:angryfire A friend of mine moved to a small rural town in TX. The closest hospital is 45 miles from her home. The next town is 100 miles. When she came to TX the nurses at the hospital where she went to work did not like the fact that she was hired to be the Charge Nurse. Some of them got together and started complaining that she was too strict. I have worked with this nurse for years and know that she is not the type to shout out orders. She works as hard as everyone else. The nurses that didn't like to do their jobs properly reported her to the TX State Board. They stated that she did not answer call lights, was incompetant did not follow protocol, etc.

The DON was a friend to all of the nurses and when my friend reported inconsistencies with the medication count the DON said that "she (the DON) would fix it." My friend was reported to the State Board. She is scared that she will loose her liscense. She has been a nurse for 15 years in another state and receives rave reviews. She was even nurse of the year at the hospital that she came from. Can any of you help

Your friend needs to get a nurse attorney right now...she does not need to go before the Texas BNE without an attorney.

Tell her to write down everything she can remember that has happened and to save all copies of documentation and conversations she has had with administration, etc at this facility.... and get some legal advice ASAP. Please advise her to call the local bar asociation and ask specifically for a nurse attorney who defends nurses...an RNJD....asap.

Also there is a legal forum here where your friend can go to get more specific advice from nurses who work in legal environments.

There is also a support organization in Austin called Nurseprotect.

http://www.nurseprotect.com.

Thanks a million I have already emailed her the information that you sent.

Nurses need to know that organiations like this exist for them

There is no shortage of nurses, there is a severe shortage of ethical nurses and ethical employers that want them.

:angryfire I personally had an incident where i was turned in if you will to the Texas State Board of Nurses for declining to falsify records at a now defunct home health agency. They wanted me to document things that were false and I refused. I quit and turn their agency into the the state regulatory agency for home health. When they found out they turned me into the State Board. I had all the documentation I needed to clear me but I was very scared they would fabricate some evidence since that is what they wanted me to do in the first place. Fortunately I did not need an attorney but tell your friend to stand her ground and have faith things will be OK! :wink2:

:angryfire A friend of mine moved to a small rural town in TX. The closest hospital is 45 miles from her home. The next town is 100 miles. When she came to TX the nurses at the hospital where she went to work did not like the fact that she was hired to be the Charge Nurse. Some of them got together and started complaining that she was too strict. I have worked with this nurse for years and know that she is not the type to shout out orders. She works as hard as everyone else. The nurses that didn't like to do their jobs properly reported her to the TX State Board. They stated that she did not answer call lights, was incompetant did not follow protocol, etc.

The DON was a friend to all of the nurses and when my friend reported inconsistencies with the medication count the DON said that "she (the DON) would fix it." My friend was reported to the State Board. She is scared that she will loose her liscense. She has been a nurse for 15 years in another state and receives rave reviews. She was even nurse of the year at the hospital that she came from. Can any of you help

Every nurse when she senses being "snowballed"--that's an old term--should start anecdotal notes.......Keep track of incidents and "quotes from uncooperative employees" with date and time. Do Not let anyone see you doing this and don't talk to anyone about it. Maybe your Mom, HA! When there is less than ethical behavior going on and you try to come in and change things you will find this happening to you. Written counseling reports for problem employees are necessary and hold up in a Board hearing. So do anecdotal notes. If you have followed your chain of command and find no support you might start looking for a new job right away. I would like to know the name of this hospital so I can never go there even in traveling in case I would need medical care.

and they wonder why there is a shortage. mattsmom I added that site to my bookmark area. Thanks.

:angryfire I personally had an incident where i was turned in if you will to the Texas State Board of Nurses for declining to falsify records at a now defunct home health agency. They wanted me to document things that were false and I refused. I quit and turn their agency into the the state regulatory agency for home health. When they found out they turned me into the State Board. I had all the documentation I needed to clear me but I was very scared they would fabricate some evidence since that is what they wanted me to do in the first place. Fortunately I did not need an attorney but tell your friend to stand her ground and have faith things will be OK! :wink2:

Was anything done to the HHA for trying to get you to do something illegal and then turned you into the board for not?

I'm just wondering if anything is done to these places that are turning in nurses with false acusations and then caught doing so.

Thanks a million I have already emailed her the information that you sent.

Nurses need to know that organiations like this exist for them

There is no shortage of nurses, there is a severe shortage of ethical nurses and ethical employers that want them.

I agree with you 100%

Linda

:angryfire A friend of mine moved to a small rural town in TX. The closest hospital is 45 miles from her home. The next town is 100 miles. When she came to TX the nurses at the hospital where she went to work did not like the fact that she was hired to be the Charge Nurse. Some of them got together and started complaining that she was too strict. I have worked with this nurse for years and know that she is not the type to shout out orders. She works as hard as everyone else. The nurses that didn't like to do their jobs properly reported her to the TX State Board. They stated that she did not answer call lights, was incompetant did not follow protocol, etc.

The DON was a friend to all of the nurses and when my friend reported inconsistencies with the medication count the DON said that "she (the DON) would fix it." My friend was reported to the State Board. She is scared that she will loose her liscense. She has been a nurse for 15 years in another state and receives rave reviews. She was even nurse of the year at the hospital that she came from. Can any of you help

Hi there.

The best thing to do is take up some Nursing Administration courses in how to deal with sub staff so that she can deal with this issue!

She can also subscribe to Nursing Administration Magazines and read on articles that will help her boost her self-esteem!

One thing more she needs to read some romantics books and also read on some housekeeping magazines and read a book on how to raise children that is written by a Christian author!

Kathy

I've been a nurse in the state of Texas for 22 years and I know that you should first go before your hospitals peer review before being reported to the board. I hope your friend was not denied this right. If the peer review committee decides that is reportable then you should always consult an attorney. There are nurse attorneys that specialize in these types of cases. Good luck to your friend but I think the board will be able to tell if the complaints are founded or just trivial complaints from a bunch of co-workers that don't want anybody to boss them around. In any case being reported to the board is a very stressful event and you should never try to handle it without sound legal advice.