Fired. How To Get Over It.

Nurses Career Support Nursing Q/A

Updated:   Published

I've been an RN for over 30 years. I was terminated for the first time in my nursing career for starting an IV on a patient without having completed the IV competency. Patient was not injured and they even kept my IV site and infusion going after I had left.

I have over 30 years of infusion and hi-tech IV experience. The organization posted a complaint to the Nursing State Board that I had maliciously and incompetently performed these actions. I think this should have been a written disciplinary action.

There was an investigation and the Nursing Board found I did nothing outside the scope of my practice, or dangerous enough to warrant my license being suspended or disciplinary action. I did break policy and it was an error in judgement I admit. 

I have secured another job. There was never anything asked on the employment app about previous terminations. But, I worry that the employer learns of my firing and terminates me. Could they?

How do I get rid of this scared/apprehensive feeling? 

How to I respond if in the future I am asked by an employer?

Any and all assistance is appreciated.

Specializes in ICU/ER/Med-Surg/Case Management/Manageme.
AZ_LPN_8_26_13 said:

I retired from nursing this past October and things like this happening are partly why. I've been getting phone messages about various positions open but I'm not really interested. I will keep my nursing license current though, and the necessary certs current, once a nurse always a nurse, I say.  

I'm right there with you altho' I left nursing sooner than you.  I have an extremely easy PT job - just 12 hours a week - that has nothing to do with nursing/healthcare, doesn't pay much, but no responsibility, work with a great group of people, wonderful and kind supervisor and haven't been this happy and content in MANY years.   Maybe never.  Feel at peace with myself. Nursing was good to me and for me for a long period of time but it is exhausting on all levels.  Financially, most people in their younger years with kids, mortgages, etc. can't do what I'm doing (I definitely live a very frugal lifestyle and budget carefully), but at least they have something to look forward to.

Back to the OP, please do get over it.  You deserve to get over it. You made a mistake, you admitted it, you won't do it again, no harm/no foul.  Never let any job or the opinions of others define you.  Others of us have made far worse errors.

Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.

Bless you and Thank you

I had to go find my password just to sign in on these jacks pulling this ridiculous clown business.  Should have told em you didn't realize you were signed up to work in a circus.  This is so unbelievable, and the reality of working in a hospital with clowns that even have the time of day to do some B**** stuff like this.  Im really sorry you're going through this. And no doubt in my mind , it's just a trampoline to next and best job.  Firing a nurse of 30 years hahah.  I'd love to see the email traffic on this case.  Bozos. 

Specializes in geriatric, home health.
mrphil79 said:

Aside from my very first job out of school when I had 3 months of orientation, I've never one single time had to prove to anyone I could start an IV - at 12 different facilities. 

Thanks for sharing. I have found that there is a lot of inconsistency in what actually happens in healthcare as well as a lot of short cuts. However when it's time for inspection management demands that everyone do everything according to policy. 

Specializes in Critical Care.

...and they even bothered to report you to the BRN?!! Did you have other prior issues?  

There has to be more to this because, there is no way!

It was obviously an act of malice. It's sounds like you're gaslighting here.

maryLVN said:

I have read similar post like this so many times, which brings to light over and over how nurses are not supported no matter how many years of experience.  I believe whether intentional or not you were set-up to fail.  When I graduated I received no training at all as an LPN.  All RN's hired received a minimum of 2 months of orientation and LPN's a big 0.  I had the same responsibilities as the other nurses.  I worked with an RN associate that I asked for help.  She unfortunately did not have much more knowledge than I had.  Inadvertently she handed me (yes I know, but I was a new grad) a syringe of Morphine that I thought she had wasted 7mg of the 15mg and then added another medication as ordered.  It was not until I came back for her to co-sign that I realized she never wasted the morphine.  So I had to contact the physician, the surgeon (going to surgery) the family and the DON.  I was so freaked out I fought back tears all day in a 12 hour shift.  This happened in 1991 and I remember it like yesterday.  I ended up using EAP and getting counseling.  I was so overwhelmed and could not get out of my head, my instructors voice about nurses making a mistake was the worst (and it is bad and could be life threatening) but offered no forgiveness, no way to recover.  The good news is that with a nursing degree you have many options.  I have worked in county jails, clinics, assisted living, as an agency nurse, behavioral, drug and alcohol recovery, and medical sales.  You have options, many options.  Also consider taking classes, you can find hands on refresher courses as well.  You may consider an Long Term Acute Care hospital as well.  Good luck to you, we have all been there and feel your pain.

