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

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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.

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

Well don't give up on something you obviously care about. I wish you the best of luck!

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I'm also noticing alot of BON reporting. I think alot of these nursing managers and nursing administrators don't know what the BON is for.! Think it's about time someone or alot of someones start reporting nursing management to the BON! I think this sudden increase in BON reporting deserves some investigation!

As for going into elementary school teaching- go for it. I don't think teachers do each other as dirty as nurses do.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

I think this forum should stand as a model of what the nursing profession should be; caring supportive and instructive yet what I have come to notice is that we are quick to chastise and degrade those who make errors. Nursing is an incredibly difficult career and there is never a black and white but rather always a gray. Just because someone chose to prioritize differently does not mean they were erroneous and yet some feel the need to make a situation worse than what it is. I always say if you have nothing nice to say do not say anything at all, especially when someone is already down in the dumps....

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Specializes in Med Surg, Home Health.

I second what many others have said about getting an attorney if your hospital does report you to the Board. I misunderstood a question on my CNA app and almost didn't get my license because of it. Attorneys help!!!!

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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:

so, they think what you did was HORRIBLE, but told you to reapply after your baby is born? you also said you're about to get your BSN.

sounds fishy to me. maybe they were looking for a reason to get rid of you. maternity leave pay? raise for the BSN? hmm. i'm thinking attorney.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I have to agree with the others. Most facilities would make this an incident report. I'm assuming this patient was in DKA, and my guess is the Mag and K needed to be replaced even though they may have been considered "normal" levels. Sure, you should have passed it on to the MD, but that's not something that would normally be reported to the BON. You missed an order, it happens. I've know someone who missed a couple PAGES of orders, she got a write up, but she still works there. People make mistakes, they know this as much as anyone.

You've had a rough pregnancy, I'm sorry, I'm with everyone else, they just didn't want to pay maternity leave/FMLA.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Cardiac Floor.

Thx for all of your suggestions.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Cardiac Floor.
I have to agree with the others. Most facilities would make this an incident report. I'm assuming this patient was in DKA, and my guess is the Mag and K needed to be replaced even though they may have been considered "normal" levels. Sure, you should have passed it on to the MD, but that's not something that would normally be reported to the BON. You missed an order, it happens. I've know someone who missed a couple PAGES of orders, she got a write up, but she still works there. People make mistakes, they know this as much as anyone.

You've had a rough pregnancy, I'm sorry, I'm with everyone else, they just didn't want to pay maternity leave/FMLA.

Pt wasn't in DKA. Thanks for your post. I didn't know that about the potassium and mg.

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As for going into elementary school teaching- go for it. I don't think teachers do each other as dirty as nurses do.

Oh, yes they DO. Just in different ways.;)

I'm not seeing what was so horrible about the mistakes you made that they feel the need to report you to the BON.

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Specializes in Emergency, Oncology, Leadership.

The comment to "reapply after your pregnancy" is very suspicious. Get a lawyer and review this with them STAT!

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The comment to "reapply after your pregnancy" is very suspicious. Get a lawyer and review this with them STAT!

I also thought this. You are supposed to want to reapply to work with the people who have turned your license in to the Board? Sounds as if they have tipped their hand and their intentions to you. Your attorney would definitely be interested. Seek legal advice.

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I'm wondering what state OP practices in...It may be that there are a number of thinks that are "reportable" that will not affect licensure. Lately, there is alot of attention being given to reporting mistakes in hospitals across the country so that measures can be instituted to help prevent them. Doctors, in particular, are reporting their own errors as part of a national program. There is no "firing" involved, just "reporting". Nursing does like to make things sound punitive when it may just be routine. Ask your Nursing Manager or Director of Nursing for more details.

As for "reapply after your pregnancy" - I'm wondering if your hospital is just trying to give you an "out". You really need to clarify under what circumstances you are being "let go". If you are being "fired" you absolutely need a lawyer to look into this for you and to try to change it to something softer (like left the job due to pregnancy) so it will not follow you for the rest of your life. I suggest you stop using the word "fired" unless you really are being fired. Since they suggested you "reapply" it sounds like they don't want you to work for them but they are trying to let you off the hook without a bad record. Take the hint. Straighten it out but move on...

Regarding teaching - it is not as easy as it seems. Your licensure is always at risk there, too and the educational requirements are stiffer than nursing. Again, depending on what state you live/practice in you may find the educational requirements a hurdle. In NY you must have certification specific to the area in which you will teach (early childhood, special ed, secondary, etc) and you must obain a Masters within 5 years or you will lose your license.

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