Falsely Reported by Disgruntled Former Employer: What do I do to protect me?

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Specializes in Home Health.

I would consider myself pretty seasoned. I've been a nurse since 2007 and I've done mostly home health which I feel is my niche. I went to work for another company seeking a fresh start after a horrible divorce and just wanted a change.

I was with this company less than 2 months. The supervisor probably met me in person maybe 3 times. Didn't really know me well at all. I did find out on the day of this horrible nightmare she had connections to my ex (which may or may not be a contributing factor. I won't accuse because I don't have proof, but the thought is in the back of my mind maybe things were said to stir the pot).

I had to go into the office one morning. Not typical. I was tired and worn out. Stressed, a little down. Really didn't want to be there. Just wanted to see my patients and get the day over with. I literally left the office before she called me to come back.

She began interrogating me in the manor one would if they had basically suspected narcotic pain medication use or overuse which I for the life of me could not figure out where it was coming from. I do identify as a person with a disability, but I minimally engaged in this conversation while she continued to lose it because I wasn't engaging. The more I engaged, the more she over-reacted.

No one from HR or above her directly ever spoke to me or with me. It was all her and them. But she ended up escorting me to an urgent care for a witnessed drug screen and breathalyzer. I didn't want to do. But I did to prove nothing was there that shouldn't be should trouble arise later.

She ended up holding me hostage until I left 6 hours later on my own will because she kept saying I was impaired and shouldn't be driving. Which I was completely fine. I drove an hour and a half there. I was just really ticked off, humiliated, embarrassed, among other things.

She was unprofessional, hostile, and at one point threatened to report me to the board for illegal use of drugs. So I did tell her to back off of me. I was going to end up pressing charges and filing complaints if it didn't stop.

I couldn't get anyone in corporate on the phone while I sat in my car trying to figure out what was wrong with this woman. Several hours after I left she asked me to come talk the next day, when I was terminated for being impaired.

My urine was still being processed by the lab. Nothing was there that shouldn't be like I told her it would be and they got that report on Monday. She called the cops on me when I left the previous day and told me she was sending my results to the board.

Well she also apparently sent some sort of statement indicating I'm assuming narcotic pain meds to them as well. I was approached by TPAPN which I don't want to deal with that or the board because I don't even use alcohol.

I've tried to get this company to be accountable for all of their misappropriate handling of this issue for 3 months now with no resolve. My license is flawless and I've never had any issues.

I have this cloud of fear hanging over my head every day now that my license is going to get tarnished or ruined over this nonsense and I don't know how to save or protect myself because of whatever statement she sent and the report she made.

I've tried speaking with lawyers which I haven't been successful yet. So any help or guidance, suggestions would be appreciated. I'm just worried about my license and keeping it intact as it currently stands with no issues and putting this nightmare behind me. I know this is long. It's been a nightmare. I was going to go along with the TPAPN thing just to be cooperative, but I've found that they aren't really in a place to help nurses either and it's shown to be more damaging in my case than beneficial so I don't think sticking with them is an option.

They have given me conflicting information and haven't been very forthcoming. I'm assuming they think I'm a typical drug addict with a problem full of excuses and in denial. I don't know. But their program is designed for people with a substance problem and I legitimately do not have one. So why should I be forced to participate and be treated like I am in recovery?

It's demeaning to me. I haven't been notified I've been investigated by the board. First they told me TPAPN would keep the board from being involved then they most recently told me the referral came from the board. So I'm very confused here.

My strategy for going at this, I don't know what to do anymore. I'm at a loss here.

Thanks for listening to my rant. Any help at all or prayers even would be so very much appreciated. 

10 Answers

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Having been in similar situations Stefanie, here's what I've done:

First, WRITE everything which occurred down using a pen & paper. Don't be concerned about spelling, grammar, punctuation, penmanship, etc. Write until there's nothing left being sure to include names, places, dates, times, who said what, etc. and then take a break from it.

More memories will come to you when you just allow thoughts to come to you which probably will cause some anxiety, so write those down also.

After some time has passed, go back to your written work and edit it by means of any form comfortable, such as a computer. Make the editing product chronologically in synch with the events and be as objective as possible, giving only facts and leaving out any subjective interpretations.

This exercise is a catharsis, will help you emotionally, and will be useful when you need to communicate the information to third parties.

