I just wanted to know if any other agency nurses have been put on a DNR list in the past. I have been an agency nurse for 3 years and go mainly to one hospital and once in a while to their sister hospital. The one hospital I work for I've have no problems with in 3 years of contributing 16-40 hours/week consistantly. I went to the sister hospital last Saturday for a double and I was beyond dumped on. My assignment was split between two halls (of course I was the only one). I had 6 patients that were "problem" patients per the other nurses. Between 7am and 7pm I was given a 30 minute break, thats all. Finally, at 7pm when I was thinking of going to lunch, the charge announced that she was giving me an admit (after being told agency doesn't take admits). I had just finished discharging one patient and was down to 5.
I was upset and didn't yell, but said "you're giving me an admit? I have to go to lunch first. I'll take it, but I'm telling you I am leaving here at 11:30pm and whatever isn't completed, the other nurse will have to pick up". The admit was cancelled. Then the charge was upset because I was on a remote tele floor and had a problem pt later that night. The doc ordered labetalol IVP 10mg now. If no drop in SBP, double and give 20mg. If still no drop, double and give 40mg. I of course being a med/surg nurse and not tele certified said I was not comfortable with this. The house supervisor was called and said to have the charge nurse (who consequently did my eval) give it. The charge was not happy and ended up giving it. By the end of the night I apologized to the charge nurse and I really did feel terrible. I think I was overwhelmed to say the least and this led to my most unprofessional behavior. First ever in 6 years of professional nursing. I am embarassed and ashamed to say the least, but know my agency says that the hospital I've been going to for 3 years without problem won't take me because they go off of the same list.
I guess my only other alternative is to go to another agency, since my agency services a different area than what I live in. I guess it'll be better to work closer to home, but still, it's not a black mark I wanted.
If you've ever had this and can offer any advice I'd appreciate it.
I've worked agency for 12 of my 16 years as a nurse. I love the work. Over that time, I've been DNR'd from 2 places and have DNR'd myself from 2 (in other words, I refuse to work there). Neither were from nursing skills. I will not work a double in a place I am not familiar. That's asking for trouble. In my state, the law prohibits a nurse from working patients more than 16 hours. I never liked 12 hour shifts anyway as a agency nurse. What patient in trouble wants a tired, stressed nurse who's been on the go for 11 1/2 hours? My agencies treat me as a "independent contractor" (self-employed). I pick and choose where and when. Though I've never done it, I have the option to refuse a shift, after report.
So you were DNU'd from a hospital that could have cost you your license. It is they that should be reprimanded, trust me.
Why not be a travel nurse? It is so way better than what you had to work with and trust me, you did the right thing that evening to ask for help.
I can only say that what they did was unethical but you know that you had hit your threshold and knew something would have happened in a negative way giving a drug and not knowing what it may do to a patient you couldn't monitor properly.
It may help to ask your agency to submit a letter from you but once these hospitals DNU (do not use) you, very hard to get into their good graces.
Move on and know that no one died and no med error had happened. That would have been worse and remember, you had a conscience and we Nurses have to have that and protect our license as well.
graysonret
155 Posts
I've worked agency for 12 of my 16 years as a nurse. I love the work. Over that time, I've been DNR'd from 2 places and have DNR'd myself from 2 (in other words, I refuse to work there). Neither were from nursing skills. I will not work a double in a place I am not familiar. That's asking for trouble. In my state, the law prohibits a nurse from working patients more than 16 hours. I never liked 12 hour shifts anyway as a agency nurse. What patient in trouble wants a tired, stressed nurse who's been on the go for 11 1/2 hours? My agencies treat me as a "independent contractor" (self-employed). I pick and choose where and when. Though I've never done it, I have the option to refuse a shift, after report.