disciplinary nightmare

rosieposie · Dec 14, 2003

I was hired while still in Nursing school....

was hired as medical personell...(thats what the office manager called it)

StudentNurse01 · Dec 14, 2003

I must be basic and say that I am incredibly astonished that you documented RN at the end of your name.

I am a student nurse approaching my second year now, we are told time and time again under no circumstances are you to refer or document ourselves as a registered nurse. In fact it is against the NMC code of professional conduct and clearly against the law.

When we document we place St/N (obviously meanings Student Nurse) and then get a second signature form a registered practitioner (either a nurse, doctor etc..)

Well I hope and pray that things go okay for you; CCU NRS seems to know what she is talking about.

Shaun.

[email protected] · Dec 14, 2003

Rosieposey,

Can't understand your stupidity, but have read most of the great posts about how to deal with it. If you're allowed to have an attorney at your hearing you're in a better position than I am. I was fired because my boss found it easier to shit can me, after a 20 year career as an ER nurse, and make me inelegible for unemployment by getting a security guard who had a grudge against me say that he found a wine bottle in my locker. I am now unhireable as a nurse, so my career is effectively over. I have a "hearing" on Tuesday that could re-instate me with back wages and quietly transfer me to another shift and another ER on the other side of town. I am not allowed to have my lawyer at my "hearing", so I have to be my own lawyer at the hearing. Believe me, as soon as I realized I was in trouble at work, I called my attorneys. They have adivised me through the disciplinary process and pointed out when administration was non-compliant with hospital policy.

Best of luck with your hearing. Read and heed the advice you've gotten thus far, and establish your own nursing adivisory network.

Jon in Detroit.:kiss

CCU NRS · Dec 14, 2003

Originally posted by StudentNurse01
I must be basic and say that I am incredibly astonished that you documented RN at the end of your name.
I am a student nurse approaching my second year now, we are told time and time again under no circumstances are you to refer or document ourselves as a registered nurse. In fact it is against the NMC code of professional conduct and clearly against the law.
When we document we place St/N (obviously meanings Student Nurse) and then get a second signature form a registered practitioner (either a nurse, doctor etc..)
Well I hope and pray that things go okay for you; CCU NRS seems to know what she is talking about.

Shaun.

Just for future reference though I am a guy... LOL

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Dec 14, 2003

Rosie Posie,

I'm sorry that you got yourself into this mess, and am sure once it's all over, you will never make this mistake again. Sometimes we do do things thoughtlessly, but dear girl, it NEVER pays to assume, especially when it comes to where people's lives are concerned. That is why there are such strict rules and roles of conduct in the medical field.

I have learned that the word, "assume" definitely does make an ass out of you and me.

I do wish you the best possible outcome whatever that may be.

Fran

[email protected] · Dec 16, 2003

Rosieposey,

Don't know if you read my last post, but here's what worked for me. I have a hearing in the morning. I will walk into a room all alone, neither lawyer nor witnesses, who will either end my nursing career, or put it back on track. Like somebody else said in a earlier post, "their minds are 80% made up to trash you." Do not consider them the enemy, but as allies. Look em dead in the eye, say as little as possible, only what you MUST say to defend yourself. Answer questions simply and concisely. If you can, answer each question in only three ways; yes, no, or I don't know. If you intend to plead ignorance, tell them that you have definitely learned that it was wrong, and thank them for helping you learn that it was wrong. Be emphatic that you now realize how wrong it was and you wish you could take it back. Find some coaches. Lawyers know law, but they might not know beans about nursing review boards. See if you can find some nurses. What about former instructors. They should know something about review boards, and would love to help a former student. Do you know any old hag (sorry, sometimes the old boy just can't help himself) nurses who might help you educate yourself? In most states review board actions are a matter of public record. If your lawyer has not been giving you information about what to expect, maybe you need a better lawyer. In an earlier post someone suggested that having a lawyer might imply guilt. DO NOT LISTEN TO SUCH NONSENSE! In today's world you need a lawyer even more than you need clean underpants. I called my lawyer the minute I suspected I was in trouble. and was emailing him important stuff within hours.

Most of the help that has gotten me through all this (no income for 6 mos., maybe no future in nursing) has come to me came as a result of prayer. I'm not very religious, so I ask my friends who are to pray for me. Their prayers, and my tiny ones, have brought me help that I never would have expected. One friend told me how to tap my IRA to live on. Another one takes us to neat shows/concerts/mujseums that are fun, cheap and free.

My lawyers have been helpful in building a decent legal case if the disciplinary route goes the wrong way. The greatest God-send is Don (fake name), although he'd be last to admit to being a child of God. After Don had us over for a wonderful dinner that he cooked he coached me about how to handle my hearing. At my hearing I get two times to tell my side. I wrote the "script" for my "opening statement" and emailed it to Don. Ten minutes later Don emailed me back a closing statement (based on his many years as a hospital nurse) that I couldn't write in a month! He also committed to meeting me at a resturaunt before my hearing to coach me through another rehearsal.

At noon tomorrow I will be a different person I will do the same thing that I did after spending two long days sitting for nursing boards. I will give my self a big pat on the back and hug for FINISHING. I won't get the official thumbs up/down until maybe next year, but I can forget all about this crap. I can sing in concerts and enjoy my holidays without the least thought about any of it.

Good luck, and remember to send good vibes to everyone, cause you never know which of 'em will come back better than you sent them.

Jon:kiss

rosieposie · Dec 16, 2003

i wish you all the luck in the world today.....i will be thinking of you.....please let me know how it goes & again good luck

Big Bab's · Dec 22, 2003

Roseyposy, I just wanted to reiterate that you are NOT stupid or dumb at all!!!.....Ignorant maybe, but that is not a crime in my book.......People have misunderstandings like this all the time and if you're willing to admit your mistake and do whatever needs to be done to make it right, then learn from it and go move on, well, that's all that can be asked of anyone in this life......Anywho, keep your chin up!!.....Things will work out.

Sarah Kat · Dec 22, 2003

Originally posted by mattsmom81
The law itself states ignorance of the law is no excuse.

Nursing regulations notwithstanding, in general the law is such a complex and vast creature that we need lawyers, and many varied specialties within the law, to interpret it for us layfolk. I think once upon a time the above saying held truth, but no more. Heck, even lawyers hire people to do the research into the law for them. Obviously some things are well known -- ie murder is illegal, stealing is illegal, etc. But there are so many specific and general laws with all manner of loopholes, I don't see how people could know them all. I'd like to see any lawyer who knows all of the laws of the country they live in. Ok done with my rant.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Dec 22, 2003

Just catching up on this thread.

Rosie, you've gotten some excellent counsel here. Please keep us posted on how this goes for you. Good luck!

P.S. to cotjockey -- Super post!

pieWACKet · Jan 17, 2004

RosiePosie

The 4th is past. What happened? Please let me know. I thought of you then, and have thought of you since.

rosieposie · Jan 19, 2004

hello....I havent gone yet...my date was postponed.....I am having complications with my pregnancy.....

Havent heard from my attorney on when next date is (just received her bill)....I guess no news is good news...

Thank you for thinking of me & i appreciate your thoughts........Talk to you soon........