Fired for med error

[KJAKE]

I was fired for my second med error in a 7 month time frame. I reported myself both times to my supervisor. I have been nursing for 12 years and these 2 times have been my only med errors in my career. I am devastated for making these 2 errors and now for having been fired. (I actually was given the option of being terminated or resigning, I resigned). My question is now that I will be looking for new employment what or how do I address why I left my last job, do I tell them about my med error. I think that would scare off any chances of being hired. I have never had any other disciplinary action brought against me, have never been fired from any job and am punctual, I don't call out and consider myself a team player. Any suggestions for how I should deal with applications and interviews is greatly appreciated.

In case anyone is wondering. Both med errors did not result in any harm to patient, I know this does not excuse anything.

[CJ NV]

I assume you have the union helping you through this whole ordeal.I know how employers can be so brutal,they're trying to protect their investment.At least they gave you an option to resign.It could have been worse.I know of some good nurse who self-reported with one time med error out of his 10 yr.nursing career.It wasn't entirely his fault,the result of the med error didn't cause harm to the patient.In fact,the patient got discharged after 3 days of hospital stay.(Still it's not an excuse).He got suspended for 10 days,the DON reported him to the BRN but they kept him in the facility till he retired.Just imagine the agony,shame and the low self esteem he felt after that for being so honest to his job,patient and most especially to himself.It was a torture which lingered on for quite a while,I saw his agony and struggles through the years because he was my best friend.To sum it all up,honesty is a virtue.It will be a difficult start trying to find a job but I believe being honest and true to yourself will eventually pays off.It will open another door of whole new world,possibilities,opportunities.and challenges.Good luck to you...

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

In an ideal world where nurses aren't overloaded and management stood behind their nurses instead of playing the blame game, sure. However, rarely do nurses work in ideal environments and management is quick to point the finger at stressed out heavily burdened nurses instead of finding solutions to prevent errors in the first place. I have a feeling if nurses were given more reasonable work loads, there would be less med errors. But we know management won't lower nurse to patient ratios because of the almighty dollar.As for your little bit about integrity...what was so great about firing a nurse for being honest? If a nurse is going to be fired for "acting with integrity" then don't be surprised if he or she doesn't self report. Go ahead and be the high and mighty nurse but don't judge those of us who have mouths to feed and can't afford to lose a job.As long as the nurse intervenes, ensures the patient is safe and unharmed nd learns from the mistake, I see no reason for you to bestow your righteousness on him or her.

One of the questions that goes through my mind when I am considering not self-reporting is "What if somebody else finds my error and I have to justify my inaction?" If I am aware that I made an error, and the error is confronted, I'd have to tell an untruth in order to CMA.I would rather be known as a bumbling Nurse than a Professional without Integrity.Because: "Once you give up integrity, everything else is a piece of cake".

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Nurses are expected to self-report. That's the honest & professional thing to do.

I was with you on that until I worked for employers that weren't honest and professional. FYI med errors have never been an issue on my evaluations, but twisted little managers have been. Don't give them ammunition.

If the patient might be affected, I always report to the physician.

[nurmac]

Just curious about the med errors you made. Were they serious like insulin to the wrong pt or minor prevacid to the wrong pt? Everyone makes med errors once in a while

[Davey Do]

I have a feeling if nurses were given more reasonable work loads, there would be less med errors.

Feelings are usually based on emotions and not typically on logic or principles. Therfore, an emotional approach to a situation is based on personal preferences and not necessarily on objective logic or consensual morales or ethics. Acting on feelings is quite all right, as long as those actions do not adversely affect another human being.

As for your little bit about integrity...what was so great about firing a nurse for being honest? If a nurse is going to be fired for "acting with integrity" then don't be surprised if he or she doesn't self report.

I would rather loose my job than to jeopardize a Patient's safety and well-being.

Point in fact: During a Med Reconcilation process, I noted a Nurse working with Children failed to report, after two days, a Pharmacy error when the MD had ordered "Depakote 750mg po BID". The Parmacy transcribed the order as "Depakote 1500 mg po Daily". Knowing that Depakote can affect the liver, causing agranulocytosis, I informed the Phamacy and the MD and wrote up a Med Variance report.

Wanting to gain more information, as I don't normally work with Adolescents and Children, I did a little research. I found that large single doses of Depakote in Chidren can also cause hemorhagic pancreatitis.

As long as the nurse intervenes, ensures the patient is safe and unharmed.

