why its best to keep ur mouth shut

[sax_journey]

Hi all.

I wrote some time ago about a collegue who i had witnessed being physically and verbally abusive to residents in our LTC facility, and also administering sedation not written up for residents.....so i reported her (As did 2 other nurses), she was subsequently fired. thats the good news

ok now the bad news is that...now i have been reported by a collegue (in retaliation for getting her friend fired) ...i have been accused of

1. lying about seeing this nurse administer the meds to cover up that i was doing it.

2. stating that all my residents are "evil" and threatening to kill them all by overdosing them with insulin

3. Being suicidal and generally "unstable" and "unfit for duties"

(i do have some very very old scare--like from years ago--on my arm from where i used to self injure,,,,but that is in the very distant past, and was not a suicide attmept....)

THESE CLAIMS ARE UNTRUE !!!!!!!! AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE....

i was so upset to hear these, as i a am a very caring nurse....i love my residents, and work hard to care for them... i cry everytime one of them dies, i even cry if they fall and break a hip or something....i would never ever hurt them!!!!

but the story gets worse......

the facility told me NOTHING of these claims, did not ask me about them, or try to verify or clarify any info....i found out from the DON at MY OTHER JOB!!! (a general surgical ward int he next state!)..........i was suddenly pulled off the floor called to her office for an interview with her and the mental health crisis team, where i was presented with a written report from this other facility detailing these (unfounded!!) claims! i was so shocked and upset....now i am angry!!!

furthermore collegues from the workplace where this incident originated have rang me stating that management have rung them, and discussed this entire alleged incident with them (even people not present at the time these things supposedly happened!), also my mental health state has been discussed with other collegues.....and still NO ONE from managament contacted me....

i have been subjected to lenghty interviews and psych evals at my other workplace (who thankfully realise these allegations are insane!!! but have to cover themselves legally by addressing the issue....)....

so i spoke to a lawyer, who told me this is slander and defamation.....i wrote to the management detailing that i was dissapointed th matter was not discussed with me, before being passed on to other collegues, and to my other workplace, and that i intend to take legal action.....they rang me back straight away denying that they had spoken to my other workplace, and stating that they spoke to collegues and to mental health out of their great concern for me (yeah thanks now my nursing career is over so i really appreciate their "concern")....so anyhow they want a meeting and state "we can work something out"....i told them i wanted union rep present, and they state that its "not necesscary".......i tell them that yes it is!! so they then say they are busy and cant meeet til next week!! and then tell me i am suspended!!! i havent done anything wrong!!! its not like i ever want to go back after this, but i havent done anything wrong, and now this is all over my nursing record at my other job, and on my mental health file!!!

next prob is that coz i live close to state border, i only joined the union for the state i live in and work most of my time in....and unfortunatly for me these probs are in the other state.....so the union doesnt want to know...they told me to ring the union for the other state but they dont want to know either.(it is too draining on their resources) ...i have spoken to a lawyer but its so expensive, and now that i am suspended and possibly fired from one job i cant afford it....so i dont know what to do, should i quit and just move on? but it isnt right!!!!!!!!

now i have a meeting next week with this managment and i am so scared what will happen, and that they will turn everything around and try to blame me for things i am innocent of......how can i clear my name??? is there anything i can do?? please help . i am innocent!

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Oh it is awful what has happened to you, I just dont know what to say except be strong and carry on fighting for your rights, it cant be right what they are doing to you

:uhoh21:

[sax_journey]

p.s i dont mean to sound like i regret reporting the other nurse,.....she was horrible and my residents deserve better, and i am glad she is gone for their sake...i just wish that i didnt cause so many probs

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

p.s i dont mean to sound like i regret reporting the other nurse,.....she was horrible and my residents deserve better, and i am glad she is gone for their sake...i just wish that i didnt cause so many probs

You did the right thing in reporting the other nurse, it's is just a shame you were penilised for standing up and saying what is right. No wonder people get away with murder :angryfire

[unknown99, BSN, RN]

p.s i dont mean to sound like i regret reporting the other nurse,.....she was horrible and my residents deserve better, and i am glad she is gone for their sake...i just wish that i didnt cause so many probs

I am glad you are not sorry. We are suppose to be patient advocates, which you have proven that you are. Those patients are so lucky to have a caring person like you. Goodluck and keep us informed!!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

The ball is in their court, they have to prove the allegations. Is there any way your lawyer can interview or supena the nurse who originally made the alligation? Sounds like a mess.

