Fired for Falsifying Documents. What to expect

[LPNewbie]

Today is extremely difficulty for me. I just started this new job that I absolutely love. I work in a very busy hallway and popped a noon med for one of my residents. I placed it in the med cart and was pulled away. I always initial as I pop and signed. However at the end of my shift, I did not give it. I now understand how early documentation isn't good at all, but I had no intentions to do what I did. I deeply apologized to my supervisor and was thankful for the opportunity but now I'm afraid of what will happen to my license.

Again, I am not making excuses. I made a major mistake but I would never ever intend to not give someone their medication on purpose or for convenience. I would like to know what I can expect or how soon I will hear something. I am so afraid.

[zhapper2002, BSN, RN]

I felt like that was too harsh but everyone learn from their mistakes. I've seen nurses doing bunch of mistakes and I always tell them not to do it again. Before giving anything, check your meds even for a gazillion times. However, here in my state, we don't count Gabapentin and we know Tylenol is OTC.

However, since you mentioned you reported somebody who committed an error in your workplace, do you think, these people are after you? I felt like in every work place, you have to play their own politics because if ***** happen or anything happens, you have somebody who can help you.

I remember when I was working in Long Term Care several years ago, I've seen nurses forget a med cup inside a cart with pills in it, I would always tell them if that is still within the window period - to still give it, if not, I ask them to write themselves up for med error.

It's a learning process, to me, my goal is to keep my patients safe and no harm is done. Cheer up! You will learn your way and for sure you won't do it again. Everyone has their rough start, be sure to always think that somebody is watching you so you'll be reminded of that tasks and things to do! Hope everything's gonna be okay. And when doing medication administration, do it/give it before signing it! It will save you from everything. Trust me.

[Crush]

I have an interview tomorrow!

Good luck. Sending good vibes your way.

[inthecosmos, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Feels like a harsh punishment for something that is easily remedied with education.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I personally feel like it was. And quite honestly, I don't understand how leaving my meds in the cart was "proof" that I had messed up the med cart. What about all my initials on the blisters proving that I DIDN'T. I deserve a write up. Maybe a suspension. But definitely not a suspension. She missed meds as well and nothing was done.

Regardless of all these things, I just care about my license. I really hope they don't make it about false documentation. I'm concerned because that is what the HWD said.

What you deserved was a warning and a little talking-to.

Your firing boss is evil. Be glad you're able to move on now to, hopefully, a better place. Although I do hope the gabapentin was given. It's painful when a dose of that is missed. move on now, get a new job before this place can spread the word about you.

If you find meds left on the cart, throw them out, say nothing to anyone. This is not procedurally correct advice probably, just my off the cuff response. Handle it by policy manual.

Before you turn your cart over to anyone, make sure you have no meds ungiven on it or in it. You've got to be on the Defensive.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I called NSO just to be safe. I'm so afraid that they are going to take my license. I don't think I'm a bad nurse. I just need a little more time than everyone else. I just need support. I'm surrounding myself with loved ones. Every message on here has brightened my soul. I'm taking bites here and there and napping until I can go back to sleeping for 8 hours and eating meals.

I cannot believe I lost my job over OTC pills. I wish they would've given me another shot. I'm not undermining my error. Thank God the resident is okay. I'm so thankful. But I feel like this could've been handled differently.

Now I'm worried about my bills. My home. My car. Finding a new job. Waiting 4 weeks for a paycheck. Meeting new people. I know that I am strong and can handle these things. It's just hard. Thank you for your support.

Gabapentin is not OTC. Look it up. seizures, diabetic neuropathy

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Okay I will try to stop worrying. I know it's not healthy for me to continue to ruminate this situation. I guess it hurts because I did my absolute best. I picked up and stayed when no one else wanted to. I did so many things to help them up only for them to kick me to the curb for an honest mistake.

NEVER volunteer. NEVER. NEVER. NEVER.

NEVER volunteer.

unless YOU WANT the OT.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about. the BON have more worries than some missed Tylenol and Gabapentin. IMO theres no way they will even look at this as a serious report. I wouldn't. Find yourself a healthy environment to work in. When interviewed for possible positions remember you can ask questions too, its okay to be picky.

