My Parents raised me to be honest, now I am unemployed.

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I am a New Grad. I am in my mid 50's and just received my first termination. Working as a case manager was my dream job. I called my sister two days after I lost my first RN job. "I am unemployed" I said. "What happened, you loved your job" she questioned me. "It is Dad and Mom's fault, they raised me to be honest, to do the right thing", I replied.

Now I would never really blame my parents. The truth is I was working as a case manager and asked to change medical records of each of the consumers on my case load. The nurse who had the case load before me had not completed all the documentation and had falsified some of the information. My employer was about to audited and asked me to document areas that the other nurse had left blank and if I saw something wrong on the rest to fix it. I told them I would be happy to enter into e-file the hand written notes of the other nurse however I would sign it with her name and entered by my name and would transcribe exactly as it was written. They did not like that reply. I explained I could not add to her assessment and referral page as that would be falsifying medical records and that I would not place my license at risk. Two days later I was called into a meeting and told I was to turn over my case load and to sign my payroll paper that I was terminated. No reason given either in writing or oral. Up until I was terminated they liked my work, had me work on a project to revise a form and told me they would work with me on my project for my PHD. I am so hurt.

I know that I was right not to doctor the med records. Can I ever find work now? At my age and new grad already terminated status. Anyone else survive something like this?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

You were of course correct. Changing medical records is a huge no no, whether new grad or experienced nurse. I think you can find another job: what about MDS coordinator at LTC, another case manager job? bedside?

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Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner.

What a rotten deal! Had you gotten some kind of warnings before this that they were able to terminate you on one infraction? Normally, facilities have to give just cause that you are not meeting the expectations of your job requirement. The only time I have ever heard of someone being terminated immediately is for a felony or purposeful patient endangerment.

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I would find a lawyer and report them for fraud. Apply again to other jobs and tell them you were fired after refusing to falsify info. No one can blame you for that. You may have been wrongfully terminated-a company is not allowed to ask you to break the law and then fire you when you won't do it. Your parents raises you right. Would you have rather lost your nursing license for doing what they were asking?!?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

THIS ^^^^^^

As licensed professionals with an ethical, professional and legal obligation to perform in a way that protects our patients, we are "mandatory reporters". If you are aware of violations, you must take appropriate actions or risk violation of your NPA. If that employer is audited in the future, and your name is on any of those records, you will be caught up in a situation that could very well result in legal penalties and have an impact on your license.

As a bona fide *whistleblower*, you are protected by Federal law. Take a look at this site for more details All-About-Qui-Tam.org - An online resource for whistleblowers about qui tam lawsuits and the False Claims Act

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Yes, yes, yes. Do not just roll over for this. You won't get that job back (you wouldn't want to work for them anyway), but you could very well get a nice little chunk of change to tide you over while you get another one.

Get the attorney stat. If you have (and you should) call them, because they help with this sort of thing too. If you don't, google the local chapter of TAANA, the american association of nurse attys. Now. Today.

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Wow, it is a cruel world out there. I hope their next nurse refuses as well. We have to start sending a message that this is not ok. There are over 700,000 allnurses members. Just think of the things we could change if we all stood together!

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I live in AZ and we are a right to work state. Being fired on a whim is allowed according to my atty. I have picked myself up, and have applied to every RN job I can find. I know that most employers will never ask for a nurse to do anything wrong. I was never even given a warning. In fact they said the week before that my work was so good they wanted me to help revise a form that we used. I went from that to fired in a heartbeat. Nothing I did changed other then I very respectfully told them I could not change records and explained how I documented everything so during the audit it should help make up for the lack of documentation prior to my coming on board. Oh well. I will find work and I took the time to apply at Arizona State University to the DNP-Leadership program! All will be well. Thank you all for the advice.

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THIS ^^^^^^

As licensed professionals with an ethical, professional and legal obligation to perform in a way that protects our patients, we are "mandatory reporters". If you are aware of violations, you must take appropriate actions or risk violation of your NPA. If that employer is audited in the future, and your name is on any of those records, you will be caught up in a situation that could very well result in legal penalties and have an impact on your license.

As a bona fide *whistleblower*, you are protected by Federal law. Take a look at this site for more details All-About-Qui-Tam.org - An online resource for whistleblowers about qui tam lawsuits and the False Claims Act

Thank you for the info I did not know about the mandatory report for this. I will do so again thank you for the information. That is what I love about this site the info and advice from seasoned nurses!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

To piggyback off of what the other posters stated, you are a mandated reporter; use those resources for your protection :yes:

I know it also stings a little for being fired, however call it the best thing that happened to you; you WILL find another job just as wonderful; in fact with much better integrity will be a better fit. :)

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

You'll find another job after much nail biting and sleepless nights.

What will be harder, is to recover from such a cold, callous, betrayal.

I've found that making the employer who fired me, as miserable as me, a fine place to start.

Sueem.

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A very similar incident happened to me. I'm a certified legal assistant (staring nursing school tomorrow) and several years ago, the HR manager w/ the firm with which I was employed, came to my office about 20 minutes prior to my normal departure time. I was informed that I 'needed to find another job'. Six weeks prior, I received a bonus and a small raise, as well as a great evaluation! I was told that basically it would reflect as if I left on my own terms & that I'd be given a good recommendation! Well, I later found out that they hired some new employees for $10 an hour!!!! (Btw, I was not the only person who had to get another job.). I'd been there almost five years. I was devastated, not to mention, shocked! Anyway, what had taken place just the weeks before was that I was asked by the same person that I needed to 'do better w/ entering my time'. I was told that I needed to reword my time entries. Basically, they wanted me to bill our clients for secretarial work that our clients wouldn't pay for! For example, if I prepared a deposition notice, certain clients will not pay that as a legal assistant rate, and I was asked to reword it so that my time would be paid! That is extremely unethical! They wanted to put, 'prepare documents for upcoming deposition'. The problem w/ that is that this particular client clearly stated that they will NOT pay for deposition notices! Well, I told mr. HR person that I wasn't going to lie about my time, that it wasn't right! Soooo, you guessed it...time to look for another job!

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