Right med but suspended

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Need help. I was pulled into HR concerning a patient's chart. I gave the right pt the correct antibiotic at the correct time. BUT it would not scan. I got caught up with a few other pts and two hrs later went in and manually entered the med was given and at what time. I got suspended. I have been a RN for two years, always on time, worked extra shifts and volunteered to come it at times.

It seems that did not matter. My supervisor was not there nor my assistent supervisor. I told them this should be a teachable moment not suspension. Also we have problems with the COWs all the time.

I feel like this was not fair.

I said that I feel that i should not be fired over this. They said " we didnt say you were being fired" but they did not say i wasnt. First time being called to hr. This does not feel right to me and i need help.

It's not uncommon to go back and document something for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the computer just doesn't save what you've scanned/charted. There's something more to this, maybe not on your side, but certainly on theirs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
No other issues with anyone. I go to work, take care of my pts, and go home. I dont gossip nor am I chatty. I am that quiet nurse that is there to work.

Already started looking for jobs and will be sending out resumes tomorrow.

This may be part of the problem. If folks like you, you can get away with a whole lot more in terms of errors -- magnitude and multitude. It may not be "fair", but it's the way things work. If you're not making an effort with your peers, they're not going to like you as much as they like the nurse that comes in with a smile and a cheery "hello" for everyone; someone who chats for 30 seconds with each of her peers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

When I worked on a floor that used scanning, our scanning percentages, i.e. what percentage of the time we scanned the pt/med, was tracked. A nurse would be counseled if he/she had a poor percentage, and it would often be put into that person's evals.

I don't think its fair of them to suspend you. Perhaps there has been an uptick in med errors R/T not scanning properly, so they want to make an example of you. If so, that stinks...in the future, if it doesn't scan, involve the proper "authorities" at that time--pharmacy, informatics nurse, whomever. If it causes a med to be late, chart why it's late. If it is a med where time is of the essence, put a note in saying why the med was not scanned, that you properly confirmed pt ID with 2 identifier, confirmed the order on the MAR, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Ruby Vee. Thank you for feed back. I just want to clear something up. I do go to work with a smile and polite conversation. Last month on May 10th we had a county dinner for three surrounding hospitals and i was recognized as "always smiling, a pleasure to work with, and excellent bedside manner" as stated on my award.

So, i dont want anyone to think i am this mean person because im not.

Six months into my time at this hospital i had a night nurse fuss at me for being to happy in the morning asking me what i was so happy about this early? I was floored! So much so that it has not left my thoughts.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Trust me in the future i will call pharmacy and whomever else. Along with who i talked to and the outcome. They want documentation to be short and to the point. When here if i get to come back or my nect employ, i will be writing novel-like information.

Found some good job listings btw. If I can come back, I would be stupid to NOT look for another job asap.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

This is ridiculous! I cannot imagine why HR would do this, how do they even know about this, either the Pharmacy or your supervisor? For whatever reason it wasn't scanned should not be a big deal, it was given and charted! We all managed just fine before computers, imagine that! Sorry this has happened to you. Nurses work their butt off and all you get is this nit-picky stuff, cant imagine why nurses cant wait to get out of the hospital environment. I would take others advise though and get you Charge nurse to sign off on it if it happens again (even though I don't think it should be necessary) to CYA.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks. All of this is really helping me to feel better. Still crying a little though.

My supervisor has been on vaca for the past 5 days. The assistant supervisor was off. It was just HR.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks. All of this is really helping me to feel better. Still crying a little though.

My supervisor has been on vaca for the past 5 days. The assistant supervisor was off. It was just HR.

Did you ask this HR person exactly which hospital regulation you broke and if she could show it to you in writing?

I also would have requested to speak with someone with in the nursing chain of command rather than a simple HR clerk.

If your supervisor was gone then you should have spoken with the dept manager or even the DON for the hospital.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I did ask about the hospital protocol. Was told they have to do more investigation. Not an answer.

I did not think to ask for the DON. That was my fault. I still consider myself a new nurse but to not think about asking for the DON was,again, my mistake. But i will write that down. ( im taking notes to help plead my case)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I did ask about the hospital protocol. Was told they have to do more investigation. Not an answer.

I did not think to ask for the DON. That was my fault. I still consider myself a new nurse but to not think about asking for the DON was,again, my mistake. But i will write that down. ( im taking notes to help plead my case)

Thats problem #1. You dont need to "plead" anything.

Act professional. Expect to be treated as a professional. And if accused of something, especially something this out of left field, ask to see supporting documentation so you can see exactly which regulation or protocol you broke.

If they wont or cant show it to you, its typically because there isnt anything backing up their accusation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

I take it you don't have a union, which is a bummer. If your supervisors so far haven't been involved, then you can breathe a whole lot easier. This is what happened: a pharmacist ratted you out to HR, then an HR person huffed and puffed to feel important. This is a whole bunch of nothing.

When you finally get to talk to your supervisor: You gave the correct med to the correct patient at the correct time. Because of a combination of equipment failure and other patients' needs, you documented the med a bit later. If someone wanted to have a chat with you about what you should have done, fair enough. Suspension is way over the top. If you had a union, you could file a big-ass grievance. Your best bet now is your supervisor. She may take a dim view of her competent staff being harassed over such stupid stuff. To the point where they would consider leaving.

I'm thinking when your supervisor gets wind of this, this all goes away and you get an apology from HR. Well, you won't actually get one, but you are owed one. One of the things every new nurse has to learn is how not to tolerate nonsense. It gets easier.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No we dont have a union. But looking at the posts we need one. And you are correct with your advise.

This is my first post and i feel so much better with the support and advise. Many heads are a lot better than one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment