Having a real bad day......

mamato3 · Nov 20, 2008

I had to write up why I thought I made the med error and what I could do to prevent in the future. Ok typed that up on Monday took it to the office. Talked to a RN from corp. on Monday. I was suppose to get a med error test via email. I did not get on Tuesday so I called the office. They said it could take 24-48 hours. Well it is now Thursday and no test. I called the office and they have no involvement in it. So they are calling corp.

The office manager is a duffus. She said "Well it is ok because you aren't schedule anywhere." I was like ok smarty pants I basically take call offs places when they call off sick so wonder I don't have hours. :angryfire :uhoh3: :yawn:

Shannon

Editorial Team / Admin · Nov 20, 2008

Threads merged for continuity.

I hope all resolves in your best interest, mamato3

mamato3 · Nov 20, 2008

Just finished taking my test. I got 80 out of 100. I can retake it if I want. But I had to 80%. So why screw it up. Shannon

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2008

From the tone of your post, my recommendation is to try to take a more mature attitude. Calling nursing homes "FREAKING nursing homes" and calling your office manager a "duffus" is not respectful or productive, in my opinion.

I work agency and I recommend that you try to ingratiate yourself to your recruiter, not think that she is a duffus. Make a little friendly small talk when you talk to her. She has her own problems, one of which is that you made a med error, which reflects poorly on her.

mamato3 · Nov 20, 2008

From the tone of your post, my recommendation is to try to take a more mature attitude. Calling nursing homes "FREAKING nursing homes" and calling your office manager a "duffus" is not respectful or productive, in my opinion.
I work agency and I recommend that you try to ingratiate yourself to your recruiter, not think that she is a duffus. Make a little friendly small talk when you talk to her. She has her own problems, one of which is that you made a med error, which reflects poorly on her.

Well um, I am a very mature person. I don't care for nursing homes nor will I ever. I did not call her a duffus to her face. And it wasn't my recruiter it was the office manager. I was very upset when I wrote that post. My office manager doesn't have a lick of medical background. I tell had to tell was a PEG was. Come now.... Think what you wanna think. As I always say You can not make everyone happy. Shannon

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2008

That's true, you can't make everyone happy. Good luck to you, I hope you feel better soon and have more success in the future.

pattyrn376 · Nov 28, 2008

we have all had those days!! this isnt your 1st med error and wont be your last. try googling free ceu's on work place issues in nursing, might get some good materials, also find a place where you can do the required florida license medical errors coorifice a lot will let you do it for free even though you arent a fla RN. a lot of us have been where you are, some of the solution is looking at your environment and changing it as needed and other is looking within yourself and change there as well. I'll bet you wont make that error again. Agency nurses are at a higher risk for errors because of all of they systems they have to work with.esp since in house nurses have had 1-2 months of orientation to the facility. It might be possible agency isnt for you, perhaps an in house pool in a couple different places you do like? You will get though this and you will be a better nurse for it. there are so many different jobs in nursing maybe you havent found where you are best at yet. Dont let anyone slam you down, when you are bumming get as many ceu's as you can, even if it is a topic you think you may never use (talking about the free 1 hr courses) . You might even be eligible to get a certification in medsurg or what ever you like. you will have to test for that. but it will raise you self esteem. you are still very young and very young in your career, some of us it takes 5 or more years to find out where we belong, so dont get discouraged. It took me longer than that, agency generally isnt a long term issue unless you are doing travel nursing for 13 week contracts, pm me if you need to talk thanks- take care, patty

District46 · Dec 12, 2008

I read your post two days ago, coming on here after a similar situation and in a bad state myself and fully related. I do not think you overreacted at all. I was in the same way. :crying2: It is two weeks to Christmas and I cannot work as my agency have stopped my shifts due to a complaint about me. It was not even a drug error but an omission. I was devastated as when we are called up in this way it is our whole selves that are called to question. In the same way as nursing is more than just a job, then so it follows that when our practice is criticised then it is personal too!

I was working a night shift and noted a patient had been written up for tinzaparin. It had not been signed for on the previous two nights, since it was written up to I queried with the nurse in charge, who couldn't understand why not? I asked the patient if she self medicated, she said not, and I noted excessive bruising on her arms, which made me question her clotting status. She had a history of multiple p.e.'s. I cannot remember if I was told this in handover however. It was a very quick handover. I decided to omit the tinzaparin until I had an answer, either to why it had been omitted previously, or what her INR status was. As an agency nurse, I did not have access to her records as they were computerised. The regular nurse wrote the notes and handed over to the day staff and guess what? I am now getting blamed. The Consultant must had got angry with staff, who have blamed the agency nurse!! The patient, fortunately, did not suffer from the omission. My life is now on hold, and although I have calmed down now, that first day was so bad for me, when I got told of the problem:(. Needless to say I am now looking for another job, as agency work is so unsafe in so many ways. Please let us know how you are getting on. I am in the UK by the way. I am thinking about you and hope things work out in the end!

mamato3 · Dec 12, 2008

Actually I just accepted a day position at a call center for the main medical doctors here in town. Granted I will only make $10.50/ hour compared to 19-23/ here. But it is steady work and I will get 40 a week. In the last two weeks I have worked 24 hours (3 shifts) which averaged out to $4.80/hour( if average over 80 hours which I could have worked if the hours were available).

Don't worry this too shall pass. Take care and good luck finding another job. shannon

District46 · Dec 15, 2008

Just got an interview for Thursday. I'm not running away, just really angry with the way the Agency have handled this. According to those on high - ie UKCC - I should still be working so I am so angry that my career is in the hands of this office manager, with no nursing background, who doesn't really know what she is doing. She keeps on stating standard letter to me, and tells me to ignore them, when I told her about a letter from head office that implys that I should still be getting shifts from Apex, just not at the facility where the investigation is happening. For the record, the mistake is not mine, in fact I was the person who brought the nurse in charge's attention to it, but she didn't follow it up or pass it on! So angry with these people. I do feel that I am being scapegoated. At least you have some work! I have two children who won't have any sort of a Christmas thanks to this! I am so upset for them.

wearyLPN · Jan 2, 2009

I have been doing agency for almost 3 years now. I can tell you that I could not stand being in a nursing home when I was doing my LPN clinicals. However, It is all I do now and it has really grown on me. Your assignment is what you make of it.