HELP!! Can they take my license??

[lindskay0]

So... in October of 2008 I was an LVN working three jobs, really stressed, and going to school full time for my RN. I was trying to quit one of the jobs but I was guilted into staying. On a particularly bad day I had was at the nursing home. My pt was an 80 yr old woman complaning of shortness of breath. 02 sats 96% on room air, lung sounds clear. I called the doctor and he said to give her xanax and tell her not to worry, he'd be in later to see her. So I did. But the DON wanted me to send her to the ER but first give her a breathing treatment. the MD didn't want her sent to the hospital. So I charted the breathing treatment and I meant to go give it to her but I got side tracked. The DON asked me if I gave it. I said yes because I was nervous and I had already documented. She asked me again ten minutes later, and I told her yes. Finally the third time she asked I admitted that I had lied. And I was so stressed out I counted with the other nurse, told the DON I quit, I clocked out and left. Yesterday I got a call from an investigator with the state and he wants to talk to me about it. I am an RN now and I know what i did was wrong and I feel horrible. WHat should I do? can they take my license?

[Kashia, ASN, LVN]

I am not sure if they can or not. But I empathize with you and hope all goes well. Please post what happens! Good luck!

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I don't think you could lose your license from that...but you could get a ding on your record.

Going with ABC's, I would have given the breathing treatment first regardless of anything else unless there was another patient in distress. I know in nursing homes you are slammed and always behind, but I would still do that first.

Just be honest, say you were short staffed, and you were going to give the treatment but had not gotten to it yet. Give your reasoning, that the patient was stable and showed no signs of respiratory distress and the MD agreed with that.