HELP! I'm being pressured to lie at work...

[Dana1969]

I work at a government run Magnet hospital in the East SF Bay area, with a group of wonderful RNs. The problem is, Management is pressuring RNs to sign off on training which they haven't received.

This is how it works. Our Nursing Education department, sends out an email to the floor RNs, saying that there is a new policy (or protocol, or procedure, etc.) and that it is the "Nurses Responsibility" to conform to policy.

Then Management sends senior RNs (aka Staff Nurse 3s and 4s), to each unit to with blank training forms which they ask you to sign to "update your training records." Regardless of which senior RN is assigned to you, they all use the same key words saying " expects you to sign this form." That's the implied threat. If you don't sign, you will be reported to your unit manager as a malcontent.

Last year, a Staff Nurse 3 harassed me for nine months, to sign-off on training and I finally caved in and signed. A while later, one of my coworkers had a patient go bad, and she was suspended without pay, and then had to go through a probationary period where she was closely monitored. When she filed a union grievance, Management produced her training record, with all this training signed off as completed by her. I'm a single parent, and I need my job. I'm just so afraid that a patient will go bad, and I'll be the next one to be thrown under a bus.

[toomuchbaloney]

Please clarify what "training" you are signing off on.

Is this some web based content that you are responsible to complete within a certain time frame?

Is this the typical training related to HIPAA, Infection Control, etc?

If you are being pressured to lie about something can't you file a grievance with the union?

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

There is no easy answer. The obvious response is never sign off on something you didn't do. It's falsifying records. However it's a hard choice to make when your job is on the line.

I would imagine there are a lot of us here who've had to make that choice.

I know I have.

You can never adequately explain why you assigned your name to something you didn't do.

[Wile E Coyote, ASN, RN]

How are they presenting the new material? Meaning are they merely staying " policy blah blah updated blah blah" without providing clear examples of the changes? What were the directly witnessed responses to the protests that the trainees didn't know the material?

[GGT1]

Do you not have access to the policies? If so, you could read them and if you need clarification you should ask your manager. Also, during the 8 months that you said you were pressured to sign off... did you ever requested training/literature???

[MunoRN, RN]

What kind of "training" are you referring to? From your description it sounds like you are referring to signing that you have read/are aware of a new policy, so I guess I'm not sure why you don't just read the new policy then sign it, that would seem to solve the issue.

[redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN]

I don't understand what training is lacking.

[Wile E Coyote, ASN, RN]

The distinction for me is if management is providing reasonable access to said required material or not. It's not unreasonable at all for management to notify that policy xyz has changed, expect you to review it and verify such. It's quite unreasonable to hold staff to mystery standards that can't be reviewed.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

It sounds as if it is that you have read the new policy, and that you understand the same. And I am assuming they send you a copy of the policy first.

If they are requiring that you sign off on "training" that they don't provide, I would think that the Magnet people would catch on to that pretty quickly--when the nurse educator can't produce a sign in sheet for those who attended the training, can't provide the materials used at the training--if the training never happens. IF the nurse educator has the materials needed for a training, can she not email the link to everyone to review and THEN sign off on?

What is your union doing about this? Usually, Magnet hospitals are less than thrilled with the Union-- they prefer a self govern situation. That may seem like self governing, but with some "supervision" by management. Call me nuts, however, sounds to me as if they are pulling a "seeeee if you self govern instead of this pesky union thing, these things wouldn't happen!!"

Unfortunetely, it is all part of political poker. I find more and more that instead of being honest and clear, it is always a new way to convince you to do something that is uncomfortable, doesn't make much sense, and comes back to bite you in the butt in the end.

With all this being said, the Union at this point knows--and if your delegates are nurses, then they are well aware, but most certainly with the nurse that is "in trouble" at present, that you all are signing off on things that don't occur (unless it is just policies that are sent for you review, and then read and sign).

Most unions have managment meetings (sometimes monthly, sometimes bi-monthly). Explain the situation to them and have them bring it up at the next meeting with managers. It may be just a matter of notifying everyone that education will be available via email, that the nurse is responsible for reviewing same, and will have to sign off on it at the end.

[trishmsn]

I am unimpressed with "Magnet" hospitals (on the whole) because of this sort of emphasis on training and degrees that does NOT involve any change in level of patient care or pay for the staff.

But OP, you REALLY have to give us more info. Are you signing that you are aware that the policy on personal butt wiping has been revised and now involves four squares instead of six, or are they bringing in new equipment/procedures, having you sign off that you know how to work the Thingamabob VI (when you have no clue) and then firing nurses for mishandling the new "thing"??

[OCNRN63, RN]

​Is it training on a new piece of equipment, e.g. blood warmer? Whatever you sign your name to, you'll be expected to know and perform.

[kalevra, BSN, RN]

Inform your union!!!! This is the hospital trying to cover their butt. You need to be properly trained, but they do not want to pay for your training.

Its not a matter of IF things go bad, but a matter of WHEN things go bad. The hospital will shift blame on to you. Cover your butt!!!