Gabapentin is a serious medication. It is not OTC.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

You said you reported someone due to a med error and now someone has reported you for a med error. I feel that if this is the case, the DON may be buddies with the person you reported and she was forced to have to write her up, so now you are suffering due to it.

DON wasn't forced. No one would ever know if she had not written up the reported incident.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

You don't become an ED without a license so I highly doubt a regular nurse just got to be the ED. From what you've posted, it doesn't seem to be anything the BON would get involved with.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

For crying out loud...that doesn't even ALMOST strike me as a fireable offense. When I saw "false documentation" I was thinking fabricated vital signs or writing that the resident who fell was wearing non-skid footwear, when they were actually barefoot.

It's this kind of mentality that makes nurses scared to admit med errors! Your higher ups are woefully out of date here. The current thinking is that med errors don't occur in a vaccuum; the nurse operates in a system, and med administration can be impacted by the system. Incident reports exist to help identify systems errors -- NOT to penalize the nursr.

I'm so sorry you are going through this.

If they do make the **** move of reporting you to the BON, DO NOT speak to anyone without an attorney -- one with experience with the BON.

I suspect your license is safe, though. You may want to go on your BON website and read the disciplinary actions. In my state, the revoked licenses were over things like abuse or financial exploitation, diverting drugs to sell, diversion/impaired practice AFTER failing to comply with monitoring, and after various felony convictions.

Not a one for a med error.

[Anonymous865]

OP, you seem like a very nice person who is willing to work hard and who wants to do a good job.

I do not want to make you feel worse. I don't think that telling you that management is being unreasonable is going to help you.

I went back and looked at your previous posts. Here's what I understood from your previous posts:

April 2016 - you received your license

Jan 2017 - you have started your first nursing position. It's in LTC.

Aug 18 2017 - you were suspended for 4 med errors

Aug 30, 2017 - you post that you've made 5 med errors and expect to be terminated. (I assume you made a med error in the 12 days since you were suspended.)

Oct 18, 2017 - you post that you are working in an ob/gyn clinic and made an IM injection error - injecting it too high

Oct 27, 2017 - you post that you have gotten a new job in LTC

Feb 2018 - you have been fired for a med error

You said the 5 med errors in the first job were

"My first med error was not giving an eyedrop

2. Not seeing that what we got from the pharmacy was Norco, not percocet

3. Leaving med in room during emergency

4. In the MAR, I gave, but med still in cart

5. I don't recall what this error was for "

The latest med error was that you popped a med, placed it in the med cart, signed that it was given, but never gave the med. That sounds a lot like number 4 above. If I understand correctly in that case you documented in the MAR that a med was given, but it was still in the cart.

The latest error was documenting that you gave Tylenol and gabapentin, but you hadn't. Gabapentin is not "just an OTC." Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee have all made gabapentin a schedule med, because they are seeing it abused. Addicts report it potentiates the effect of other drugs.

Have you considered that management in your latest job knew about the med errors in your previous job? I live in a city of 1/2 million yet the people in the medical community know each other. They are in the same professional organizations. Managers in even competing healthcare organizations meet regularly to discuss challenges they are all facing. It's possible that your management is concerned that you are not safe.

You stated in another post that your anxiety and depression make it hard for you to concentrate. This could be contributing to your errors. Consider whether you should address this issue before you try working again in a stressful environment like nursing.

You might also consider taking some continuing education in safe medication administration. It might help you improve your practice. If the BON does investigate you, it will look good that you have been proactive in addressing these issues.

I hope these comments do not seem harsh to you. I do mean them to be constructive and wish you the best.

[angeloublue22, BSN, RN]

Medication errors are supposed to be considered teachable moments, that's how we improve. Unless, it has lead to direct harm of the patient, then it still would be a teachable moment with possibly more repercussions, especially if done on accident. Seriously, that was a simple mistake that lead to no harm. To lose a trained employee to a simple med error, just cost them time and money. Wow, just wow. I'm sorry you're going through this. How do nursing supervisors/managers, lose their floor nurse perspective so much?