I got a reprimand and for what! Am experienced ICU nurse. Took job on telemetry floor, but floated to ICU. This ICU is like no other. Two nurses, one teletech and maybe one patient if they are lucky. The ICU doesn't like to take patients. M.I.s are admitted to floor (telemetry). Since the ICU had three patient, I was scheduled to float there. Took care of my patient who was on cardizem drip. The calculations on the pump were wrong. The pharmacy mixed the bag wrong. When I told the Head nurse about the wrong calculation, she became furious and said we go by what pharmacy says and that is the police. I said I can't go by that. I need to go by the insert, i.e. 125 mg/125 cc. That is the way I mixed the drip. The head nurse was trying to calculate the drip based on 125 mg/100 cc. It simply would not come out a l:l She called the house supervisor who came to ICU and explained that my calculations were correct and any other calculations would be a med error. The supervisor also informed pharmacy of the error they had made.
The next day the Head Nurse called the Nurse Manager. I have the worst reprimand written against me that there is. I was supposedly rude. I was not rude. I did not listen to this nurse and that is why she called the supervisor. What this nurse was telling me was wrong and to run the drip her way would have been a med error.
This manager said, "This was just about the last straw! She had had it with me!" So, I said, "Well mayble I should resign and look for a job somewhere else. This manager says, "Oh, we don't want you to quit. We want you to correct your whatever!" There were also two other allegations regarding communication with patients. The two patients had given all the nurses trouble but I was reported as not getting along with two patients. The one didn't get restoril. They lady didn't have an order for restoril. She had an order for hydrocodone. I tried to appeas her by giving her something for her aches and pains as she claimed she had aches and pains too. The previous nurse had given Restoril but had not gotten an order. I was new at the time and I wanted to say strictly by the policy. Also, unfortunately, her physican does not want to be called after 8 p.m. because he comes in at 5 a.m. (unless it is an absolute emergency) Don't get me wrong. Her physician is one fine doctor. So now I have been bitten and I have two black eyes. And yes we have some very mean bullies on this floor. So, what do I do? How do I write a rebuttal. The Hospital stated this is a right to work state and the hospital can fire you at any time. This was told in our orientation. The nurse manager seem to have no feeling for anyone, just blatantly stating "You are awful, etc etc etc. What does one do. I have always been noted as giving my patients the best care possible.
The vials we had were Cardizem 50 mg/10 cc. So, I added two and l/2 vials and the amount came to 125 mg/125 ccs. I have also used the five vials on my previous job. The 5 vials equals the extra 25 cc. And 10 cc + 10 cc + 5 equals the 25 cc which is added to the 100 cc bag. It may be harder for me to get a job because I am 61 years old. I will write a rebuttal to this and go job hunting. I will be eligible for early retirement in August. This is enough to make anyone leave the field. I love nursing, don't get me wrong, especially ICU/CCU and I really enjoy working with the the night time supervisor and employees. The new night supervisor understood exactly where I was coming from. Math has never been my problem. I have never used Nitro or Tridil on a kg bases. Where I worked previously, we used the standard premix and we don't use the kilograms. I agreed to float to ICU and I wanted to keep up my skills but I am sure that is obviously out. I hope to get back to ICU/CCU full time........somewhere.
I agree, write the rebuttal as an incident report, but do an incident report on each occurance as you stated in your post. When writting the incident report on the Drip, include the name of the supervisor who stated you were right in your calculations. Do keep a copy of each report for your files. Start looking for another job immediately. When you find the right fit, submit your resignation and leave without negative remarks . Make your resignation simple, state personal reasons and do not elaborate with the HN or anyone else about the reasons. Do not be surprised if you are not allowed to work out a 2 week notice, these people sound like they have many issues and are just looking to drop the axe on your neck. Good luck on the job hunt.
I got a reprimand and for what! Am experienced ICU nurse. Took job on telemetry floor, but floated to ICU. This ICU is like no other. Two nurses, one teletech and maybe one patient if they are lucky. The ICU doesn't like to take patients. M.I.s are admitted to floor (telemetry). Since the ICU had three patient, I was scheduled to float there. Took care of my patient who was on cardizem drip. The calculations on the pump were wrong. The pharmacy mixed the bag wrong. When I told the Head nurse about the wrong calculation, she became furious and said we go by what pharmacy says and that is the police. I said I can't go by that. I need to go by the insert, i.e. 125 mg/125 cc. That is the way I mixed the drip. The head nurse was trying to calculate the drip based on 125 mg/100 cc. It simply would not come out a l:l She called the house supervisor who came to ICU and explained that my calculations were correct and any other calculations would be a med error. The supervisor also informed pharmacy of the error they had made.
The next day the Head Nurse called the Nurse Manager. I have the worst reprimand written against me that there is. I was supposedly rude. I was not rude. I did not listen to this nurse and that is why she called the supervisor. What this nurse was telling me was wrong and to run the drip her way would have been a med error.
This manager said, "This was just about the last straw! She had had it with me!" So, I said, "Well mayble I should resign and look for a job somewhere else. This manager says, "Oh, we don't want you to quit. We want you to correct your whatever!" There were also two other allegations regarding communication with patients. The two patients had given all the nurses trouble but I was reported as not getting along with two patients. The one didn't get restoril. They lady didn't have an order for restoril. She had an order for hydrocodone. I tried to appeas her by giving her something for her aches and pains as she claimed she had aches and pains too. The previous nurse had given Restoril but had not gotten an order. I was new at the time and I wanted to say strictly by the policy. Also, unfortunately, her physican does not want to be called after 8 p.m. because he comes in at 5 a.m. (unless it is an absolute emergency) Don't get me wrong. Her physician is one fine doctor. So now I have been bitten and I have two black eyes. And yes we have some very mean bullies on this floor. So, what do I do? How do I write a rebuttal. The Hospital stated this is a right to work state and the hospital can fire you at any time. This was told in our orientation. The nurse manager seem to have no feeling for anyone, just blatantly stating "You are awful, etc etc etc. What does one do. I have always been noted as giving my patients the best care possible.
You could go to BON after she was not following the standard of practice and was putting this patient at risk. Additionally she wanted you to give restroril without an order. This nurse is dangerous. I don't believe you would be out of line reporting her given what is happening.
However, you should write a rebuttal send one copy to whomever this manager reports. Send on to the house supervisor who told the head nurse your calculations were coredt, and one to HR.
Be prepared to go up the chain of command if necessary.
If you find you must travel up to chain then in all seriousness it would be time to write the BON.
Keep records and document everything. I have learned that just because you are in a right to work state does not disqualify a sucessful wrongful termination suit.
Employers love to sing 'right to work' but those who do don't really understand it
Bitten
3 Posts
The vials we had were Cardizem 50 mg/10 cc. So, I added two and l/2 vials and the amount came to 125 mg/125 ccs. I have also used the five vials on my previous job. The 5 vials equals the extra 25 cc. And 10 cc + 10 cc + 5 equals the 25 cc which is added to the 100 cc bag. It may be harder for me to get a job because I am 61 years old. I will write a rebuttal to this and go job hunting. I will be eligible for early retirement in August. This is enough to make anyone leave the field. I love nursing, don't get me wrong, especially ICU/CCU and I really enjoy working with the the night time supervisor and employees. The new night supervisor understood exactly where I was coming from. Math has never been my problem. I have never used Nitro or Tridil on a kg bases. Where I worked previously, we used the standard premix and we don't use the kilograms. I agreed to float to ICU and I wanted to keep up my skills but I am sure that is obviously out. I hope to get back to ICU/CCU full time........somewhere.