Good luck to you. Realize that right always wins in the end. Keep in touch and let us know how it goes.

[SusanJean]

You know you did the right thing.

Take a deep breath.

OK. Now, get that union rep. Insist on it.

Or dig down deep and hire that attorney -- even a legal aid to go with you...

1. you need to be represented here.

2. you did nothing wrong

3. you deserve your job and or compensation

4. they need to learn that this can not happen again and how they handled the situation was inappropriate

5. if they truely thot you were in immediate danger to yourself, were they not neglegent to not contact you to make that assessment???

I think a good lawyer would have lots of fun w/ this one!

But know you did nothing wrong.

[stidget99]

After reading your story, my first thought was to contact an attorney. I understand that finances are tight. My thought is maybe you can find one who would either do it pro-bono or get one of those attorneys that don't charge unless they win money for you. It really sounds to me that you would have a great case with the potential for a decent enough payoff where you might just find one. In either case, you absolutely MUST have representation at the meeting w/ the bosses. Talk to the union rep....might they have a lawyer on staff who might be able to assist you? Good luck. Hang in there. You were absolutely right to report your co-worker. Don't ever rue that decision. We need more nurses like you who are willing to stand up for those patients who are really dependant on others.

[javanurse2000, BSN, RN]

I agree with everyone else...fight for your rights, have a rep at the meeting and do whatever you can to get a lawyer. Did your other job tell you where they got their information? That detail can be brought out in court or pre-court diclosure meeting but it might be helpful to know ahead of time....if it was the co-worker and she acted independantly or was mgmt at your other work involved. What did the mgmt give as your reason for suspension....don't forget to document everything....times, dates and who you have spoken with up to this point and from now on...I know its painful and you must be so stressed. I think you're brave and a great nurse for standing up for your residents! Hang in there...my prayers are with you. - Wendy

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

In the US, many facilities have a "Grievance Policy" which is a mechanism to artitrate workplace disputes. If you haven't notified your nursing union rep about this situation, get off the computer and call them NOW. Ask about filing a grievance against the facility--counter point to what facility is going. If you have such a policy, ask union rep for a copy, study and follow it explicitly regarding time frames for submittance of information.

In my health system, you are also allowed to have colleague there as support/witness to proceeding chosen from a group that has volunteered to be on grievence panel and received training in this area.

Do not attend any hospital meeting without union representation, and in this serious situation, need just not the staff rep but head rep/chair grivience committee to be with you. Most unions have lawyer representation available for just this type of situation too----that's why you are paying union dues!

Please follow advice given and do not try to do this alone.

We're here to support you. PM me if detailed info needed re grievance as been on panel both as staff and management.

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

I agree with everyone as well, and am so very saddened and dissapointed that things like this happen!!!

Get representation and don't take this lying down! Stand up for your convictions, like it seems you are very capable of doing strongly, and go through each motion one at a time (focus on one thing as it comes not the whole probelm...you focus on everything involved too much and the probelm becomes too big for reason).

Good luck to you..and please do keep us informed, and again...very sorry this happened to you! Doesn't give me a warm fuzzy knowing that it can happen to any of us when we choose to do the right thing!

[imenid37]

What a nightmare! You are in my thoughts and prayers. I don't have any advice to offer you. I just will keep you in my thoughts and hope for the best for you. I hope the facility and that other nurse are totally slammed for their actions.