I have been an RN for 5 years. Two years ago, a small hospital in which I was practicing reported to my state BON every mistake I had made during my entire 2 years of employment. This happened AFTER a doctor and myself got into a very heated argument over a pt. I made the mistake of questioning his orders. This doctor is known for his fury! He is NEVER wrong! He reported to the DON the incident and she informed me I should submit to a drug screen for the doctor had stated: "She has errated behavior".
Well, I firmly 'planted my feet' and refused a drug screen unless the doctor also took one. Well, this went over like a 'turd in a punch bowl'. After approx one hour of discussion, I resigned after telling them all how I felt.
My license were placed on 2 year probation and I had to sign an Agreed Order with my state BON. I had NO idea how serious this was. I had no clue r/g an attorney so I signed the agreement.
The probation would have been up in Feb. BUT, I recently went to work for a small nursing home. My job responsibilities were: passing meds to 38 residents, skilled charting, assessing the skilled residents, breathing txments, wound care, and any admissions which came in, take orders off from incoming requests the day-shift nurse had requested, ordering all meds for residents.
I eventually made two med-errors which consisted of a med not given to two residents.I filled out a med error form.I also faxed an order for a resident to our out of state pharmacy and failed to place her name on the order. The pharmacy called almost immediatly for the name inwhich I supplied.
After approx 50 days into this job, the new hires, one of which at been there 6mos, were place in one day orientation. I was fired a few days later for the above incidents. This facility reported this to the board.
What you all need to understand about this night-mare is this: I stupidly signed an Agreed Order with the BON stating I would be PERFECT. You all know as well myself, we as nurses are NOT perfect no more than any one else in this world.
that was signed by the DR to the "T" and the DR came in in a foul mood and yelled at everyone and said the other nurse did not follow orders, that he did not write the order, eventhough it had his very distinctive signature, and she almost lost her license.>>
I can't see here how she lost her license. She had his signature on his order.
It is sooo ridiculously easy in our health care system to scapegoat a nurse. Even if you're in the right, you must pay an attorney thousands of $$$ to defend you, and people will whisper forever (and record on Group One type reporting services) that you were reported to the BON even if vindicated. ANYBODY can call the BON and launch an investigation, the BON is expected to investigate. People can do this for vindictive purposes alone to disrupt someones life, and they do.
I wonder if people knew this would ANYBODY go into nursing...probably not which is why this is hushed up, and why some here refuse to believe it happens, and it happens to good nurses.
We are expected to police doctors and all other health care workers or we're neglectful. We are to be near perfect in every way and never have a bad patient outcome(they will find a way to scapegoat you if they can, if it helps the facility). Our personal lives are to be perfect as is our health. Everyone must love us. Don't ever get hurt, don't 'make' anybody unhappy on the job or they will complain, and the witchhunt can start.. As we age we dare not open out mouths lest we pizz off a manager and they go after us. Our job description itself is a BON report waiting to happen, and our working conditions and endless paperwork (which increasingly takes us away from out patients) is designed to primarily protect the FACILITY, not us.
What a sad state nursing is in. No wonder there is a shortage.
After reading this thread I realize I am blessed! I work in a great place, suppportive staff and have a pharmacist on duty 24/7. They take the initiative for any questionable order by calling the docs.
In regards to taking a drug test. I probably would have done it but then I would have quit! It's really unfortunate that people have such difficulty with acknowledging great co workers but are so willing to believe the worst about them. It took a lot of courage for the original poster to write, discuss her problem and ask for help. I hope she wins her case and gets back to work soon.
I have to agree with you. I have worked in three different hospitals and I have to say this BON thing has NEVER surfaced or been an issue. Who is reporting who in these issues?
It is sooo ridiculously easy in our health care system to scapegoat a nurse. Even if you're in the right, you must pay an attorney thousands of $$$ to defend you, and people will whisper forever (and record on Group One type reporting services) that you were reported to the BON even if vindicated. ANYBODY can call the BON and launch an investigation, the BON is expected to investigate. People can do this for vindictive purposes alone to disrupt someones life, and they do.
I wonder if people knew this would ANYBODY go into nursing...probably not which is why this is hushed up, and why some here refuse to believe it happens, and it happens to good nurses.
We are expected to police doctors and all other health care workers or we're neglectful. We are to be near perfect in every way and never have a bad patient outcome(they will find a way to scapegoat you if they can, if it helps the facility). Our personal lives are to be perfect as is our health. Everyone must love us. Don't ever get hurt, don't 'make' anybody unhappy on the job or they will complain, and the witchhunt can start.. As we age we dare not open out mouths lest we pizz off a manager and they go after us. Our job description itself is a BON report waiting to happen, and our working conditions and endless paperwork (which increasingly takes us away from out patients) is designed to primarily protect the FACILITY, not us.
