False Accusation, cost me my promised GN spot

[NurseMedic28]

Hi. I didn't know where to post this. I need advice. I'm in a really nauseating, disheartening situation and I don't know what to do. I'm working as a tech in my dept until I can take the NCLEX. It was decided, and understood by the education/management team that I would move into a GN role once I got my ATT.

Well when I got my ATT and it was time to make the switch, I was called for a meeting, which I expected to be discussing the details, like setting up a schedule and education hours, etc. However in this meeting, the nurse supervisor and the educator said that I was "free to apply to the June internships," however "not all of their techs get in" and also basically tried to fire me because they said that I couldn't work in a tech role because I had received my ATT. I was blind-sided and shocked and crushed. I had made life changes because of this. I reassigned my apt lease and found a roommate right next door to the campus. I had purchased different color scrubs. I had shared the good news with family and friends and coworkers. I was fully committed, and they pulled the rug out from under me with no explanation. I asked for feedback, about what could have happened or if I had done something wrong, but none was given. I just had a bad feeling in my gut like there was more behind the whole thing. Things don't just make more than 360 degree change for no reason at all and I sensed there was something I was not being told.

Fast forward to the next week. Turns out I can work until I pass my NCLEX, confirmed with HR. Well, I ended up hearing through the grapevine, in an accidental way that an RN that does not like me made a very serious false accusation about me regarding messing with a medication dosage on a pump. I remember the incident because I noticed that there was a different size bag and concentration hanging vs what the orders said, so I quietly and privately pulled the charge nurse aside and said, "I'm not trying to get anyone in trouble, I just noticed that what's hanging doesn't match the order. Maybe peek in there and check?" Charge said it was fine, so I thought it was the end of it. I guess after the nurse made the accusation that I messed with the dosage, there was an email sent amongst the management team about it. But no one ever tried to address it with me, nor ask me about it. I guess I knew that women can be catty, but I never knew how vindictive, calculating, and downright malicious another supposed "caring" individual can be. And it seems they believe her simply because she's been there longer, she's friends with them or just because she's a nurse. I feel like they would not believe me because I am newer.

Now, I feel certain that this one lie from this RN cost me my GN spot and I am absolutely crushed. I don't know what to do. I've completely lost trust in my management team. It seems like they would rather fire me than address an issue. I can't imagine that they wouldn't address such a serious accusation. For them not to do so would be unprofessional. I also feel like I am being retaliated against because I spoke up for what was potentially a very serious patient safety issue. I've noticed too, that 2 of the 3 nurse managers are really, really nitpicky and get on my back for things even when there are 2-3 other people sitting around that could help, or are doing the same thing. I feel like they're blacklisting me and making excuses to get rid of me. I wake up nauseous thinking about the whole situation and have no appetite. Also, management waited to tell me of their change of heart 3 days until the last of the summer internships closed. I didn't apply to others because it was a done deal that I would start in my own dept. Looking now, about 70% of the ones that I'd want to apply to have already closed and now I'm scrambling to apply to the last few in just a few days.

This has seriously affected my life, and I'm floundering with how to move forward. Oh, and now I get to live right next door to a department that has blacklisted me and is already pushing me out, so that will be a lovely constant reminder.

So, Advice??? :/

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

Sooo it's done and you need to move on.

Nothing is ever a sure thing unless you get it in writing even thing it can be resencended there is another thread just about that nurse had her job offer pulled

Dose it suck that you thought you had the job...yes

But now it's time to start looking for a new one.

I don't think that the "false accusation" lead to you not getting the job. You said 2 of the 3 nurse managers are "nitpicky" and 2-3 other people sitting around. Are they seeing you sit around?

Don't worry about the other 2-3 people worry about you and what your managers see you contribute. Because these nitpicky managers can have pull on you getting hired or not.

Bottom line it's done move on

Similar thing happened to me as a new grad.

Did my preceptorship in my ED I was a tech at. Essentially told once there was an open position it was mine.

