Being written up

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I was written up for something that happened over a week ago. One of my patients who suffered a stroke and is not able to move her arms and legs very well and has difficulty with speech asked me call her husband one night. I dialed the  number for her like I've numerous times before.  They video chat. I stayed a little bit because I had to hold the phone for her. I could not understand what she was saying to her husband. After the conversation ended, the husband called the facility  saying his wife said she was punched in the mouth by her aid. I reported it to the supervisor and it was investigated and the CNA was suspended but has since returned to work. I initially said I was not in the room during the phone call which I  was. I was wrong for lying. Now they were accusing me that I am the one who put the idea in the patient's head and that the family confirmed. Those are all lies, I never said such things. I was with the aid when she was providing care to the resident. I know nothing happened. I know it looks bad when I said I wasn't in the room during the phone call with the patients husband.  I just meant that I didn't stay there long because I put the phone in the patient's hand so she can continue talking with her husband. I then left the room. I explained that to the DON and Administrator.  However a week after the fact. I was called to the office and written up for not being truthful.  I understand that but why did they take so long to decide to write me up. Why did they not write me up when it first happened if they felt I deserved it. Why wait so long. It doesn't make sense to me and seems a little fishy. Maybe I am exaggerating, I don't know. Please any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks again. Sorry for the long post.

Contact your malpractice insurer.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
6 hours ago, DeeAngel said:

Contact your malpractice insurer.

On what ***ing planet is this malpractice?

 

Asking for a friend.

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CNA's go in and out of patients' rooms all the time for various reasons. Seems odd for you (or anyone else) to say you know it didn't happen.

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I'm amending my original thought/reply the more I think about this scenario. I think communication wasn't clear and now the OP is probably being messed with like what @Been there,done that wrote on pg 1. Sometimes it's hard to do best communication when you're not sure what sort of trap is being laid. It's easy to just say, "well don't lie." But it isn't that simple; take the following little trap for example: 

>"So were you in the room [unspoken but part of the context: when Mrs. S told him she was punched]?"

>>"No, I wasn't."

>"Oh, so you weren't in the room?? Then who helped make the phone call??"

>>"Well I was there to help make the phone call but then I left..."

>"So now you're saying you were there. I think you're making this whole thing up! In fact it was probably you who told Mrs. S to say that!!"

???‍♀️

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16 hours ago, Maxg said:

CNA's go in and out of patients' rooms all the time for various reasons. Seems odd for you (or anyone else) to say you know it didn't happen.

It sounds like a specific interaction was referenced. I don't think the nurse is claiming omnipotence.

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Specializes in Wiping tears.
On 9/27/2020 at 8:22 PM, Springdaisy04 said:

I was written up for something that happened over a week ago. One of my patients who suffered a stroke and is not able to move her arms and legs very well and has difficulty with speech asked me call her husband one night. I dialed the  number for her like I've numerous times before.  They video chat. I stayed a little bit because I had to hold the phone for her. I could not understand what she was saying to her husband. After the conversation ended, the husband called the facility  saying his wife said she was punched in the mouth by her aid. I reported it to the supervisor and it was investigated and the CNA was suspended but has since returned to work. I initially said I was not in the room during the phone call which I  was. I was wrong for lying. Now they were accusing me that I am the one who put the idea in the patient's head and that the family confirmed. Those are all lies, I never said such things. I was with the aid when she was providing care to the resident. I know nothing happened. I know it looks bad when I said I wasn't in the room during the phone call with the patients husband.  I just meant that I didn't stay there long because I put the phone in the patient's hand so she can continue talking with her husband. I then left the room. I explained that to the DON and Administrator.  However a week after the fact. I was called to the office and written up for not being truthful.  I understand that but why did they take so long to decide to write me up. Why did they not write me up when it first happened if they felt I deserved it. Why wait so long. It doesn't make sense to me and seems a little fishy. Maybe I am exaggerating, I don't know. Please any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks again. Sorry for the long post.

The phone conversation should be recorded somewhere....phone company. Demand for investigations.

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Specializes in oncology.
5 hours ago, ThursdayNight said:

The phone conversation should be recorded somewhere....phone company. Demand for investigations.

Isn't that called 'wire-tapping'? I doubt this couple were considered important enough for a judge to order that (and it would have to have happened before this conversation). I don't think the OP is questioning if the conversation took place, although she/he couldn't understand the wife's speech. What rationale would you use to justify for 'an investigation' to move forward?

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19 hours ago, ThursdayNight said:

The phone conversation should be recorded somewhere....phone company. Demand for investigations.

It's a little off topic, but who do you think is recording these calls and why?

 

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21 minutes ago, hherrn said:

It's a little off topic, but who do you think is recording these calls and why?

 

Read your phone's carrier terms and conditions then come back to me. Dig. The facility might has it, too.  Everything is not black and white if you get what I mean.

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Specializes in Wiping tears.
14 hours ago, londonflo said:

Isn't that called 'wire-tapping'? I doubt this couple were considered important enough for a judge to order that (and it would have to have happened before this conversation). I don't think the OP is questioning if the conversation took place, although she/he couldn't understand the wife's speech. What rationale would you use to justify for 'an investigation' to move forward?

I was in the lawsuit.  I had no idea how my lawyers obtained the phone conversations. Just let you know that I have no idea how. I was surprised, too. This is why being truthful matters. And always do the right thing.

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty AND Child/Adolescent Psych.

I am pretty sure the only record would be  when and how long the conversation was.  Normally that's all the records the  cell phone company would have 

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Specializes in Wiping tears.
37 minutes ago, areason4stars said:

I am pretty sure the only record would be  when and how long the conversation was.  Normally that's all the records the  cell phone company would have 

Again, let's go back to the case of the OP. S/he was not lying about the report that he or she didn't understand a patient's being punched, a patient reported to a husband that she was punched but was not reporting to a nurse, or, the patient's husband misunderstood his wife, or he manufactured his lies to get some money.

I don't know how old you're, but I wasn't living under a rock before I joined the medical or nursing field. There are people who can turn your life upside down momentarily regardless of your innocence, and you have to prove your innocence when the laws are involved.

Opinions or what we think doesn't matter in courts. 

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