Fired for Falsifying Documents. What to expect

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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.

Specializes in LTC.
Totally not true.

If your best friend was sitting across from you and they were going through the exact same thing you are right now, what would you tell them that you are not telling yourself? Be gentle with yourself. All we can do in life is to do the best we can with what we know & what is available to us at that time.

This is my second nursing job that I've been fired from. It is heartbreaking.

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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.

There is another lesson to be learned from this incident. And that is, as you wrote, you picked up the slack on the unit, but administration still threw you under the bus when they saw fit to do so.

NEVER do anything extra at work thinking it will shield you if something goes wrong. Administration will always throw you under the bus if it suits their needs.

ALWAYS do something extra if that is truly what you want to do.

During my short time as a nurse, I have learned that nobody earns brownie points. They will sing your praises one day, and shove you under that bus the next day.

If you find yourself still wrecked with worry, set a time limit on that worry. For instance, say to yourself: I will allow myself to worry until noon today, and then no more!

It seems to me that you have two choices here: First, you can contact HR and find out if they are indeed planning to report you to the BON, or carry on with life and wait and see if the BON reaches out to you.

Once your head is free from worry, you may then be able to make a clear headed decision on contacting HR.

Good luck!

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If this is the second firing, you can expect a difficult time finding new employment. You need to put an end to the grief and get busy applying for work. Have your answers ready and move forward. At the point you can no longer afford to be unemployed, it might be best to accept any kind of employment available. Eventually you may find a nursing job, but realize that it won't be an easy task. You have our best wishes.

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Unless an employer-to-be specifically asks if you have ever been fired, I would NOT offer that information. You left for better opportunities, for opportunities for growth, it was not a "good fit," etc. Do you know if your first employer reported the med errors to the Board? If not, the Board may ignore the matter. Was your most recent employer aware of your previous med errors?

I have been fired twice in my career, once before I became a nurse, I was working for a company that had a reputation of firing managers whenever the assistant manager was good enough to replace the manager. In fact, the week before I got fired there were 3 managers debating which of us would go first, because all of us had good assistants. The next time I got fired was because one of the other NPs in the practice made the comment (in front of the CEO's mistress) that the mistress was a "****." The next day, all of the NPs in the practice were fired (oh the joys of an "at will" state.) Both times I had a new job in a few hours. Both times it hurt, I had done nothing wrong, but I got over it quick, and both times I ended up better off in the long run, although I STILL miss the NP job I got fired from, I truly felt like I was making a difference for the patients there. If the **** (she truly was) ever leaves I would go back.

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Specializes in LTC.
Unless an employer-to-be specifically asks if you have ever been fired, I would NOT offer that information. You left for better opportunities, for opportunities for growth, it was not a "good fit," etc. Do you know if your first employer reported the med errors to the Board? If not, the Board may ignore the matter. Was your most recent employer aware of your previous med errors?

I have been fired twice in my career, once before I became a nurse, I was working for a company that had a reputation of firing managers whenever the assistant manager was good enough to replace the manager. In fact, the week before I got fired there were 3 managers debating which of us would go first, because all of us had good assistants. The next time I got fired was because one of the other NPs in the practice made the comment (in front of the CEO's mistress) that the mistress was a "****." The next day, all of the NPs in the practice were fired (oh the joys of an "at will" state.) Both times I had a new job in a few hours. Both times it hurt, I had done nothing wrong, but I got over it quick, and both times I ended up better off in the long run, although I STILL miss the NP job I got fired from, I truly felt like I was making a difference for the patients there. If the **** (she truly was) ever leaves I would go back.

I'm not sure how the BON works, but I have gotten in trouble for errors but did not hear or face action from the board. Maybe my old supervisor never reported it? Anyhow, I know that I am at fault. I have a lot of anxiety issues and my mind goes into a fog. I plan to take this time to get the help I desparately need. I just need support and training.

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Specializes in LTC.
If this is the second firing, you can expect a difficult time finding new employment. You need to put an end to the grief and get busy applying for work. Have your answers ready and move forward. At the point you can no longer afford to be unemployed, it might be best to accept any kind of employment available. Eventually you may find a nursing job, but realize that it won't be an easy task. You have our best wishes.

I understand that I have a lot of challenges ahead of me. Even with a new job, I still need to work on myself and became a better nurse.

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Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.

Haven't read all the responses, so forgive if this has been stated...

In my state, when it's time for license renewal, we have to answer 5 questions about our conduct (basically) and one of those questions is if we have been terminated or asked to resign from a nursing job since we last renewed. If you answer yes to any of those questions you have to write a letter to the board explaining what happened. The board then may or may not take action. You may have to do something like that, depending on your license requirements.

File for unemployment. You will be denied. Appeal. You may have to go before a mediator so write down everything that happened and was said now while it's all fresh in your memory.