Most of those I've advised in dealing with similar situations rarely make it through this initial step in the problem-solving process (surmised reason to be they want a quick fix) so let's let this lie and resume PRN.

Do you take any prescribed medications that can be used against you?

What made her suspect you shouldn't be driving and that you were impaired? You said you identify as someone with a disability. How does this play into you being perceived as impaired? If you have a documented disability and she falsely accused you, you should get a lawyer.

Specializes in Geriatrics.

If they reported you to board and had you fired when in fact the drug test was negative, you have a case for wrongful termination, defamation, etc. Against a corporate office you will win bukoo bucks. However, if your drug screen included narcotics or alcohol, you will most likely see the ramifications of this. Get a lawyer. The board is not your friend.

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Been there,done that said:

Do you take any prescribed medications that can be used against you?

I agree. However I caution you to post only general info on forums. In many cases this can be discoverable.  You can PM me here so you can talk.

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

The problem-solving process is a four-stage process, and some are recommending a simple two stage manure, I.e., Problem? Get someone else to deal with it for you.

We always feel better about a situation when we are actively involved, working on the solution ourselves. To allow another to work on its solution takes away our control, keeps the anxiety momentum going, and invariably increases it because we then are required to reimburse them for their services.

Cases in point: In my professional career, I have been terminated five times, have had client neglect/abuse brought against me, and in my personal lifetime, had had a $50,000 civil suit along with criminal charges and have not paid for the services of an attorney. I won the majority of the termination adjudication processes, had the neglect/abuse charge sponged from my record, and was required to pay only a relatively nominal court cost fee for the civil suit.

Davey Do said:

they want a quick fix

Paying someone else to deal with our problems is a quick fix, and like external gratification or empty calorie snacks, will leave us seeking more with no gain in bettering ourselves.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Developmental Disorders.

I'm sorry you're going through this. This is very scary. Are you able to reach out to urgent care for those results so you at least have a copy for your records? Do you have any kind of paperwork showing that you were terminated for being impaired? If you don't even drink and take no controlled substances, it might be helpful to get a hair follicle test, which would show you have not been using at all over the past several months. Keep trying to talk to lawyers, but make sure you have the paperwork to start building your case. 

Wishing you the best.

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
StefanieM254 said:

The day everything happened, while everything was fresh, I typed an documented everything.

Excellent, Stefanie! 

When the process of shined & polished documentation was done, not wanting to show all of our cards, we need to submit an objective TV Guide synopsis of the occurrences and our expectations to those within the facility. It is always best to follow the chain of command within the facility in an attempt at fair resolution.

Applying for unemployment benefits will contest the termination and cause the former employer to proclaim justification for their actions. An adjudicator makes a decision whether the termination was justified. A legal determination by a government agency is a handy piece of documentation to have around.

Excuse me... my tablet isn't working properly at this time...

Specializes in Home Health.
Davey Do said:

Having been in similar situations Stefanie, here's what I've done:

First, WRITE everything which occurred down using a pen & paper. Don't be concerned about spelling, grammar, punctuation, penmanship, etc. Write until there's nothing left being sure to include names, places, dates, times, who said what, etc. and then take a break from it.

More memories will come to you when you just allow thoughts to come to you which probably will cause some anxiety, so write those down also.

After some time has passed, go back to your written work and edit it by means of any form comfortable, such as a computer. Make the editing product chronologically in synch with the events and be as objective as possible, giving only facts and leaving out any subjective interpretations.

This exercise is a catharsis, will help you emotionally, and will be useful when you need to communicate the information to third parties.

Most of those I've advised in dealing with similar situations rarely make it through this initial step in the problem-solving process (surmised reason to be they want a quick fix) so let's let this lie and resume PRN.

The day everything happened, while everything was fresh, I typed and documented everything. I have been adding as I recalled and fixed errors and of course have documented all the steps along this nightmare path. I have collected a ton of paperwork. A rather large file. I'm trying to find any and all documentation I can related to and surrounding all of this. And am slowly going back and neatly organizing it. Nothing like this has ever happened to me and I'm stressed. I don't feel I did anything wrong. I would never jeopardize myself or a patient or anyone else for that matter and the whole thing was very inappropriate and mishandled. I'm trying to be as resourceful as I can be as involved as possible to get all of this behind me. 

Specializes in Geriatrics.

Was it positive or negative? 

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