Can I lose my license???

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I have been going through some really stressful times - family wise. I was at work and I just felt lousy and dehydrated, so I gave myself a saline iv. I got caught, got fired and now they say they are going to report me to nc bon for practicing medicine without a license?????

Even starting an IV, hanging the fluids and giving them anytime to run in remotely safely would take how much time? How long of breaks do you get?

(you've got a brass pair, that's for sure)

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Thanks for that comment. It really helped. Is there anyone else out there who can actually help me without being judgmental about a decision I made, stupid or not, after weeks of not sleeping more than four hours a night

If you direct your question to your Board of Nursing you might receive a useful answer. Meanwhile, it might be wise to check in with an attorney.

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Thanks for that comment. It really helped. Is there anyone else out there who can actually help me without being judgmental about a decision I made, stupid or not, after weeks of not sleeping more than four hours a night

It might also be a good idea to not put out there on a public forum that you were working while being significantly sleep-deprived, so impaired by loss of sleep in fact that you made a judgment call such as this. It might indicate, perhaps, that you were not competent to take care of patients at that particular time. From a liability standpoint, this may be your smoking gun, and......it's pointed at you. Just a cautionary note.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.

We've all made mistakes, some cringe worthy..yes. Learn from this. Not sure what you're outcome will be but I am sure you meant no harm at all. Btw. I would change your profile pic to remain more anonymous. Your little one is very cute but a coworker might recognize that little cutie.

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If you were so sick that you needed an IV, perhaps you should have called off for your shift. Sounds like a bad idea all around.

A relative who works in a hospital has gone to work and then ended up in a hospital bed with an IV infusing, but they were admitted as a patient before being given a bed and the IV. That is the way to do it next time.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

I think what is rubbing people the wrong way is the lack of remorse from the OP. No where is there really an admission of just how foolish this was. :down:

I'll put it out there--this is a serious lapse in judgement. I don't know what the BON will do, I don't know the ins and outs of every situation in which one can lose a nursing license; but the board might question if someone who made such a lapse should have a professional license. I know that is a bit harsh, and I would recommend getting your proverbial ducks in a row.

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Not a good idea at all. I know of someone else who had done this. It was to "cure" their hangover while at work. I'm guessing that while those details were left out, this was a similar situation. I would call your , and at least consult with a lawyer since this can go a million different ways. I hope this is a wake up call that the life you were living was not one of good choices. Good luck.

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I would change your profile pic to remain more anonymous. Your little one is very cute but a coworker might recognize that little cutie.

That, and we know her first name is Stacey. But since she said she's already been caught.....and fired.....don't know it matters much at this point.

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Who found you and who reported you?

You were obviously dehydrated, not thinking clearly. Whoever found you... should have you taken you to Er to get proper treatment.

Instead .. you're fired and license is now in jeopardy. What a bunch of hooey.

I was dehydrated on the job. I was pale, sweaty, and confused. I can easily see where you would treat yourself as you would treat a patient.

Hopefully, your malpractice attorney will put this into perspective. You were suffering from confusion.. needed help.. instead of this ridiculous over reaction.

Best of luck. let us know how it's going.

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This post cannot be real. Why wouldn't you just drink and eat? If you had time to start an IV on yourself you had time to grab a sandwich and a drink.

Oh it's real. Any one who is dehydrated and sleep deprived... could slip into the treat thyself mode.

Dehydration leads to profound confusion. The OP needs support... not Monday morning quarterbacking.

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Who found you and who reported you?

You were obviously dehydrated, not thinking clearly. Whoever found you... should have you taken you to Er to get proper treatment.

Instead .. you're fired and license is now in jeopardy. What a bunch of hooey.

I was dehydrated on the job. I was pale, sweaty, and confused. I can easily see where you would treat yourself as you would treat a patient.

Hopefully, your malpractice attorney will put this into perspective. You were suffering from confusion.. needed help.. instead of this ridiculous over reaction.

Best of luck. let us know how it's going.

Hooey? What if the OP were in pain at work and decided to help her/himself to some pain meds instead of an IV set and bag of NS? Where do you draw the line on "treating yourself as a patient" vs. acting outside of scope and stealing from your employer? I think part of the concern from other posters (inc. myself) on this thread is that the OP was acting out of "confusion" and, as a result, showing extremely poor judgment.

If you're that bad off, you need to be at home, not at work, improvising self-determined medical treatment. I'm sure that, if the OP had gone to the ER instead of stealing supplies to self-medicate intravenously, s/he would not be fired and potentially in trouble with the BON at this moment. The issue is the lack of judgment. Licensed professionals have a responsibility to the public to not be at work when their judgment is impaired and may be putting others at risk.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Dehydration leads to profound confusion.

She was so confused that she made it to work (drove, bus routes, etc.), so confused she started an IV on herself, so confused that knew to give herself fluids. And, she was so profoundly confused that none of her coworkers said to her "wow, you are really off today. We need to get you to the ED so you can check out."

So profoundly confused she didn't know right from wrong? I call hooey.

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