This does seem like it might be a little bit of retaliation to me. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in LTC.
There is another lesson to be learned from this incident. And that is, as you wrote, you picked up the slack on the unit, but administration still threw you under the bus when they saw fit to do so.

NEVER do anything extra at work thinking it will shield you if something goes wrong. Administration will always throw you under the bus if it suits their needs.

ALWAYS do something extra if that is truly what you want to do.

During my short time as a nurse, I have learned that nobody earns brownie points. They will sing your praises one day, and shove you under that bus the next day.

If you find yourself still wrecked with worry, set a time limit on that worry. For instance, say to yourself: I will allow myself to worry until noon today, and then no more!

It seems to me that you have two choices here: First, you can contact HR and find out if they are indeed planning to report you to the BON, or carry on with life and wait and see if the BON reaches out to you.

Once your head is free from worry, you may then be able to make a clear headed decision on contacting HR.

Good luck!

I will never pitch in to help ever again that's for sure.

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I understand that I have a lot of challenges ahead of me. Even with a new job, I still need to work on myself and became a better nurse.

I don't know how long you have been a nurse, nor do I know how long you held your previous position.

But I am going to guess, that in both cases, the answer is, not very long.

It seems to me, that there is a steep learning curve. In the year and a-half that I have been a licensed RN, I have learned, and continue to learn, at an incredible rate. Look to peers that you consider to be a good example, and try to emulate them.

What characteristics set them apart from the other nurses?

And yes, I have been fired from a nursing job. Like you, I thought I would never find another job. But I found another position within four weeks of being terminated.

Yes, it was a difficult experience. Surround yourself with supportive people. Understand that your medication error, while serious, doesn't define you as a person, or a nurse.

Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody.

I don't share that I was fired from my previous position. I am eligible for re-hire, and that is all that matters.

You will get through this. Remember, it is always darkest before the dawn.

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Specializes in LTC.
I don't know how long you have been a nurse, nor do I know how long you held your previous position.

But I am going to guess, that in both cases, the answer is, not very long.

It seems to me, that there is a steep learning curve. In the year and a-half that I have been a licensed RN, I have learned, and continue to learn, at an incredible rate. Look to peers that you consider to be a good example, and try to emulate them.

What characteristics set them apart from the other nurses?

And yes, I have been fired from a nursing job. Like you, I thought I would never find another job. But I found another position within four weeks of being terminated.

Yes, it was a difficult experience. Surround yourself with supportive people. Understand that your medication error, while serious, doesn't define you as a person, or a nurse.

Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody.

I don't share that I was fired from my previous position. I am eligible for re-hire, and that is all that matters.

You will get through this. Remember, it is always darkest before the dawn.

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.

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Specializes in LTC.

Well I have to renew my license in June so does that mean I can kiss it goodbye?

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This is my second nursing job that I've been fired from. It is heartbreaking.

Please, please try not to beat yourself up so hard over this or take it so personally. Rest assured that you are not alone in this. I can totally relate to what you're going through as I've been fired MORE than two times in nursing, and have always moved on to the next nursing job. I got fired once for a med error that could have been serious, but ended up being ok (my first job and first med pass, self-reported). And I was fired at other times for various and sometimes unfair/ illegitimate reasons. So believe me, I have experience in the firing department, and I know how it feels. It isn't fun, and makes you feel like you are worthless and your world is coming to an end. HOWEVER, it will pass. What I have learned to do is simply to pray about the situation, how I feel, what I regret, etc. Just pour out your heart. I like to read and do Philippians 4:6-9 which has been a lifesaver for me, helping me sleep many many times. These verses have taught me personally time and again that God is indescribably generous, merciful, and kind. Another good scripture I like to use is Matthew 6:34 because it helps me keep my worrying in check by being sober and realistic about life in general, taking things as they come. The next thing I suggest you do is depersonalize the situation by not internalizing a negative view of yourself for what happened. For example, you can say, "I'm not stupid, because I realize my mistake, I just need more organization, or more .... how can I achieve this?....Then you can step back and look at the situation logically and ascertain what good things you learned you can do in the future to achieve your goal- maybe even put these good positive steps you can take in writing. This will help you also in explaining in a future interview why you left your last job IF you are asked to explain. The truth is, we all make mistakes, as I'm painfully aware, and sometimes we are victimized. Some things are truly out of our control (like what others do), but the key is taking life experiences to better understand our own power and being empowered by others (like God, friends, etc.) Keep your head up and move forward equipped with greater understanding. Keep up your job search and do not look back. When filling out that why you left your last job section on applications, just say "job ended". IF it comes up in an interview, explain it briefly with as little information as possible and most importantly how you learned to do better. AVOID bad-mouthing or speaking negatively of the previous employer in any way. And by the way, I wouldn't be too worried about the BON thing.

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