Will they contact State Board

[chinadoll1]

My friend was fired today because she gave a patient her order of NPH insulin and held the patients Regular insulin for the AM dose. The patients blood sugar was 121, so the patient wanted Reg held. About 2hrs later the patients blood sugars dropped to 55, then to 22. So patient was given protocol treatment for low insulin. Anyways, my friend was fired over the situation, but do they call State Board and notify them of the incident? Will her license be in jeopardy of this, because our job sad she probably gave Reg instead of NPH accidentally?

[chinadoll1]

It should be a lesson for the facility as well .. ..protocol should be in place to have 2 nurses verify the insulin dose before administration.

I wonder why this poorly controlled diabetic was in jail...

You are right about the two nurses check. The inmate killed someone, that's why there in their

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Details about the inmate are irrelevant to the nurses termination and concern about the BON.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

The 1st protocol was done by giving the patient some glucose stuff we had, and then within min we checked the BS and it dropped to 22.

It dropped to 22 AFTER giving glucose??

Sound like this patient needed a work up. Hope she is doing better!

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I have to disagree with the poster who said you have to report a nurse you fired for cause. In Massachusetts, that simply isn't true. I've fired nurses for a variety of reasons but never reported them to the board, with the exception of a nurse who was abusive. I have reported nurses to the board who quit in the middle of my doing an investigation on drug diversion.

The OP's friend has learned the hard way to pay attention to everything you do.

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

There was a state law just put into effect in Wyoming - if a nurse is fired or resigns for any violation of the nurse practice act it is mandatory that the employer report the matter to the state board.

I would be interested to know if other states have similar laws .... It will be interesting to see what happens. Kinda like opening a can of worms, IMO

[chinadoll1]

It dropped to 22 AFTER giving glucose??

Sound like this patient needed a work up. Hope she is doing better!

Yea, she's fine now

[chinadoll1]

I will keep you guys updated about what comes out of this. We should know something by next week on here cause they have to have her come in and sign some papers she said, so updates next week hopefully

[dishes, BSN, RN]

What kind of papers is she going in to sign? I hope she talks to an employment lawyer who is knowledgeable about wrongful dismissal before she signs anything.

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

She may have a case for a wrongful termination lawsuit. I agree she should talk to an attorney before signing anything. Is she going to file for unemployment?

[chinadoll1]

What kind of papers is she going in to sign? I hope she talks to an employment lawyer who is knowledgeable about wrongful dismissal before she signs anything.

I'm not sure. She just said they will call her in to sign some papers. If it has to do with the incident, I told her not to sign anything that isn't true, cause if you sign it, that means you agree with whatever they say happened.

[chinadoll1]

She may have a case for a wrongful termination lawsuit. I agree she should talk to an attorney before signing anything. Is she going to file for unemployment?

I will tell her that. She started the end of May, so she hasn't been there long enough for unemployment I don't think. I do think this is a case of wrongful termination, but she may not do anything cause she said she doesn't want any problems, and to make anyone mad and they contact BON on her. I'm going to tell her the heck with them, go 2 see a lawyer anyways!

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Was she still on probation? Its much easier for employers to terminate employees when they are on probation and there is not much that can be done legally, but it's still a good idea for her to speak to a lawyer who is familiar with nursing before she signs anything.