Help Me Please

[ICURNIAM]

Hi, I'm pretty new here. I just started posting since I had a problem at my last job. Here's the basic rundown:

I am a new grad: Graduated May 08: got a job immediately, completed my 12 weeks of orientation with no problems and had been off orientation 8 weeks (total of 5 months on the job) and on my last shift I made a med error: Error was wrong PRN med given to patient (right patient, her med, just not time to give med): My patient had orders to be kept within SBP range of 160 to 200. I gave hydralazine when her BP dropped to 143 thinking that H=High=hydralazine and L=Low=labatalol. Why I thought this, I'm unsure, somehow got it wrong in my head and I didn't look it up. Sooo, pt put on Neo, also a PRN med of hers, SBP within range in 45 minutes, off NEO within 1 1/2 hrs and finished shift with no problems. Charge nurse knew of error in 5 minutes of error, charted in both MAR and patients chart. I didn't try to hide anything. Got called into the bosses office after my shift and was basically told that he couldn't use a nurse who made medication errors, he would have understood it more if I had taken pt A's med and given it to pt B. That error he could understand...

So, I've applied for jobs since then: I was told that I was still hirable through this facility, just not this unit. I didn't keep my job search at just that facilility. He told me that when a prospective employer called him he would have to tell them of the incident (he was obligated). Well, he also said that if I quit that it would look better and that HR would just say to anyone calling that I was rehirable. So..., I've had interviews, 4 almost immediately (it's been almost a month) and then I waited til I heard back from them because "nursing shortage"...I was sure I would get one of the 4...well, no I wasn't hired for any of the 4, I was honest during the interviews and all but 1 was shocked that I was fired for 1 medication error with no write ups prior to this...So, I interviewed for 1 on Monday and then 4 yesterday and so far I've heard back from 1 of those 5 and it's a no...I was advised to seek legal attention (on this site) but didn't want to take it to that level because I did make a mistake but I don't want my career to be screwed up over this either and it seems I can't find a job.....I also don't have the money for a lawyer to fight this...

Help me!

[RN1982]

Your boss sounds like a total idiot. Medication errors, while preventable, do happen. The patient sounds like they were perfectly stable after the incident. I don't see why a med error is causing you to have to quit. I would speak to HR.

[RN1982]

Did any of the people who interviewed you say that they spoke with your former management?

From my understanding, former employers are suppose to refer all phone calls to HR in regards to former employees. One medication error should not be keeping you from getting hired elsewhere. Is there more to this story then what you are letting on? Perhaps you should call the dept. of Labor in your area.

[Jules A, MSN]

Most places, unless your new prospective employer has a personal contact at your old place, won't say any more than the dates you were employed. You are in such a tough spot but I probably wouldn't mention the med error if I could help it in future interviews. Hopefully others will write in if this is bad advice. This is such a shame. I'm sorry this happened to you.

[ICURNIAM]

No, I had minor little issues of time management etc while on orientation where my preceptor would help and then talk to me about it but I was NEVER written up, never given a verbal warning or anything...

I'll have to check on the labor thing...Don't know who/where they are in my area...

[RNKPCE]

Just the opposite might happen at my hospital. They have really been policing to make sure that 2 patient identifiers are used when giving any med. Therefore a med given to the wrong patient implies you didn't check the armband name and medical record number. I have heard someone got fired for this and others put on probation. The error you made was not nearly the same as what I stated above. I can't believe you were fired for it. There was no harm to the patient right? It was your only medication error. You probably aren't a union hospital, if you are going to your union rep or president might help. Sorry this happened to you.

[RN1982]

Most places, unless your new prospective employer has a personal contact at your old place, won't say any more than the dates you were employed. You are in such a tough spot but I probably wouldn't mention the med error if I could help it in future interviews. Hopefully others will write in if this is bad advice. This is such a shame. I'm sorry this happened to you.

Question, if she should avoid talking about the med error, what is she suppose to do if they ask about why she was fired?

[Jules A, MSN]

Question, if she should avoid talking about the med error, what is she suppose to do if they ask about why she was fired?

Well I'm not exactly sure I'd even go with the "I was fired" scenario. I've never been in this position but for the interviews I have had I rarely said much more than "I am looking for a different opportunity". No one ever asked me if I had quit or was fired although come to think about it I was always still at my current position.

I'm also wondering if there weren't more problems than just this one med error that made them want to get rid of her. If not that is just horrible but probably not illegal. I think most states are at will employment now aren't they?

[ICURNIAM]

I had called in 1 time during the 5 months I was there, never asked for days off, never been in an arguement with anyone, seemed to get along with all employees/charge nurses, had passed all 'classes' that they had me go to, (strips etc)...As to the interviews: they will ask, wy are you leaving/left and I've been honest...I guess maybe I set myself up for the 'no' but I figured honesty was the best policy.. Everyone that has commented on it has said that they wouldn't have fired someone for 1 medication error...I swear, thats all that I'm aware of. I was never 'talked to' or given any email/written comments other than, 'you need to go to lab class' or stuff like that...

No, I wasn't union. So, I've interviewed at all these places (which were my choices for jobs) there are those that jobs that I would prefer not to be working at and I haven't applied for them yet.....BUT...

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I can't understand your bosses' reasoning...he would rather that you had given the medication to the wrong patient than to give the wrong med to the correct patient?? Is he kidding?? That is a petty reason to fire someone, because this is supposed to be a 'blame free' situation...meaning that they should discover the root cause rather than subject someone to such harsh discipline. This, is why many nurses do not admit to mistakes...the repercussions are sometimes too punitive.

I would probably just say that I was searching for new opportunities and not admit to the fact that I was terminated.

[ICURNIAM]

You know, now that I'm thinking of it, I'd been complimented by my ADON that I was doing great on my charting (multiple times) and my ability to handle the pressures of my patients (very high acuity ICU), was sent to nights before any of the other new grads...I don't know what I did wrong other than that 1 mistake!

[medsurgrnco, BSN, RN]

The OP said your former manager wanted you to quit, rather than get fired, so I'm wondering why you are saying you got fired. Great that you're trying to be honest, but you are probably saying too much and shooting yourself in the foot. Call HR and find out what they tell prospective employers. You might want to spend a few bucks to have an internet company check out your references - PM me if you want info on one that supposedly is good (haven't used them). New grads (and experienced nurses) make med errors - this should not keep you from getting another job.