HELP! Afraid to lose license after fired!

[indylpn08]

I was fired from an Indiana LTC facility when I didn't get a resident their pain medication quickly. The resident had just come back from the hospital (from pneumonia) and had pain from a prior ORIF. In my defense, she was premedicated at 3 pm at the hospital and the new orders said to give a percocet 5/500 Q6H so she could not be medicated again until 9 at the earliest. My shift ends at 1030 and there were no other pain orders! I found out that there is no 5/500 dose (only 5/325) after frantically checking the emergency drug kit on both sides of the building, calling the doctor's cell 3 times and only getting voicemail, and finally calling the nurse on call for advice. The 3rd shift nurse called the doctor again at his home number and he did answer and change the order to 5/325. Usually this doctor can always be contacted via cellphone. The next day I was fired by the DNS for allegedly not following the official procedure for contacting doctors such as one call and then if no callback within 30 minutes, call the medical director, then if no callback within 30 minutes, call the nurse on call. The DNS (who was the NOC that night) even told me that night to try calling a second different doctor who sometimes covers which is against the official procedure for which I was fired. I had been given a final written warning about 3 weeks before with no verbal, 1st, or 2nd written warning. It was for a resident being found by the 3rd shift on a deflated air mattress (which was later repaired after this spontaneously happened to 2 other nurses) and for his g-tube leaking solution. The resident was unharmed.

All of this is not the end of the world but I just got my license last year and I hope to do an RN transition program and apply for a new RN license. I know that question 5 on the IN license renewal/application asks if you have been fired or reprimanded at any nursing job. This is under penalty of perjury. I posted this on the IN board but it got no reply. Does the board typically renew/grant new licenses if there is a termination for some sort of clinical grounds? I did try to get the medication but I failed and it was given ASAP on 3rd shift. I called the board anonymously but they said that they could not comment without full details (such as my name). MOST IMPORTANTLY, has anyone put a reprimand or termination on a renewal or new application and gotten a new license? Do LTC facilities typically notify the BON if you've been fired other than for drugs/booze, etc? I am also aware of a few deficiencies at that LTC including carelessness by another nurse that caused that ORIF in the first place. These deficiencies are a few months old already but I wonder if I told the dept. of health would that appease the BON that I am trying to do the right thing for residents' care and give me the new license or is this idea crazy? Thanks for any help!:cry:

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

I live in Indiana and don't know the answer to your questions. Sorry. I do not think notifying the state about the facilities other shortcomings is going to do anything to protect your situation (two wrongs, doesn't make it right).

I hope you documented ALL your attempts to notify the physician very well. This may make a huge difference for you. Good luck

[PICNICRN, BSN, RN]

I doubt you will have your license revoked from being terminated from a job. From what you have described, I doubt what you did would warrant a complaint to the board for suspending your license. You should ,however, be truthful on your application- they ususally give you a space to "explain yourself".

[indylpn08]

Thanks for your reply. I did write a nurse's note in the chart knowing that I was in trouble. I wrote that I called the MD "3x" (three times) although I did not enter the times. Also, I noted that I searched the other side's emergency drug kit and notified the nurse on call. I wonder if the state BON really started looking if they would be willing to contact the MD and verify that I left him two voicemails? The MD is fairly pleasant and seems not out to get nurses. Thanks again.

[achot chavi]

At the risk of sounding harsh and I dont mean to , because I truly beleive that we eat our young and your DON was wrong in firing you, she should have used the incident as a learning experience, after all you are a new nurse and have lots to learn. So please take this in the most positive light as you can:

Thou doth protesteth too much, the truth is (and it would be better just to say you have learned from ur mistakes)- you had other doctors to call and you should have done that. It is not the end of the world, you are a new nurse and are still learning,

I dont think you will lose your license from this but I would eat a bit of humble pie, admit that you didn't think to call the other doctors were sure that you would be successful at reaching the primary etc.

Did you record in the chart the level of pain that the patient was in and any other interventions (non medical) you may have done to alleviate the pain?

BTW next time you chart I would definitely record the times you called the doctor and who else you tried to reach. It really insnt enuf to write "called the doctor 3x's"

I would definitely not lie when answering any questions about being fired in the past, i would admit it if asked and explain that i made an honest mistake, and have learned from it.

You sound sincere, I am sure this will blow over , Good Luck,

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Doesn't sound like your infraction was enough to call the BON. Nurses get fired every day for just cause and not just cause. Tell the truth on your next application. Everyone makes mistakes. Learn from yours and go on.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Have to agree with the above two posters.

I've run into this type of situation alot when working weekends. If the doc doesn't call back, the next person I'm calling is the medical director and the DON to let them know the problems I'm having. Always let your in house super know too. Document to CYA all the time.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

So has this situation resolved itself? Are you working some place else? I think you got a raw deal and hope the next job is better for you. Blessings.

[indylpn08]

Thanks for all your advice! I finally found out that my appeal to the owners of the LTC facility rejected my appeal of my termination. I was not hopeful and I now see that it was a waste of time. I have started applying for new jobs and now have a new problem. I had a third party call this facility and pump them for a reference for me. I was afraid of being screened out of future jobs because this is my first nursing job. My ex-supervisor dumped on me and said things such as I was good at med passing and needed work on everything else and other items. They talked to the staff development coordinator (HR) who is supposed to give out the references although job applications always say to list the supervisor name and title. The reference checker said that the SDC acted annoyed and gruffly gave my job title and dates of employment and said she wouldn't comment on eligibility for rehire because she is "only required to give title and dates of employment." I listed the SDC on my application for assisted living and will explain that only she can give a reference. I now have to explain to prospective employers. Is it better to lie (say that I quit because I didn't like it, understaffed, etc) and hope that they believe me and my funny reference from the last employer or tell the truth (I was fired because I didn't follow the procedure for contacting doctors exactly) and hope they don't think that I am a screwup who will make another mistake?

[achot chavi]

Dont lie, it will come back to haunt you , recommend references that will say nice things about you, or admit on interview that your last job didn't work out but it was a great learning experience and you want to build on that. I dont think you need to get into the nitty gritty of whatever problems you had there, if asked you can say in general that you had trouble reaching a doctor and have learned probably the hard way to be more assertive.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

We are only allowed by company policy when asked for a reference to give the dates the person worked there. We are not even supposed to answer the "would you rehire them' question...stupid ,if you ask me, in healthcare where a bad employee could actually kill someone!

[debRN0417]

Never, never lie....not to anyone at anytime- be sure your sins will find you out! If you lie on an employment application and it is found out, you will be terminated for falsification of the application and there again is a problem. (this could be reported to the BON) Also who is going to want to hire someone who is untruthful? Be honest, you are young, you made a mistake, learn from it.