Very nervous.. can I lose my license for this?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am very nervous, I am a new graduate RN- I currently work with a registry. I agreed to do a NOC shift at a SNF. When I got there I was briefly oriented and told I would be the only nurse along with three CNA's working with 25+ patients. The night was chaotic, the SNF was very disorganized, I got very behind on the meds... having to hunt them down.. I gave the midnight meds and 5am meds, did rounds, took the needed blood sugars and provided coverage for those as needed, I also gave pain meds PRN to two patients and I gave BP meds early to another patient who was running a high BP- per his physician. The reason I am scared of losing my license is because I totally got behind for one 5am med, and ALL the 6am meds AND all the 7am meds... I had a very hard time finding medications etc. and I didnt get any "nurse notes- charting done" :| When the LVN's came in to relieve me, they refused to help me with meds so I called the DON... well I only had a chance to give some of the meds late and I was told to leave by the DON- even though I offered to stay late- no charge to the facility- and write my nurse notes. I am terrified and I feel like a failure, I am so disappointed with myself for not doing a better job :( Please any advice would help I am sooo terrified of losing my license d/t this- I should have refused the assignment, but now its too late to do that :(:crying2: :crying2: :crying2: :crying2: :crying2: :crying2:

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

SNF/ECF's are very difficult to work at, you arent' going to lose you lisence because were given late if that was the cause I don't think any nurse would have thier license. SNF/ECF is probably not a good idea for new grads just because you don't have other nurses to ask questions and for support in general. Its tough for exp. nurses to work at SNF, and I think it is nearly impossible to give meds to that many patients and be on time. at least that has been my experience. Good Luck

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Can I lose my license because I did not get ANY of the Nurse Notes in the patients charts done? I'm in Cali. :(:idea: and terrified that I'm going to lose my RN license :(

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Specializes in Acute rehab, LTC, Community Health.

As the above poster replied, I don't think there would be many licensed nurses left if that was the case:) I just left a SNF as a new grad, because of the lack of support, the disorganization you speak of and just unsafe staffing in general. I also agree with the last poster that is not a place for new grads to start out. No one does anything by the book, they are berated and made to feel inadequate by supervisors when they ask questions and generally just get no support. Sorry you had to go through that. Unfortunately, in this job market, many new grads are having to settle for these SNF/LTC jobs that don't teach us anything, but to break the rules and to settle with less. I hope you find something better (as I hope to also).

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NO you will not lose your license over this at all. Relax

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Specializes in family practice.

I dont believe you would lose ur license. I understand why you are agitated, in nursing school you are taught if you dont do these things you would lose your license or get sued, but in rality the real world doesnt allow for much of what the book teaches you.

I would have finished the notes no matter what the supervisor said. next time just kindly inform him/her that you would prefer to do so as to cover all your bases. If she stillr efuses, put that in your notes one day

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Specializes in FNP.

In short, no, you won't.

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Specializes in LTC.

Hell no!. I finish meds when I finish meds. The other night I didn't finish 4:30pm meds until after 8. Because I had to babysit the dining room. If anyone has a problem with me finishing late, they can babysit the dining room for me so I can do meds.

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Specializes in ICU & LTAC as RN. FNP.

It is a shame that the LPNs refused to help you, but I am not suprised. There are nurses out there who resent registry (agency) nurses and won't lift a finger to help. Unfortunately it's been done to me too. Don't get all upset with me LPNs, I was one too, but LPN, RN or whatever, would it have been so hard to assist a fellow nurse?

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Specializes in LTC.
Can I lose my license because I did not get ANY of the Nurse Notes in the patients charts done? I'm in Cali. :(:idea: and terrified that I'm going to lose my RN license :(

No. If something was that important, you can always write a late entry.

When I first started and fell behind, one of the experience nurses told me, "Nobodys going to die tonight because they didn't get their meds."

I do have to add to that, "..and they certainly won't die because you didn't write any nurses notes."

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

NO...NO...and .....NO WAY. Do you know how many nurses give IV medication late b/c they can not get an IV started. It sounds like you did the important things first like the Blood sugars and covered those. What were the po meds? I bet most were just routine things such as laxatives..antilipemics..antihypertensives...meds the pts have been on awhile. If you ever get in a pinch again like this look at the situation and prioritize....insulin...medications with short half lives.....BP medications..anti-seizure medications . You did fine..the nursing profession expects us to be superhuman at times. You may have to wait awhile to get an IV in a difficult pt so they can have their pain med and abx,,,but you can get an in and out burger in just a few min...the place is mobbed with employees.

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Specializes in Perioperative Nursing.

i have been in the same situation myself; i don't do those assignments anymore. however, as a new grad i understand, those places take you without experience and as a new grad you're thinking i just need a job. in your nursing career always try to complete your documentation, even if you have to stay later to do it, i wouldn't have listen to the supervisor after all it's your peace of mind; if you forget to add something to a patient's chart, you can always do a late entry. if you find you're running behind in your meds take a look through your patient's mar and give the most important meds, there is going be other situations that prevent you to document or give a med on time e.g. codes, agitated and combative patient's. the good thing about ltc the meds are pretty much routine, e.g. bp, puffer, and ativan

the thing with us nurses is when something happens at work we find it hard to let it go, we constantly talk about it and we can't sleep, mainly because in nursing school we keep hearing "your going to lose your license!!"

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