Then when there was an open position i was called in my managers office and told, that they will not hire new grads at this time as we had a new VP and manger

I was devastated, cried in her office. Then applied to every possible position I could

6 years later working my dream job

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Nothing is a sure thing in this business-dust yourself off, focus on taking the NCLEX, and cast your net wide and look for other programs and positions that will get you experience-even if it means outside of the hospital...you can start outside of the hospital and end up in the hospital some time in your career. Not everyone starts or stays in the hospital; remember, nursing transcends specialties, so focus on building your practice and being the best nurse you can be.

Best wishes.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

So sorry this is happening to you. The Powers That Be have made it clear that they don't want you, so look for a facility that does.

This may turn out to be a good thing. If that's how they treat you as a tech, how will they treat you as a nurse?

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Move on. Fresh start. Probably better for you in the long run. Be gracious about your exit and never forget the hard lesson you have learned.

[NurseMedic28]

Thanks Nurses. While it's not what I wanted to hear at the time, that's all really solid, down to earth advice. I decided to address all of my anxiety and concerns and speak directly with my manager. I booked an appointment and spoke very directly about what I was thinking and feeling. I asked her direct questions about what was bothering me and what my concerns are. Being assertive like that doesn't come intuitively to me, but I'm glad that I did it. Seems like everytime I take it to the source, I always feel better after talking it out even if the outcome isn't perfectly what I would want. She had heard of the incident and there was an email about it. She assured me that if she had any doubt whatsoever that I had messed with a med drip, she most certainly would have spoken to me. And that seems to make more sense. She also assured me that the accusation had no bearing on me not being moved into a GN spot. She again echoed that it had more to do with having a full internship training opportunity rather than slipping in late and only getting a shortened version. We talked about many things, and she gave me advice. Regarding the false accusation against me, she said I need to toughen up because things like this happen in nursing. I guess that makes sense because that does seem to be the unfortunate truth. There will always be that one person with a bad attitude. You can just keep doing the best you can and stay strong in your truth.

I thought about deleting this thread, just because I'd rather that not any of my coworkers be privy to all this, and because I was rather anxious and emotional when I wrote it. And it took me a long while to get over it. But then I decided I would leave it here for a while. Just in case it can help someone in some way. Maybe someone in a similar situation. And also because this is a place where people bring everything about nursing: The good, the bad, the ugly.

I'm glad I spoke with my manager, I feel better and it took a load off me. I also realized that I've already been waiting more than a year longer than most people to get into my 1st RN position (due to credentialing delays), so what is 4 more months? Does it suck that I thought things were finally working out and then they didn't? Yeah, it sucks. Does it bother me to see many of my classmates already secure in their first positions and me here? Yeah. But it's only 4 months. I've been anxious and depressed because I've been wanting to be in the future, not accepting where things lie right now. June internships will come soon enough. And I will end up right where I was supposed to be. For now, I'm just going to study, and work and save money. Maybe I'll save up enough to take a vacation in between when I have to be moved out of my tech role and when the internships start.

I don't know whether or not I'll get a fair shake at a GN spot at my current hospital, but maybe, just maybe, at the very least, my manager developed a bit of respect for me being assertive and addressing things straight on. I've also let go of being dead set on doing my internship in my current ED. I applied to 3 other Level 1 Trauma Centers and I know I'll get into one of them. Once again, I believe that, What is meant for me, will be for me.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I think you did well.

[Cricket183, BSN, RN]

I realize this post was written some time ago and what I have to say will have little bearing on the situation. However, I did read in another post that you are currently interviewing and in it something was mentioned about a know-it-all attitude. That's actually what led me to this post. I was trying to see where that impression came from because I honestly didn't get that from your other post. Anyway, there is one thing in this post that really stuck out to me and I think it's something critical you need to learn as a new nurse. You stated that you noticed that a drip was hanging on a patient that was the wrong dose/concentration and you went to the charge nurse and brought it to her attention. Why did you not address this with the primary nurse? With nursing, as with everything, there is a chain of command. As the primary nurse, I would take issue with this. (Not to the point where I would try to get you in trouble but it would upset me.) As a charge nurse, my first thought (after checking the drip to ensure patient safety) would be why you didn't go to the primary nurse before coming to me? Do you understand where I'm coming from?