Fired for med error

[KJAKE]

I was fired for my second med error in a 7 month time frame. I reported myself both times to my supervisor. I have been nursing for 12 years and these 2 times have been my only med errors in my career. I am devastated for making these 2 errors and now for having been fired. (I actually was given the option of being terminated or resigning, I resigned). My question is now that I will be looking for new employment what or how do I address why I left my last job, do I tell them about my med error. I think that would scare off any chances of being hired. I have never had any other disciplinary action brought against me, have never been fired from any job and am punctual, I don't call out and consider myself a team player. Any suggestions for how I should deal with applications and interviews is greatly appreciated.

In case anyone is wondering. Both med errors did not result in any harm to patient, I know this does not excuse anything.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

This is going to sound bad, but unless it caused serious harm to the patient, I wouldn't self-report.

If anyone learns anything about working environments, it is CYA and WYB!

[canigraduate]

I've known a lot of managers. They rarely tell you the true reason they fire you.

My husband wanted to fire a guy for months for a myriad of reasons (poor attitude, poor work ethic, laziness, etc), but couldn't because he was over 40 and his company wouldn't let him for fear of a lawsuit. Finally, the man missed three deposit deadlines and they used money mishandling as the reason to get rid of him.

So your second med error may have been their excuse. I would look back over the last six months if I were you and think if there were any warning signs or if a member of management talked to you about anything that sent up red flags.

Also, if I were you, I would stop self-reporting.

I self-reported and it was used against me, too, so I don't do it anymore. I gave two Norco instead of one, no patient harm resulted. I only call the doc if I have to. I definitely don't do the whole shebang of incident reports and root cause analyses anymore.

[lub dub]

I have never understood why an employer would want you to self report, and then would fire you.

Nurses are expected to self-report. That's the honest & professional thing to do.

[jerassica]

I am a new nurse (4 months into my first job at a urology practice). I made an error last Thursday. I immediately grabbed the vial, put it in my pocket, went to the waiting room to see if the pt had left (they did ) and ten went to my boss, an one of the drs... Patient went unharmed, three drs rallied around me and were very supportive. I was visibly shaking, tearing up, fighting off the cryfest... My DON informed me that I have a meeting with her and HR on the phone tomorrow... I'm shaking in my boots! :'( Did I do the right thing? What do I say to the HR gods tomorrow about it? I'm so devastated already, just personally ravaged. Any advice? So far this thread has helped me deal a lot... Thx all!

[DedHedRN]

Thanks for the heads up on getting fired for self reporting. I will make sure I never do that!

[canigraduate]

Thanks for the heads up on getting fired for self reporting. I will make sure I never do that!

Don't get me wrong. When there is potential for harm or actual harm involved, you need to take care of the situation. Stat. But if your dailies are late and you couldn't get the antibiotics started within the correct timeframe, those are the things I don't report. I'll call the doc and let him know if it's something that affects patient care or the timing of future orders, but that's it. I have not had anything (knock on wood) that has required more than that. I hope I never do.

If I find myself working for managers who are not punitive, I will probably start self-reporting again as a process improvement kind of thing. But the last set, while they were great about practically everything else, were terrible when it came to med errors. I could have dropped a patient on her head and got in less trouble.

[KJAKE]

Jerassica,

So sorry to hear about your situation. I know how horrible and nervous you are feeling. I am thinking if this happened last Thursday and they have been letting you work, they are not going to fire you. You will probably be reprimanded maybe even written up. HR will probably ask why you think this happened at what could have been done to avoid the med error, what you will do in the future etc. It might be a good idea to jot somethings down that you might say in response. Remember to use the 5 rights as a response to what you will do in the future.Was it the wrong med, calculation or something else? Use whatever the mistake was to highlight how you will improve your care in the future. They might suggest you write out an ACTION PLAN for yourself. Seems like a lot of management is really big on that.

I really feel for you because you did what we are taught in school to take responsibility for your actions. It shows integrity. I wish you well and hope everything works out for you.

I am glad you feel this thread has helped you, I know it has softened the blow for me. I don't feel like such a mess up after reading all the supportive responses.

[Davey Do]

This is going to sound bad, but unless it caused serious harm to the patient, I wouldn't self-report.

One of the questions that goes through my mind when I am considering not self-reporting is "What if somebody else finds my error and I have to justify my inaction?"

If I am aware that I made an error, and the error is confronted, I'd have to tell an untruth in order to CMA.

I would rather be known as a bumbling Nurse than a Professional without Integrity.

Because: "Once you give up integrity, everything else is a piece of cake".

[casi, ASN, RN]

I've self reported myself several times. I take it as a chance to learn and grow. In the my facility the kind of drug error. If it is an error made with a high risk medication (narcs, insulin, etc) the first error is an automatic 3 day suspension and the second is termination. All other med errors you can have 6 in a year.

[Sugarcoma, RN]

Med errors, especially ones you reported, should be resolved in a non-punitive way. Otherwise, it stops nurses from reporting. I'm sorry, your facility is in the wrong. Find an employer that values integrity, I wish you luck!

This is a brilliant post!!!! This is supposed to be the standard to encourage everyone involved with a med error to come forward so that it can be examined and potentially prevented from occurring again. In the real world, it often does not work like this as you have found. It is a shame because med errors NEVER happen in a vacuum. I have known exactly one nurse in my 4 years of working who made errors due to stupidity or laziness and made them repeatedly. Every other nurse I have known who has made an error felt awful about it and worked very hard to make sure it never happened again.

I do not know the circumstances of your errors but I did pick out some important things from what you wrote:

1. You have been safely practicing as a nurse for 12 years.

2. You have made 2 med errors in that time.

3. These errors did not result in serious patient harm.

4. Both of these errors occurred on the same job, within a short time frame (7 months).

Again I know nothing about you personally or how you practice but anyone who has been able to practice for 11 years before making an error has to be pretty darn conscientious. I have not been able to do that myself and I think I am a good nurse.

I find it very telling that the first errors you have ever made happened on the same job and within a relatively short time frame. To me that speaks volumes about your working conditions and I would bet money that those conditions contributed greatly or maybe outright caused the errors.

As far as how to address this in interviews I would not mention the errors. I would say that the unit was not a good fit for me and if pressed for reasons why I would say that you did not find it challenging enough or something to that effect. I would not bash the employer or try to explain away the errors.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

Nurses are expected to self-report. That's the honest & professional thing to do.

"Honesty and professionalism" didn't get the OP very far. In environments like theirs I care more about covering myself.

[chare]

As you were given the choice to resign, your reference from that position will just reflect date of hire/end of employment.

This is a common thought, however it is not true. While many employers choose to only provide limited information such as dates of employment and eligibility for rehire, they can legally provide any information as long as it is true and factual.