What a sad state nursing is in. No wonder there is a shortage.
Dear MattsMom:
"Our job description is a BON report waiting to happen. The paperwork is designed to protect the facility."
No one could have said the truth more succinctly and realistically as you did. It is so scary. Along with the greed of HSA and managers about salaries and proper staffing. And just what we need, fellow nurses backstabbing each other. I haven't kept up, but how have the nurses fared that have established unions? This should not be the way it is for nurses. It is a minefield. This not only kills patients, but makes the corporations richer and undermines all nurses. Medicine used to be a profession, now it is a greedy industry.
My story is an all to familiar one, originally titled " Down And Dirty In The Oklahoma State Board Of Nursing " on this forum, I am currently litigating with the OIG through the OIG Judicial Compaint Department with the help of my attorney, I recently submitted a letter to the Oprah Winfrey Show and received a very hopefull response, I am writing this post in hopes that many of you with stories to be told will spend the time to write, as I did, to this very receptive show host, if nothing else it will bring some attention to the plight of the healthcare worker, I have found that after many of letter writings and phone calls there are people out there who do care and will afford you the time for you to be heard. I have many battle fronts I am fighting now, but the show asked for a more detailed accounting of my experience and I am making sure all my ducks are in a row. So, if you have time, please write your experience down and mail it to; The Oprah Winfrey Show, 1700 Broadway, 38th Floor, New York, NY 10019, Phone 212-977-1947. I have also received emails from Mary Nester, Nurse Attorney, who has offered extremely helpfull advice. I am seeking a legal remedy to the violation of several Constitutional Rights willfully committed by a State Agency, the state board of nursing being a state agency are answerable to the Federal Laws of The Constitution of The United States ( 5th, 8th,14th Amendments), the Guidelines setforth by The League of Nations for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Universla Declaratin of Human Rights, The American Civil Liberties Union, I know this seems involved, but I've seen alot of careers senselessly ruined. Pleas take the time to write your State Representative and any media link you can. Good Luck.
While checking for new orders after the docs had made their dinner time rounds, I came across one which read "Lasix 400mg. IV push NOW." I immediately thought that the dosage was wrong. I reviewed the pt. chart for the rationale behind the order but found nothing to substantiate giving that amt. of Lasix. Being the Chg. Nurse, a new grad, and the only RN on an ICU step down unit, I called the hosp. Nursing Supervisor for consultation. I told her I felt the order was incorrect , didn't feel comfortable giving the amt. and felt I should call the doc to clairify the order. Her reply was" You never question a doctor's order!" She said she would be up in a few min. and give the med herself. While waiting for her arrival I called the doc to clairify his order and he thanked me for calling as he meant to write 40mg. instead of 400mg. I informed the supervisor(in a face saving manner)when she arrived that I had called the doc. The next day the hospital DON wrote me up for insubordination! It didn't matter that I prevented another nurse from overdosing and probably killing a pt.
Hang in there! Accept responsibilty for your actions and fight for what you believe is right otherwise nothing will change! Good luck!!
While checking for new orders after the docs had made their dinner time rounds, I came across one which read "Lasix 400mg. IV push NOW." I immediately thought that the dosage was wrong. I reviewed the pt. chart for the rationale behind the order but found nothing to substantiate giving that amt. of Lasix. Being the Chg. Nurse, a new grad, and the only RN on an ICU step down unit, I called the hosp. Nursing Supervisor for consultation. I told her I felt the order was incorrect , didn't feel comfortable giving the amt. and felt I should call the doc to clairify the order. Her reply was" You never question a doctor's order!" She said she would be up in a few min. and give the med herself. While waiting for her arrival I called the doc to clairify his order and he thanked me for calling as he meant to write 40mg. instead of 400mg. I informed the supervisor(in a face saving manner)when she arrived that I had called the doc. The next day the hospital DON wrote me up for insubordination! It didn't matter that I prevented another nurse from overdosing and probably killing a pt.
Hang in there! Accept responsibilty for your actions and fight for what you believe is right otherwise nothing will change! Good luck!!
