I need some advice. I was terminated from my previous job in Jan 06 for what they deemed "unsafe patient care" I gave a patient xanax and restoril together as they were ordered PRN. My bosses thought that was wrong and I was terminated. Other RN's and physicians that I've spoken to don't seem to think that I did anything wrong and that management was LOOKING for a reason to fire me and used that incident to do so. Let me add that the patient was not harmed from the medications.
I'm an RN of 10 yrs with CCRN certification as well as my BSN. Been in critical care for over 5 yrs now.
Before getting hired in my current facility, I went on three job interviews. I was up front with the managers on the reason I was terminated. One manager basically offered me the job PENDING Human Resources background checks...then I'd get a letter in the mail saying "thanks but no thanks". I know my previous employer has me listed as "DO NOT HIRE". I also know that LEGALLY they are only allowed to tell prospective employers that I worked there from this date to that date. I've been told that legally they are not allowed to tell that I'm not eligible for rehire.
I've been at my current job for 18 months now. Basically, I cannot stand it here any longer. This place has a horrible reputation in the community in which it is located and I can see why. I am frequently left alone in the ICU with a patient. The last time this happened, my patient crashed on me at 6am! I voiced my concerns and was basically told to "put up and shut up". Our staffing policy states there should at least be an LPN or an Nurse Aide with the RN when there is only one patient but this rarely happens.
My boss doesn't even think that critical care is a priority over the med-surg/detox/medical-psych/OB floors. When we get slammed with admits, we are told to "deal with it, it's ICU" And there is NEVER more than 2 Nurses for up to 6 patients. SO if we are full, we have 3 patients each and IF we are lucky, we get to keep our nurse aide (if there's one scheduled). Usually she is pulled to another unit because their need is "greater" according to the nursing supervisors.. Last fall we had at one time FIVE patients on ventilators. I work straight nights and there is NO respiratory therapy on at night so we are responsible to do our own vent checks/ nebulizer treatments/setting up a vent if needed.
Our boss also runs another unit in the facility and spends most of her efforts dealing with their problems so basically the ICU is neglected. There are many issues that need to be dealt with by HER the BOSS but aren't. Too many issues for me to address here. But enough that makes me Not able to stand working there any longer.
Unfortunately for me, since I was fired from the last place I worked, it's basically made me unhireable anywhere else. I work in a small city. So people at my last place know people at the other hospitals in this town. I applied at the other large hospital in town and they won't even return my calls or emails anymore. I also applied at the VA hospital back in February, they sent my current boss a reference letter to fill out on me back in June and yet I still haven't heard anything from the VA. I know that the one nursing sup had an interview with them this past week as she told me so.....so again I am wondering if I've been blackballed at the VA now too!!
I even went an applied at a hospital that I worked at 5yrs ago......just did that this past week.
I don't know what else to do. It's disheartening to think that ONE incident is defining my career! Any advice for me? If you've read this far thanks. I am at my wits end and am very sickened at the fact that I may be stuck at my current place because of that one thing.
