees already ahead of me. I think its unfair to me. :(:cry:

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Specializes in Medical Oncology, Alzheimer/dementia.

You are not stupid. Be proud of the title you've earned, and continue to work diligently to prevent errors. I worked in a nursing home for 7 years. LTC is hard work and responsibility. There are a lot of patients and medications to manage, tasks to delegate, personalities to deal with and things to document. Learn from it and move on, mistakes happen especially when we are overworked and overwhelmed. Good for you to decide to order the book from amazon. It will only work to your advantage to continuously learn. Also, keep your eyes open for alternative work environments.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I feel like suspension is harsh for a self-reported, honest error. 20 patients for a brand new nurse is rough, and if they have thrown you to the wolves and then suspended you for making an error, they've practically set you up to fail. :( I'm sorry you're going through this.

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I feel like suspension is harsh for a self-reported, honest error. 20 patients for a brand new nurse is rough, and if they have thrown you to the wolves and then suspended you for making an error, they've practically set you up to fail. :( I'm sorry you're going through this.

Maybe. Right now, I just received a call from the DON that she gonna meet me up this thursday that means I haven't work last thursday til now. I will just enjoy it than sulking in the corner and crying cause it will not help me and I will use that time to apply for another job. This is tough.

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