Had I been the Nurse failing to rectify the Pharmacy error, or the Nurse administering the Depakote, upon discovery, I would have self reported the error. It would have been difficult for me to follow up with the Patient's status after discharge. Had that Patient developed agranulocytosis or hemmorhagic pancreatitis and suffered from the effects of receiving a larger than recommended dosage of Depakote, I could have been responsible for that Patient's condition.

Had the Nurse failed to report the error and had administerd a larger amount of Depakote to one of your, to use your words, PrincessBride,

those of us who have mouths to feed

and if one of those "mouths to feed" developed a life-threatening condition, wouldn't you have wanted that Nurse to self report and own responsibility for their actions or inactions?

Go ahead and be the high and mighty nurse

Call it what you will, PrincessBride, but I don't believe that I am better than anyone else, including you. I merely hold myself to certain specific standards, that is all. I have to sleep with myself, and I find my sleep much better, adhering to those standards.

I submit this rebuttal with all due respect.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

We all make errors. The only thing you can do is go on from here. The culture of the unit was challenging, and there were processes in place that were punitive in nature, when historically in your career they were an opportunity to focus on amending such processes to the advantage of the patient. However, I am sure that you learned to check your 5 rights more closely in the future.....

I think you will have more difficulty explaining why med errors would result in termination with no chance to have some sort of improvement plan....

Best of luck

[AmaruAgent]

Just curious..its been several months now...any luck finding a job? and what was your approach when asked about being termination?

[Cuddleswithpuddles]

I've self reported myself several times. I take it as a chance to learn and grow. In the my facility the kind of drug error. If it is an error made with a high risk medication (narcs, insulin, etc) the first error is an automatic 3 day suspension and the second is termination. All other med errors you can have 6 in a year.

I find this system appalling. I am torn about the larger discussion about the ideals vs. reality of medication errors and self-reporting, but it is like this facility knows how common med errors but has no interest in correcting their faulty error-prone system and would rather blame individuals. I do not know of any nurse or facility that habitually sees so med errors a year that they could arrive at such ridiculously specific (and high!) numbers.

[NOADLS]

One of the questions that goes through my mind when I am considering not self-reporting is "What if somebody else finds my error and I have to justify my inaction?"

If I am aware that I made an error, and the error is confronted, I'd have to tell an untruth in order to CMA.

I would rather be known as a bumbling Nurse than a Professional without Integrity.

Because: "Once you give up integrity, everything else is a piece of cake".

Some tracks are easier to cover up while some require a little more effort to cover. As long as you clear the trail of crumbs, you're good.

If a nurse is going to be fired for "acting with integrity" then don't be surprised if he or she doesn't self report. Go ahead and be the high and mighty nurse but don't judge those of us who have mouths to feed and can't afford to lose a job.As long as the nurse intervenes, ensures the patient is safe and unharmed nd learns from the mistake, I see no reason for you to bestow your righteousness on him or her.

Words of wisdom.

[ZPZGI]

It is true that the Floor Manager doesn't care even if you were working under a lot of stress due to short-staff and several high-acuity patients. They will just blame you for the mistake you made as if it is not acceptable under any circumstances.

In my floor, they cut down all the help like a secretary and a charge nurse to increase profit. Every day, I feel like I am walking on the thin ice. It is just a matter of time, a patient will suffer one day.

Oh yeah, The management will not appreciate you being honest about reporting med error, instead, they will fire you without feeling bad because they can always replace you with a new nurse fast.

Hospital with union might be different.

[amzyRN]

If they let you resign, I wouldn't worry about it because you can give a different reason. If they aren't giving you a bad reference, I would just find a different job. If they were trying to give you a bad reference, I would fight it and go to the higher ups. Everyone makes mistakes, to punish someone for honesty is not a place I'd want to work anyway. Especially if no harm was done.

[RNinDM]

Management wants RN's to be accountable, but who is held accountable when we are understaffed and overworked? Self-reported and was made to feel I was incompetent, even though the patient was not harmed and I did not have a history of med errors. We're disposable to hospitals now. I knew a nurse who was fired recently over a simple med error that didn't cause the patient any harm and she self reported.

Other nurses I work with, when our hospital chain started becoming so punitive, told me they only self-report now if the patient has been harmed or they think someone will find out anyways. It used to be we could self-report and then work to come up with a plan so that it wouldn't happen again. Now,we get written up, put on administrative leave and fired for anything. (Unless the manager is your personal friend in which case you're golden.)

Also, remember HR is not your friend. Those people have no idea what the job is like, they are just there to protect your boss and your hospital.