Complaint Against License Issued by Employer

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

I haven't worked in 2 years (Aug 2008) after leaving a job in an extremely hostile work environment as the night charge nurse(LPN) in a SNF. A few days ago I received a notice of complaint issued by my former employer to the BON in Washington State. Cited were issues of patient abuse & antagonism, failure to give prn medication documented and suspected narcotic use (all of which are false).

I had only been employed at the facility a year when I quit. I was the sole LPN with a census of 80 patients on nocs, most of the time only 1 or 2 aides showed up, some nights none. I had to scramble to find replacements (most of the on-call staff were less than helpful). I was already pushed for time as it was, regularly putting in 2-3 hours OT just to complete my duties (and I am extremely organized & efficient).

I filed an anonymous tip with the county health department during that time after losing nearly 1/3 of our patients in a three week period due to "illness", they found out about it.

I informed several patients of their legal rights regarding the 800 abuse hotline (which I was informally reprimanded for).

Most of the prn's I administered were requested by alert patients and I had several witnesses present in regards to other patients (most of which are dead now).

The complaint that I abused a patient was in regards to a known disturbed patient who attacked other patients without provocation, I was attempting to come between the two and got bit.

They did initially report me to the Impaired Professionals organization but since I had no drug use/abuse and have heard horror stories of co-workers (some impaired, some not) being railroaded by the organization I turned it down. I did offer initially to take a UA but walked off the job (after my day was finished) when my employer demanded to search my bag.

I have no money to hire a lawyer and now no hopes of returning to employment in the near future.

Any suggestions?

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Unfortunately, allnurses does not provide legal advice. Did you have ? If so, you might consider asking them if they have people available to advise you legally. This is an unfortunate and heartbreaking situation, for sure. This is one of the reasons why most nurses hate nursing homes...the patients are treated like cattle, one LPN responsible for 50+ people at times and expected to somehow hold the same legal standards as though you are only caring for one, or to sweep things under a rug (whatever is convienent at the time).

What happened, though to make the employers wish to search your bag, and ask for a urine sample?

I am very sorry to hear of this, but and I am from a different state but I know how you feel when you've been turned in to the state board behind something false. All you have to do is stick to your guns and keep to the truth and have at least 3 PROFESSIONAL references that can vouch for your nursing practice, chances are, if they cannot prove anything they may order remedial education which trust me is a lot better than LOSING your license that you worked very hard for. I do wish you the best of luck.

There are legal services available to those who cannot afford them. Contact your local bar association for referral to their "modest means panel" and get legal representation. You, of course, know that you are contending with the thanks the previous employer is showing you for becoming the thorn in their side that they did not need or want. Think about all of this the next time you get a job. I am not saying this to belittle your efforts, but to make you aware that the employer always holds the cards. Now go see that lawyer.

Specializes in LTC.

man, thats awful! Something similar happened to a buddy of mine over a fentanyl patch that she couldnt find on a patient. Another patch was put on by a different nurse yet she was the one to get fired and reported to the board...all they did to her was make her take 2 classes and they told her it sounded like the place she worked at was toxic and that getting fired was the best thing that couldve happened to her.

Shes since successfully moved on to a job she adores.

Also, I think this kinda thing depends on management. Maybe they felt you were a threat to them for some reason? I got blamed once for calling the employee complaint hotline at work, which I did not do.

The boss said she would fire whoever called, which is illegal in my state. An employee who reports any concern cannot be retaliated against by anyone in their workplace from the bottom to the tip top.

I say stick to your guns also. If you did nothing wrong you have no worries. Talk to your board and see how it pans out.

If everything comes out unfounded, Id be calling the labor board, state, etc...because what they did was slander your name and professional abilities to the nth degree...if unfounded. Makes me wonder how many other nurses theyve done this kinda thing to.

+ Add a Comment