First 5 months facing disciplinary action

[Jazmina]

So I recently worked on my first night shift,on a very busy ward which is low on staffing.I worked with another nurse who is experienced however she was just doing agency. At the end of my shift on my way home I was called back in to work to speak to HR in regards to complaints of patients saying they dont remember having vital signs obtained.Hence it appeared as though I had falsified the vital signs.I was called in without my manager or a union represenentive ,pending investigation.

I love the job and I have had no previous issues as a student or since being qualified. The way this complaint and the thought of being suspended has been so depressing and the uncertainty of my future worrying.

My concerns now are if I will be struck off the register?

Will I be fired?

Will I ever be able to work as a nurse?

Should I just give up the career and find something else to do with my degree?

[Jazmina]

Thank you !!

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

Its very unusual to be suspended unless there is serious concerns.

Employee rights in the UK are very well protected so if you have done no wrong you have nothing to worry about. You don't need an employment lawyer at this stage you'll be wasting your money, if you do the RCN will appoint one for you. As far as the NMC go it will depend on the outcome of the investigation if a referral is felt appropriate.

I suspect there is more to this than what we have on face value.

Could I ask if you have electronic observation recording why you didn't record the obs immediately, was the patient scoring on early warning score? There just seems to be information not quite adding up as the actions taken seem to be out if context to what we have been given.

[Jazmina]

The observations are normally recorded electronically however on the day they didn't have charged ipads to record the information on .This was also my first night shift working alongside a bank staff member.I have not yet had the letter stating what the investigation is about I have just had an interview then suspended whilst they investigate.The patient was not scoring or poorly .The patient was due for discharge the next morning .During the shift ibhave had no issues with any of my patients or the bank nurse.I was able to handover in the morning then two hours later after going home that's when I was called back in for an interview. That's all I know at the moment.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

I can understand the manager talking to them about this but if you read their post again they say they was called in my HR and spoken to without the manager present. That is what I think is odd. I would have thought manager would be first port of call in something like this? I was when I worked in the UK

It'll depend on the manager and allegations.

In my previous managerial role I would have had the conversation myself but a less confident manager would have HR to ensure employee rights and proper process is followed. In the UK HR is there as an impartial participant to protect the employee.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

The observations are normally recorded electronically however on the day they didn't have charged ipads to record the information on .This was also my first night shift working alongside a bank staff member.I have not yet had the letter stating what the investigation is about I have just had an interview then suspended whilst they investigate.The patient was not scoring or poorly .The patient was due for discharge the next morning .During the shift ibhave had no issues with any of my patients or the bank nurse.I was able to handover in the morning then two hours later after going home that's when I was called back in for an interview. That's all I know at the moment.

Providing the bank nurse can verify what you say you should have no problem.

[Jazmina]

Yes ,the other bank nurse and the hca working alongside should have no problem verifying what I did.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

Yes ,the other bank nurse and the hca working alongside should have no problem verifying what I did.

Then you will have nothing to worry about.

The observation machines will also provide evidence as most have memories so will validate any observations that were recorded.

Providing there is nothing else we may not be aware of stick with it. Handing in your notice will not stop the investigation and any reference will state you are subject to investigation so you have nothing to gain by leaving.

[spacemonkey15]

It's a bit odd that this allegation has been dealt with in this manner, with HR jumping straight to suspension. I'd expect someone to be spoken to by their manager in the first instance in a situation like this as part of the immediate investigation. Not to call someone in when they're off duty to suspend them, without their manager even present. To me, this sounds like normal policy hasn't even been followed.

Are you an NHS employee OP?

[Jazmina]

I am an nhs employee and the representative in my union is also of that opinion that they did not follow protocol. In looking at their procedures ,nmc and run it doesn't not appear as though they have followed protocol but because I have never had any type of action against me before I did not know what to expect.

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

It's a bit odd that this allegation has been dealt with in this manner, with HR jumping straight to suspension. I'd expect someone to be spoken to by their manager in the first instance in a situation like this as part of the immediate investigation. Not to call someone in when they're off duty to suspend them, without their manager even present. To me, this sounds like normal policy hasn't even been followed.

Are you an NHS employee OP?

I've seen it happen in the NHS, its not usual but will depend on what the allegations are, and to suspend they must (should) be serious.

[osceteacher]

This seems absolutely absurd, I can't understand why you would be suspended over this and certainly in this way.

I hope you get your observations verified by the machines, I fully appreciate the nightmare of putting observations on Ipods, half of which don't work/arent charged or are in someones pocket on the way home.

[Jazmina]

So a quick update

I am still suspended , they say they are still investigating and are now saying it was 2 patients that their evidence is based on because they were the only ones willing to give a statement saying they can't remember their observations being taken.i have in the meantime got a union rep and an employment lawyer on stand by .It's been so mentally stressful on me I have been going to my go for sleeping tablets etc..previous to this I was a very positive and outgoing person. I am just waiting in limbo at the moment .