Written up for false documentation...

Nurses Safety

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i work in ltc and today i was written up for false documentation. i documented in the tar that a treatment was done when it wasn't. when questioned by the supervisor i admitted that i did not do the tx d/t patient being asleep. however, i forgot to chart it was not done on the day it happened therefore it is false documentation. i am petrified that this may be taken to the bon and my license be taken. this is a serious offense and i'm sick over it. i didn't get fired today but i feel that it's coming. this makes my 5th write up and i'm still in my probation period. i'm seriously considering putting in my two weeks before i get fired.

i have seen several nurses and cnas get fired the pass two months i've been there. i've been warned by co-workers to leave this job asap and that nurses that work there often get fired and reported to the bon.

ltcf expects so much to to be done in so little time with so little staff. every nurse should be guilty of falsifying records at this facility. i know for a fact that not every resident is toileted and turned q2h, i know for a fact that every cream is not applied every shift, i know for a fact that every tylenol is not given in the middle of the night when a resident is asleep. how do i know? nurses tell me all the time. however, i'm the one that got reprimanded today. i take full responsibility for my actions, however i know that i can't do it all. i'm one nurse to 30 residents, every day i feel like i'm putting my lic. on the line.

i did write a late entry that the tx was not done on such and such day. i just hope and pray that this mistake did not cost me my career.

Whereas all nurses are many times busy to the point of exhaustion and whereas you say you are taking responsibility, there is NO excuse for charting a treatment or procedure that was not actually done. Your 5th write up? Not sure of the other reasons for being written up. Have a nurse manager sit with you in order to improve yourself. If they refuse to sit with you to help you improve, then that's pretty pitiful and can be taken up with administration. Going to another place of employment may not help if you don't correct the issues at hand.

I have been in nursing for 14 years, rest assure that a mistake like that will not cost you your career. Mistakes like that happen, but are not career enders. I don't know exactly where you live but I am assuming you are a new nurse and the patient load seems very high, I am sure there are easier jobs somewhere in your area. Just don't sweat this mistake, you didn't put the resident in jeopardy

Specializes in LTC.
Sorry you're going through this again...but my advice given to you in all of your other threads still stands. I don't know what issues you have going on with you but based on your pattern of work difficulties, something IS there and IMO you really need to work on addressing it. What that something is, I don't know...but you need to take care of it because it's going to keep tripping you up.

And I really think you should seriously consider whether nursing is really meant for you. You have a pattern of careless mistakes followed by your bailing or being let go, which to me is a big red flag. Nursing may be the career you always wanted to have and you may love being a nurse, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should be a nurse, if that makes sense.

Maybe nursing isn't for you or you're just having a hell of a first year. Only you can answer that...but you need to look at it honestly. And get the help you need with both your personal and professional issues.

Best of luck getting through this.

I always appreciate your comments. I know for fact that I'm in the right career. I have no doubt about it. There are times when I wish I wasn't a nurse but then I remember the reason I chose nursing. I also know that while I have made some careless mistakes in my three years of practice I have also been able provide competent care. I have many great strengths that have been recognized by previous employers, patients, doctors, and families.

I received a compliment recently from a doctor. I have had doctors tell me I was prudent.

My personal life is fine at this point. I honestly could not be happier. Once again, last year was really up and down so far as my career. It was mainly due to my school schedule. When I did get terminated it was not for a careless mistake, it was due to my school schedule.

Once again I appreciate your comments and concern. I know that I'll find my place in nursing someday. I'm sorry, I just don't give up that easily....

Specializes in LTC.
If you're still on your probation period, you have not reached your 90-day evals yet. Am I right? Therefore, you are not considered a full-time employee.

My first job as a LVN was in a LTC. There are 46 patients on my station and each and everyone has Lantus and regular insulin coverage (I work NOCs). So believe me when I say I feel your pain.

However, you've been written up for 5 times. It means that they've given you verbal warnings before writing you up. Being written up is a documentation of how safe you practice as a LVN. If they want to fire you, they can do so without any qualms because you are still on your probationary period. They can just not like how you work and fire you. Things are much simpler for probationary employees (I worked as a DSD and I've done this before) because there's no company commitment, hence being in the probation period.

For all 5 write ups, I never received a verbal warning.

Specializes in LTC.
Sorry you seem to be having a bad morning too.

Nah, she's no troll. She's legit.

Unfortunately, I'm not a troll. I'm just a RN who really needs to get her act together.

It is up to you to get yourself and your nursing practice in order. No one on this site can tell you anything different from what has been said the other times you have posted about mishaps. Best wishes.

It sounds like you are working in a privately owned facility that does not respect for nurses...

or the residents.

When they are firing people left and right over bs like your describe.... it is because the DON is power trippin'.

I would seriously consider leaving without the 2 week notice... only you can decide that.

After all, what kind of recommendation would they give..

and what would it be worth?

Good luck,,,, no where to go but up!

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

It might be helpful to remember the old definition of insanity:

Doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results.

I've been in your shoes and after much consideration I did put in my two weeks notice. I was then asked to reconsider my request. Instead of leaving, I am now PRN in my facility. I will work my minimum. I believe you when you say not every cream apply to every patient and not all treatments are done on every patient. So little time to complete all that required within 8 hrs shift. When I was on the floor I gave my all and I knew in my heart I have done far more than other nurses on the floor. However, no one there to witness my hard working. They only to see your shortfall. Put your two weeks and find another job. Maybe try Home Health. I work hard for this license but getting written up left and right as a new grad without verbal counsel first is not so good. Good luck with your decision. Think it through long and hard.

Specializes in LTC.
I've been in your shoes and after much consideration I did put in my two weeks notice. I was then asked to reconsider my request. Instead of leaving, I am now PRN in my facility. I will work my minimum. I believe you when you say not every cream apply to every patient and not all treatments are done on every patient. So little time to complete all that required within 8 hrs shift. When I was on the floor I gave my all and I knew in my heart I have done far more than other nurses on the floor. However, no one there to witness my hard working. They only to see your shortfall. Put your two weeks and find another job. Maybe try Home Health. I work hard for this license but getting written up left and right as a new grad without verbal counsel first is not so good. Good luck with your decision. Think it through long and hard.

Thank you for your reply. This is so true. Some nurses make up weights, fingersticks, vitals signs and so on. I've seen it with my own eyes. I know not every treatment is being done. At my facility all nurses are guilty of this. As stated previously, last night I went through our treatment cart and did assessments on everyone who needed a treatment. Most of the creams were not even in the cart or room, so there is no way it's being done. I have taken the initial to get some of the orders d/c'd and reduced.

I'm putting in my 2weeks today. I still have a PRN job as a school nurse. I've been doing school nursing for 6 years now and I do love it. I still want to get more bedside experience but maybe its not meant to be....

For all 5 write ups, I never received a verbal warning.

Verbal warning can be as simple as pointing out a mistake and telling you the proper way to do it and you telling them that you'll watch out for it. It does not need to be formal.

If you leave, it does not change the fact that you have been written up 5 times. Are they after you? Maybe, maybe not.

My question is, do you think you are a safe nurse?

Um, I'm pretty sure it's not possible to lose your license just because you forgot to circle your initials on a tx not done. There would be a lot less nurses out there...

Being fired though... if a facility wants to fire you they could get you on this or another BS charge. I swear to god, the only reason LTC still makes nurses initial a million stupid little boxes every shift is because they *know* sooner or later everyone will miss something and then they will have leverage.

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