I was fired for refusing to give injections incorrectly!

[katlpn6]

Hello, my name is Katherine. I have been an LPN for 10 years. I am an experienced clinition and have won awards for my excellence in clinical practice. I worked in an office for 10 years which gave me a vast amount of experience, from family practice,internal medicine,pre-op teaching,pediatric nursing to urgent care. I take pride in my skills and am dedicated to doing it right for the benefit of my patient. I loved my job but felt it was time for a change so I took a new job in a pediatric office, this office served patients from birth to 18 years old. When I discovered the nurses in this office were giving IM injections with a 5/8" needle I requested that they order some 1" needles, which they did. When the nurse who was orienting me told me that she "tapes syringes together" to give immunizations I almost fell over! I told her that was not clinically appropriate and I would not be doing that. I worked there for two weeks and was brought into the office managers office after work one evening and told that it wasn't working out and they would have to let me go. When I asked why she told me it was because I was too set in my ways and obviously was not willing to do things their way. As difficult as this has been for me, I feel proud that I stood my ground and refused to do it wrong to just keep my job. From what I understand the department of health got word of this and has since gone in to correct the situation. Unfortunately it was at the expence of my job but at least I know the children are being properly immunized because of my sacrifice. Now I'm off to the trenches again to find a job that appreciates a skilled and dedicated nurse!

[z's playa]

Good for you! You're a great example of the kind of nurse I want to be. One that won't back down but why don't they give you your job back? Is this legal for them to do that especially after they were proven wrong?

This is why I get scared sometimes. It seems there isn't enough protection for nurses! Doctors stick together but it seems nurses are encouraged to "snitch" on each other. Am I alone by thinking this way?

I'm sorry to hear about tis.

Good luck. Your next position will be lucky to have you.

Z

[chris_at_lucas_RN, RN]

Hello, my name is Katherine. .... When I discovered the nurses in this office were giving IM injections with a 5/8" needle I requested that they order some 1" needles, which they did. When the nurse who was orienting me told me that she "tapes syringes together" to give immunizations I almost fell over!

Good for you! but you are not done.

Their practice is not only stupid and clinically incorrect, it is dangerous.

You have attempted to let the front office know, and they ignored you. The practice continues. You need to contact your BON and let them know your experience and what you did, and what happened to you, very objectively (no feelings or background info).

And you need to find a different job. Good luck to you!

[cannoli]

What do you mean, she "tapes syringes together"?

Good luck in your job search.

[TracyB,RN, RN]

so, when you say they taped syringes together... are you saying that 2 syringes are taped to give 2 injections at one time? Just trying to get a clear picture of this....

[z's playa]

Freaky stuff......even if they tape them together to administer one dose...the meds are only coming through one needle so I don't get it either. :chuckle

[katlpn6]

What do you mean, she "tapes syringes together"?

Good luck in your job search.

When she gives immunizations such as DTaP and say Hep B....she tapes the syringes together to give two injections at the same time. This makes it so two injections are given less than a 1/2 inch apart...clearly inappropriate landmarks.

[cannoli]

When she gives immunizations such as DTaP and say Hep B....she tapes the syringes together to give two injections at the same time. This makes it so two injections are given less than a 1/2 inch apart...clearly inappropriate landmarks.

I've never heard of such a thing!

[z's playa]

She should be fired. Is there any way to find out if she gets fired? I would think that after the investigation the ones clearly not abiding by proper protocol would have the book thrown at them. Now I'm upset. :chuckle

what's next? ....taping two foleys together if she can't find the right size?

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

Okay, so I've been sitting here for a while, trying to figure out what kind of utter moron thinks it's faster to tape two syringes together than simply to give two injections. Then it finally dawned on me--peds. They only want to stick the kid one time. I'm not saying it's even remotely right, but at least it makes some semblance of sense.

Anyway, congratulations on "not fitting in" with their way of doing things. That's the great thing about life--there are a million ways to do it wrong, but usually far fewer to do it right.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

You can take pride in the way you stood by your nursing practice skills. I am sorry that you lost your job, but you had probably decided to look for another one anyway. I just hope this nurse never get ahold of any pf my grandkids, she will get a stick or two if she pulls something like that on them. LOL.

Just kidding, but have you decided to let the board know what was going on with her practice?

[katlpn6]

You can take pride in the way you stood by your nursing practice skills. I am sorry that you lost your job, but you had probably decided to look for another one anyway. I just hope this nurse never get ahold of any pf my grandkids, she will get a stick or two if she pulls something like that on them. LOL.

Just kidding, but have you decided to let the board know what was going on with her practice?

I have actually reported them to to board of health and they have begun an investigation. Her remark to me when I questioned her technique was " I've been doing it for years and have never had a problem." but I can tell you that I had more phone call's and kids come in with abcesses and infections at the injection site in the two weeks I was there then I did in the whole ten years I have been practicing.