Former co-worker reported to BON

[SunnyAndrsn]

I just got a call from a former co-worker who is asking me for a character reference. We were both new-ish nurses when we started working together, and she had numerous problems at the facility. She was very boisterious, and had a potty mouth at the nurse's station. She's not the only nurse known to swear at work, but she tends to be loud.

She had a write up over the swearing. No compliants were made by staff, residents, or family--she was heard by a manager and was written up. IMO, this was likely unfair d/t the fact that most of the staff have heard swearing by virtually every manager. I've never heard another manager write up staff for swearing even though it has happened.

Her second write up was about her treatment of a CNA. The problem, IMO, was that this CNA's mother got her the job (Mom is also a CNA, has worked at the facility for a long time), and the daughter CNA was very insubordinate. The nurse asked for help from other nurses (myself included) on how to handle the situation with her. She asked management for help in how to handle the situation. She was told that the CNA was not the problem, that the nurse was the problem and that she needed to correct her own attitude first. For the record, the CNA was eventually fired for insubordination, poor work ethic (calling in a lot, showing up late, etc). From what I saw, the CNA was insubordinate and needed the write up, not the nurse. The nurse had asked for help and ended up with a write up!

The final write up that resulted in her firing was an incident between her and a combative, resistive resident. She offered to let the resident hit her if it would make her feel better. It was reported by the CNA (the mother of the insubordinate CNA) that she was shaking her butt in the face of the resident. She also stated that the nurse said something about the resident's attitude. There are a few details that I'm leaving out but that is the gist of the situation.

I have no first hand knowledge of the incident that resulted in the firing.

It's now 18 months later. She's working as a nurse, she's back on her feet, and she gets a letter from the board of nursing. She needs to respond within 10 days. The letter lists the swearing, the write up for treatment of a co-worker, and the incident of shaking her butt in a resident's face.

She would like a character reference, and I want to help her. However, I am now a manager at this facility and am hesitant. Any advice for her or for me? Any potential conflict with me writing a personal (not as a manager of our facility) type of reference? Will my employer find out if I do?

Is there a time frame on this sort of thing? How long do employers have to report to the board of nursing? Is there a statute of limitations on such things?

[caliotter3]

Think really hard about this, then do what you feel is best. You can not write anything from the management standpoint because that was not the relationship at the time. If you do not want to jeopardize yourself with the employer, then tell the nurse that is the situation. You are not obligated. But do remember that it could easily be you looking for the reference.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

i am not grasping WHAT she was reported to the board for???? is she confident the letter is genuine?

[ebear, BSN, RN]

Another prime example that the BON is not a nurse's friend! Do what's in your heart and try to support her if you can. We nurses HAVE to stick together if we are not at fault. Discuss it with her first and make sure she has toned it down and matured since these supposed incidents. Make sure the board knows you were not her manager at the time, but a co-worker. Good luck. :heartbeat

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

Either you help her or not. Sounds like she needs some understanding from someone who knew the circumstances. I have seen many nurses ganged up on and fired in that manner and it's never pretty. It sounds like she was a victim of circumstance so I would help her. What comes around goes around. As the other poster said; we need to stick together.

[RN1980]

typical bon bull, dont see anything worth reporting to the bon..think their time would be better spent investigating more serious issues.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

typical bon bull, dont see anything worth reporting to the bon..think their time would be better spent investigating more serious issues.

that is why i am wondering if it is genuine.

[enchantmentdis, BSN, RN]

Sounds like this nurse demonstrated very unprofessional behavior and got what she deserved.

[DelanaRN, MSN, APRN, NP]

Think really hard about this, then do what you feel is best. You can not write anything from the management standpoint because that was not the relationship at the time. If you do not want to jeopardize yourself with the employer, then tell the nurse that is the situation. You are not obligated. But do remember that it could easily be you looking for the reference.

I agree completely. I would call her and ask her what has happened, what her needs are, and how you can personally be of assistance. If/When you do write a letter, you can only be honest in the aspect you were co-workers at the time and if it is in relation to the 3 things you spoke of above, explain you felt she got the short end of the stick in some ways and then how she carried out her nursing responsibilities. Try very hard to focus on the positive, and not the negative. Good luck in your decision.

[kcmylorn]

I too have to wonder if this letter from the BON is genuine. I didn't think that the BON was there to dicipline for potty mouth, asking these insubordinate CNA's to do their job, or butt shaking. I must confess- I was written up for making a 4 letter explicit comment( in my 30 yrs of nursing, I have met very few nurses who don't on occasion use potty mouth, it goes with the frustrating territory) and having run in's with insubordinate CNA's- god forbid these poor things should be asked to do their jobs, I must also confess I haven't done the but shake thing. This sounds so ridiculous, but I think the BON has to investigate every complaint they get. What get me is the wasting of BON time and workforce on some crazy nurse manger compaint such as this- when the BON has more serious matters to attend to. The nurse manager should be investigated/sanctioned by the BON for even filing such a complaint, along with the facility the nurse manager works for.

My guess is the nurse manager used literary(?) license- the manager turned these situations into something they were not, and ran like chicken little. "OH look we have a serial killer." I would alos venture to say- that the manager knew just what she/he(although a he I doubt- this sounds more like a female tactic) was doing when they filed the complaint. This is a perfect example of how Nursing has changed and not for the better. This kind of bogus complaint to a governing body doe not speak well for the Management and Leadership of our Nursing profession. Over the past -approx. 10 yrs I have stopped seeing true nursing managers, and seen it infultrated with this kind of BUSINESS( Walmart, Macy's, Grocery store chain) management trash.

The BON are state workers- which means their salaries are paid with tax payer money. Aren't our state taxes in this country high enough already with out paying state workerBON investigators' salaries and overtime to have them tied up with 4 letter words, butt shaking and "poor CNA asked to work "problems.

IMHO- I would write down what I saw and know of on the 2 insidents you have first hand knowledge and seriously consider if that facility is really worth working in- If they will do the likes of that to one nurse, they do it to other nurses. It also sounds like fired mom and fired daughter have an axe to grind and may be has a friend( or another relative or bed partner) in another high position in that facility. I hope your friend has a lawyer familar with BON reviews/hearings(Nurse Lawyer-RN,JD) after ward- if I were your friend- I sue that facility for every dime- so they would be working for me.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think it's really inappropriate to post such intimate details about why someone was reported to the BON? She asked the OP for help, and the OP comes here and lays out all the details of why she was reported? Something doesn't feel right about that to me.

[headinsandRN]

ironically, i bet someone on that bon panel is probably thinking "why are we wasting valuable time with this stupid ****"