I know this happened to you back in 1991 but reading this, I felt your pain,,(((hugs)))...whyd she freaking hand you (the newbie) the  unwasted syringe uggghhhh!

Specializes in ICU/ER/Med-Surg/Case Management/Manageme.
HiddenAngels said:

I know this happened to you back in 1991 but reading this, I felt your pain,,(((hugs)))...whyd she freaking hand you (the newbie) the  unwasted syringe uggghhhh!

I had a similar reaction HiddenAngels.  My stomach knotted while reading. About 1979 while in nursing school, the first med-surg patient I was assigned had 21 meds.  Yes, 21!!  I was up all night making drug cards.  In clinical, the instructor took my cards and started quizzing me.  Answered all her questions except one...what is ergocalciferol?  I didn't know!  She berated me like I was a mad dog in front of everyone and to make matters worse, it was on a unit where I had worked with the staff the entire Summer as an aide.  I was humiliated beyond belief and still (44 years later) have panic feelings when I think of that woman and recall that experience.  That experience might account for the reason I get so vocal and angry when other nurses are demeaned.

DallasRN said:

I had a similar reaction HiddenAngels.  My stomach knotted while reading. About 1979 while in nursing school, the first med-surg patient I was assigned had 21 meds.  Yes, 21!!  I was up all night making drug cards.  In clinical, the instructor took my cards and started quizzing me.  Answered all her questions except one...what is ergocalciferol?  I didn't know!  She berated me like I was a mad dog in front of everyone and to make matters worse, it was on a unit where I had worked with the staff the entire Summer as an aide.  I was humiliated beyond belief and still (44 years later) have panic feelings when I think of that woman and recall that experience.  That experience might account for the reason I get so vocal and angry when other nurses are demeaned.

!OMG?!

It's friggin Vit D!! How dare she??  She did that on purpose.  And I can't lie, I laughed when I read your post because I know exactly what happened.  That was the easiest of them all and you knew it, but you were so panicked.  You ran down those metoprolols, furosemides, levothyroxines ? etc...lolol and then she comes with that freaking Vit D with that fancy ergocalifornication name and her menacing behaviors ?... and you froze ...I'm dyinggggg! ?

I know it was not funny at the time, but I'm so glad you can look back now and see the ridiculousness of her behavior.  Totally over the top.  And don't feel panicked, remember what comes around goes around.  I hope she got it together.  I know you did ?

Specializes in ICU/ER/Med-Surg/Case Management/Manageme.
HiddenAngels said:

I know it was not funny at the time, but I'm so glad you can look back now and see the ridiculousness of her behavior.  Totally over the top.  And don't feel panicked, remember what comes around goes around.  I hope she got it together.  I know you did ?

I'll give you another thing to laugh about.  This particular instructor had "grown up" in a diploma school.  (Remember, we're talking about me in school in 1979).  Most med surg units had done away with the med carts going room to room and those little trays the nurse would use to carry the meds into the pt room.  Remember those?  So...this instructor had us bring styrofoam-type meat trays (yes!!  meat trays!!) to use in place of the metal trays.  Well, I was shaking like a leaf and I remember those pills bouncing on that styrofoam-like maracas as I held my head in shame walking down that long hallway.  BUT!!  That horrible instructor (worst I ever had) resulted in me becoming a preceptor almost everywhere I worked over the years and allowed me to truly enjoy working with new nurses.  The joke ended up being on her.  ?

DallasRN said:

I'll give you another thing to laugh about.  This particular instructor had "grown up" in a diploma school.  (Remember, we're talking about me in school in 1979).  Most med surg units had done away with the med carts going room to room and those little trays the nurse would use to carry the meds into the pt room.  Remember those?  So...this instructor had us bring styrofoam-type meat trays (yes!!  meat trays!!) to use in place of the metal trays.  Well, I was shaking like a leaf and I remember those pills bouncing on that styrofoam-like maracas as I held my head in shame walking down that long hallway.  BUT!!  That horrible instructor (worst I ever had) resulted in me becoming a preceptor almost everywhere I worked over the years and allowed me to truly enjoy working with new nurses.  The joke ended up being on her.  ?

Meat Trays and styrofoam!!!   (gasp)   ha ha ha! dyiiinnnggg!! I wasn't born yet lolol.  I love love love hearing the nursing stories from back in the day, nurses truly had to have it together..  And yes, I can picture you shaking and walking nervously down that hallway..... 

See I knew it, those types of experiences ALMOST ALWAYS certainly lead to exceptional behavior.  I'm so proud of you and I bet the new nurses adore you.  ?

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