I feel like a FAILURE, what do I do now?

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

So I was terminated yesterday, completely blind sided honestly... two weeks prior my charge nurse told me she got an order for an antibiotic, she put the new order in my MAR and wrote the note regarding MD contact/ New Order... come to find out yesterday, she never even spoke to the doctor to get authorization, she told me too borrow from another resident, yes i know not right, but unfortunately my facility isn't exactly the legal place too work. Not too mention, the facility is under its typical census, there is a hiring freeze and no overtime is too be taken so I somewhat feel like i was a sitting duck, as far as i know the charge nurse got a slap on the wrist for falsifying the order. I had a bad feeling about my facility there's a lot that goes on that made my stomach churn, so in a way i'm looking at this in a positive way... everything happens for a reason, right?

Now what do I do how am I going to find another job, I'm so worried that my other job is going to destroy me for a new job any suggestions, or kind words? thank you!

So you were fired for a med error (giving a med that wasn't ordered)?, or for taking med from a different patient (in effect, it's dispensing without a license).

Point being- sadly, if you give a med that is not ordered, even if another nurse wrote the med on the med sheet- you are as guilty of a med error as the other nurse. I found this out the hard way- it's a med error also if you don't even know the order was written in the chart, and nobody noted it on the med sheet,etc. This is not right- if a licensed nurse writes a med on a med sheet, she alone should take the med error, nobody else.

But taking one med from another patient opens you up to all kinds of trouble, as you're aware.

I switched units in one place. First day on the new cart, I counted 40 (FORTY) meds that were not to be found for my 25 patients, and all had been signed every day all by every other nurse. I spent all day calling the pharmacy to track last delivery dates of meds, etc. Over half were not available anywhere in the building, so it wasn't even possible that they were taking the meds from other pateints/carts/E box, etc. I filled out med error after med error (per the supervisor's demand), called the pharmacy 100 times to order STAT deliveries, called the supervisor over and over, wrote the whole mess on the 24 hour report, called numerous doctors to report the med errors, etc. The reward for my superhuman effort to get the cart into compliance? Several nurses were fired, and me? I was suspended for 3 days, because I didn't call the DON at home (on a weekend) to report the missing meds. But the supervisor was there, involved, I did it all by the book. He took revenge on me, the DON, because I made him look bad- there's no way he wouldn't have been fired after a survey. You'd think he'd have been grateful. Welcome to the nightmare of LTC?

How some of these places remain open, you have to wonder.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I certainly own up to borrowing but the harsh reality at the facility I was at, there was never a time something wasn't borrowed, including narcs, thankfully I never had too but I seen it on a nearly daily basis

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We're getting closer: So, you WERE fired for 'borrowing meds', yes? If that's the case, every SNF/LTC has a system of emergency/STAT/one-time only doses of meds (including narcotics that have to be counted shift to shift, and such things as insulin that need to be monitored routinely for expiration date, and the like), that's available (usually in a tool box or cupboard in the med room) to sign out for any patient that needs them, in emergencies, or for new weekend orders when the pharmacy is closed, etc.? Does that place not have that? Or, more likely, hearing how the place is managed- was the 'E-kit' empty? Also, since there may be one med room, yet 3 or more halls/med carts with access to that med room/drugs- normally there's a hassle about getting anyone to account for the contents of the 'E-kit', to include the counting of narcotics. In my experience, I can assure you that nurses who are apt to divert, take notice of such easy pickings- and when it happens? Everyone with access to that med room or 'E-kit' is suspect. So, if there is an 'E-kit', in your new job- be sure to find out how it is controlled, and if the policy is adhered to. Aside from this, if everyone was borrowing this antibiotic, what was the 'lending' patient doing to get his meds? After all, the pharmacy only sends enough doses to complete the original order.

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You were the fall guy, plain and simple. You are well rid of that place on all levels. Do not let any authority figure attempt to pull the wool over your eyes, no matter how angry they get. They work for corporations, not patients.

Stay Calm, you don't know the real story. I know of 4 LTC facilities that are going to fire the LPN's just to hire RN's so they will be reimbursed more money. It's not about you!! Take comfort in the fact you did no harm.

GOD BLESS YOU!

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Specializes in hospice.

About your resume......

Do not say that you were terminated. There is no way for any future employer to find out this information. It is illegal for your currently employer to disclose the details of your departure. When asked why you left, you can say you are looking for something better, in a different field, with different hours, or whatever. Just don't say anything negative about your former employer.

And good luck! I hope you find a great job.

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'Reimbursed more money'? Please explain, thanks.

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Thank you for your support, I'm trying to keep my head up and have even thought about getting out of nursing, I'm currently an LPN and don't even want to further my career, sad huh? I thought about just getting out of nursing for a few months and get myself back into a positive perspective, but i fear that I feel the way I do because of the facility I was at and I don't want to just give up

I feel the same way at my facility. It scares me everyday I have to walk thru those doors.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

So sorry this happened (((petluvr))) You are not a failure. The job not working out is not you. I know those words may sound hollow at the moment but believe me whether we've been fired or not all of us have those "gulp" moments wondering if we have what it takes to succeed in nursing. If you leave nursing, it should not be because of this setback. It takes strength to crawl out and rise above, but you'll end up stronger on the other side. Wish you the very best!

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.
About your resume......

Do not say that you were terminated. There is no way for any future employer to find out this information. It is illegal for your currently employer to disclose the details of your departure. When asked why you left, you can say you are looking for something better, in a different field, with different hours, or whatever. Just don't say anything negative about your former employer.

And good luck! I hope you find a great job.

That's not good advice. :no: A potential employer CAN most certainly find out that you were fired, and will disqualify you from employment for not disclosing that you were. I mean, I've been there; got fired from an LTC about a year and a half ago. On my job applications I put "discharged" (to me sounds better than "fired" or "terminated"), and if they ask why I put "failed to follow company policy". It's the truth, and unless they ask me to elaborate... for all they know, I got fired because I posted on Facebook that I didn't like my job.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I agree with you nursecard, that's a good way to put it, a good nurse friend of mine even suggested terminated secondary to med error caused by false report... does this seem like too much detail?

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this is why nurses need to be unionized...you have no one to represent you or investigate or even argue your case...your on your own..and even good nurses get falsely accused, fired etc. If you have the opportunity to join a union or start one...do so...it pays to not have to defend yourself or be at the mercy of your HR dept.

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab, ICF/MR, Mental Health.
I agree with you nursecard, that's a good way to put it, a good nurse friend of mine even suggested terminated secondary to med error caused by false report... does this seem like too much detail?

I think that's too much detail. I'd put discharged and if they ask say I made a medication error and here's what I learned from it...It admits accountability for the error but that you're willing to learn from it.

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