I am getting terminated tomarrow

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I am a ER nurse. I have worked in the ER for a year with the exception of being on maternity leave for a short time. three days ago , I gave the wrong contrast to a pt going into ct scan. the conteast was supose to be water soluable. That perticular contrast is not carries in the ER and I had never used it before, but since the patient had a possible perliferated bowl that is the contrast I was to use. The pt ended up fine, but I made the big mistake. after that the next day we had a pt getting ready to head up the stairs to be admitted to the hospital. He was still in the ER waiting for his bed to become available. He was being admitted for DKA. I was monitering his blood sugar and giving him fluids that were perscribed. the charge nurse got ahold of the chart half way through the shift and asked why the pt was not ordered a ICU bed by the docter. I had failed the recognize how critical the pt was by his labs. I guess the ER is not cut out for me, I keep making these mistakes. now I am scheduled for a meeting with managment and human resources tomarrow. I know they are going to terminate me and I am so worried about how this will look to future employers, and if I will ever be able to get another job? I am so stressed right now, I am not sure what to do? Does anybody have any advise??

I don't have any great words of wisdom for you since I'm not even finished with nursing school yet, but I just wanted to say good luck to you and that I hope things work out to your advantage. I'm sorry that you're going through this, and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Good luck!! :icon_hug:

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what happened when you went to the interview and had to tell them you were terminated? Also, I have always concidered home health. Is it fun meeting patients at their home? Everyone has told me you get paid way less than working inside the hospital-lisa

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Specializes in ICU.
Don't fret. Last year I missed an MI in a pt whose EKG was seen by the ER MD. I knew he had seen it so I didn't bother to look at it. No changes on the bedside monitor. NINE HOURS later the admitting doc came in and caught it. Guess who was terminated? Me. Guess who stayed? The ER Doc. I even had staff physicians going to bat for me, saying that even if I had looked at the EKG it wasn't my responsibility to read it, etc., but I was canned. No prior warnings.

It turned out to be the best thing that happened to me. I found a job in home health and I love it.

If you are terminated, you say nothing at interviews until asked, then you be honest. Do not knock the previous employer. I promise, being terminated is not the end of the world.

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Contact your union rep and do not go into that meeting alone. Don't give them anything at all in writing until your union and your legal person has looked at it. Your union should provide free legal cover. Or check into your and see if that will provide legal cover.

If you are asked to make a statement or sign anything think very carefully.

Sending you hugs and prayers.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Hospice, Palliative Care.

I don't have advice, but am sending you good vibes. If they are willing to fire you over these items (that don't even sound like your fault!) without offering you corrective help, then perhaps it isn't a good fit for you anyway. Keep us posted.

e

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I got some of the feedback stating that I should not be terminated over this, so I will briefly say that I have had two previous write ups. the first was last july. I was given a patient from another nurse that needed a cardizam drip. the nurse already had the bag from the pharmacist, and i ran it acording to the order, well the doctor had writen the wrong rate. I noticed it quickly and stopped it and questioned the dr, but since i ran it to begin with i got written up. since then everything must be faxed to the pharmacy, thus the nurse never went over the rate with the pharmacist. the second write up was before i went on materity leave in oct. this time i had a pt with dagerously low bp and i was next to her doing all i could giving fluids, ect. i did not want to leave her side, she was not stable. one of my other pts wa a 10 yr old who needed a lumbar puncture. i delagated that to the charge nurse (happened to be the same one) she assisted with the lumbar puncture, and gave a dose of versaid. the lumbar puncture was unsuccessful and th ept need to go to radiology to have the procedure done with an ultrasound. the charge nurse came up to me and told me that the radiologist wanted the pt to have another dose of versaid before the procedure. I gave it it was a small dose, just to relax, he was still a/o. later i was written up for assisting in a lumbar puncture with no consent and giving versaid without using the concious sedation speadsheet. I told them during the write up that i had been with my other pt and it was the charge nurse that gave it and did the procedure for me, i still was the one in trouble because i gave it at the end. i usually use the concious sedation spredsheet when i am using propofol or somthing to put a pt under, so i did not think to use it during givinbg the small dose, especially since the charge nurse who is also our nurse educater had not done so. i called the union to file grievence for that write up when i was on materity leave and i guess it was never done. he also told me that the first write up could be removed because it resulted in a policy change and that was never done. he will meet me for the meeting today at 2, but he is not really helping, he is just a bunch of talk. i will try not to cry today, i just want to be strong. human resources will be there too.

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how did it go???

(hugs!)

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Specializes in PCU, Home Health.

yes, how did it go?

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the meeting went better than expected! They still feel that I am not right for the ER, possibly need more training. I will find out tomarrow if they will allow me to transfer to another dept.-lisa

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so you were not terminated then? :) yay!

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Glad to hear it. I'm sure they'll let you transfer, otherwise they would have asked you to resign.

Keep us posted.

DeLana

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Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.
the meeting went better than expected! They still feel that I am not right for the ER, possibly need more training. I will find out tomarrow if they will allow me to transfer to another dept.-lisa

Don't take this the wrong way, but come to med-surg and hone your skills :) When you can snatch the pebble from my hand, your are ready, grasshoppa

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Specializes in ER, Acute care.

Let us know what happened, sounds like you were the scape goat a couple of times.................................:rolleyes:

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