That is crazy!! May I ask how long ago was that? I can't tell you how many times I've called to clarify orders and saved MDs behinds.......I'm sure there are a lot of nurses here will say the same. Just recently I called a cardiologist that ordered 40meq K ryder..ummmm did you see the attending ordered 40 PO......Do you really want me to give this lady 80 meq K? I remember saying something to him while he was at the desk.....Potasium???.. he snottily said "Well yah we are giving a lot of Lasix"..... I don't know about other places but the Docs here are terrible about checking the chart and all the orders... we are always having to spoon feed them.
Another situation the Dr ordered a medication wrong. It was a med we weren't familiar with giving on our floor......the nurse gave it as ordered and got in trouble. So, I guess sometimes you can't win no matter what you do.
I think you did the right thing but I'd be looking for a new job.
While checking for new orders after the docs had made their dinner time rounds, I came across one which read "Lasix 400mg. IV push NOW." I immediately thought that the dosage was wrong. I reviewed the pt. chart for the rationale behind the order but found nothing to substantiate giving that amt. of Lasix. Being the Chg. Nurse, a new grad, and the only RN on an ICU step down unit, I called the hosp. Nursing Supervisor for consultation. I told her I felt the order was incorrect , didn't feel comfortable giving the amt. and felt I should call the doc to clairify the order. Her reply was" You never question a doctor's order!" She said she would be up in a few min. and give the med herself. While waiting for her arrival I called the doc to clairify his order and he thanked me for calling as he meant to write 40mg. instead of 400mg. I informed the supervisor(in a face saving manner)when she arrived that I had called the doc. The next day the hospital DON wrote me up for insubordination! It didn't matter that I prevented another nurse from overdosing and probably killing a pt.
Hang in there! Accept responsibilty for your actions and fight for what you believe is right otherwise nothing will change! Good luck!!
GREAT CATCH I often wonder how big a person's ego has to be in order to do things like we all have been through. One night I called a DR at 0300. His order said 80 mg nubain. Everyone on the floor looked at the order. I called the DR and said " we have intreperted your order as 80 mg nubain, he then told me it was NEBSIN not nubain. I knew 80 mg of nubain would drop a T-Rex.
Nebsin is Tobramycin. Really big difference. The DR actually got written up for illegible hand writing. One for the nurses!
While checking for new orders after the docs had made their dinner time rounds, I came across one which read "Lasix 400mg. IV push NOW." I immediately thought that the dosage was wrong. I reviewed the pt. chart for the rationale behind the order but found nothing to substantiate giving that amt. of Lasix. Being the Chg. Nurse, a new grad, and the only RN on an ICU step down unit, I called the hosp. Nursing Supervisor for consultation. I told her I felt the order was incorrect , didn't feel comfortable giving the amt. and felt I should call the doc to clairify the order. Her reply was" You never question a doctor's order!" She said she would be up in a few min. and give the med herself. While waiting for her arrival I called the doc to clairify his order and he thanked me for calling as he meant to write 40mg. instead of 400mg. I informed the supervisor(in a face saving manner)when she arrived that I had called the doc. The next day the hospital DON wrote me up for insubordination! It didn't matter that I prevented another nurse from overdosing and probably killing a pt.
Hang in there! Accept responsibilty for your actions and fight for what you believe is right otherwise nothing will change! Good luck!!
UNBELIEVABLE. Since when don't you question an MD's order??? What happened to the idea that if you give it you're responsible. Doesn't matter what the doctor wrote. They would have had my resignation that day.
That is crazy!! May I ask how long ago was that? I can't tell you how many times I've called to clarify orders and saved MDs behinds.......I'm sure there are a lot of nurses here will say the same. Just recently I called a cardiologist that ordered 40meq K ryder..ummmm did you see the attending ordered 40 PO......Do you really want me to give this lady 80 meq K? I remember saying something to him while he was at the desk.....Potasium???.. he snottily said "Well yah we are giving a lot of Lasix"..... I don't know about other places but the Docs here are terrible about checking the chart and all the orders... we are always having to spoon feed them.
Another situation the Dr ordered a medication wrong. It was a med we weren't familiar with giving on our floor......the nurse gave it as ordered and got in trouble. So, I guess sometimes you can't win no matter what you do.
I think you did the right thing but I'd be looking for a new job.
The supervisor's comment about never questioning a doc is the SCARIEST part of that post. Someone ought to be questioning her credentials!!
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MiaLyse, APRN
855 Posts
that was signed by the DR to the "T" and the DR came in in a foul mood and yelled at everyone and said the other nurse did not follow orders, that he did not write the order, eventhough it had his very distinctive signature, and she almost lost her license.>>
I can't see here how she lost her license. She had his signature on his order.
Kelly