fired maybe i'll go into elementary school teaching....

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Specializes in Telemetry/Cardiac Floor.

Well, I was fired today, mostly because of sick days missed during my rough pregnancy. However, I was also fired b/c I didn't call a physician about not being able to get a PICC Line in someone who wasn't able to get their potassium and magnesium. They were on an insulin drip, and with a BG of 641, and their K and MG levels were normal, so I did what I thought was more important. They said I should have given the doc a chance to put in an emergency PICC. I didn't even originally receive the order...and the nurse before me stated that the levels were normal and I shouldn't worry about it......I told them that but they didn't care...apparently, I also missed an order for a certain dressing change..I guess I did it with the wrong solution...I don't even remember that one. Well, it's over now anyway, hope I'll be a good school teacher. They said they were going to report me to the board.

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I am so sorry and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I can't believe all that I am seeing and hearing on this board about people getting reported to the BON for IMO the most ridiculous of things. I have been a nurse for along time and I have seen some great nurses make some very tragic mistakes and in the olden days we learned from their errors and went on. When did we as nurses become all about the "write up" and all about the "reporting to the BON."

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

just because you get reported does not mean your license will be revoked. Stay focused on improving care. For instance, K and insulin can be run in the same IV. I am not sure about mag, but you might have been able to start another IV. We have ALL done things we wished had not been done. Try to learn from it and not beat yourself up. I sincerely wish you good luck and peace with yourself.

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What are they reporting you for?

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Specializes in ER/ MEDICAL ICU / CCU/OB-GYN /CORRECTION.

sorry that this happened to you - sincerely

please get an attorney to represent you if you

choose to go before the board. I wish you well.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Cardiac Floor.
What are they reporting you for?

The mag, potassium mistake, and missed order. They say it's state law. The funny thing is, that they kept saying, if you want to come back after your baby is born, write a letter and re-apply. Are they kidding? :confused:

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

op: it was very important for the patient to have receive the other medications per the order because of the high blood sugars. the insulin drip is not the only form of treatment in this situation (everyone that does not get this, please look it up).

also, are you sure they will report you??? this seems more like an incident report, where a new nurse (new to the specialty or facility or a new grad) is talked to about missing the orders and maybe even watched a bit in the future to provide some support. i do not get why this facility needed to fire you unless there is more to the story. maybe it is because you are not a new nurse? in any case, follow-up to ensure that there is not a mark against your license.

as for becoming an elementary school teacher, do you already have your cert? if so, why not? a job is a job.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Being fired and reported to the BON does not necessarily mean you will lose your license. I have seen people do some incredibly stupid things and get fired, after which they were reported to the BON because the hospitals have to. The BON typically has progressive discipline. They do not automatically yank your license just because you made a mistake due to lack of knowledge. Get an attorney and keep your license, please.

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If it were mandatory for administration to report all (or any) missed orders to the state board nobody on my unit would have a job :coollook:.

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I am sorry to hear this has happened to you. This type of situation is what turns my stomach on a daily basis. If anyone had told me about this aspect of nursing before I started down this path, I would have stayed away. Best wishes. Hope that you don't get run over in teaching.

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If it were mandatory for administration to report all (or any) missed orders to the state board nobody on my unit would have a job :coollook:.

That's what I was thinking, too! Seems like overkill to me, especially if there was no harm to the patient.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Cardiac Floor.

To think in 4 weeks I will have my BSN. What a shame.:crying2:

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