I am getting terminated tomarrow

Nurses General Nursing

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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'm so happy for you! I had hoped this would happen (a transfer), but past experience taught me that many hospitals are not willing to give a nurse a second chance in another department (don't ask me why). Anyway, it's great you're getting the same hours.

I hope your new floor appreciates you. Who knows, maybe this was meant to be?

Best of luck,

DeLana

P.S. Let us know how you like it there.

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Specializes in med surg, geriatric, clinical, pool.
I'm so happy for you! I had hoped this would happen (a transfer), but past experience taught me that many hospitals are not willing to give a nurse a second chance in another department (don't ask me why). Anyway, it's great you're getting the same hours.

I hope your new floor appreciates you. Who knows, maybe this was meant to be?

Best of luck,

DeLana

P.S. Let us know how you like it there.

YOU are so right. They would not give me a second chance. Weird thing is, I saw worse things than what I supossedly done and nothing was said to those nurses, if anything they were all trying very hard to cover things up!:banghead:

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.
you are so right. they would not give me a second chance. weird thing is, i saw worse things than what i supossedly done and nothing was said to those nurses, if anything they were all trying very hard to cover things up!:banghead:

because you're a good nurse with :redbeathe and convictions--those cover ups are what kill patients!

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Specializes in M/S, dialysis, home health, SNF.

Calling for the ICU bed shouldn't be your responsibility; it should be the charge nurse - at least in my experience (admittedly not ER, but if there's a charge nurse, that's what he/she does).

I agree with not signing anything but the contrast error.

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Specializes in ICU/PCU/Infusion.

I am so glad that the meeting went well and that you have been offered a position on another unit! And being able to keep your same schedule is a real bonus. :) You must work for a decent facility and be a real asset! There are stories of nurses who have been fired for less, that's for sure.

Congratulations! I hope you are happy in your new environment!!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

Congratulations. It gives me hope that someday I may find a good hospital to work in.

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Specializes in Women's Specialty, Post-Part, Scrub(cs).

I am a little late on this thread...but I had a few quick thoughts for you. Sooooo glad everything worked out for you. I am always scared of making a mistake that will land me in the bread line and if anyone can make a mistake it will be me. However, I noticed one particular thing in your good news post. You said they "offered to pay you for your days off without pay". Did they suspend you until the meeting? If so, why are they offering to pay you for them now? They would not do that unless a review of the situation proved you were not in the wrong. Perhaps the charge nurse was trying to "get you" since she made a critical error earlier and you took the heat. Maybe she thought she would get rid of you before you had a chance to repay her. I understand them offering you another unit and planning more training for you. That is not so unusual. Some nurses need more time (ME for one). But, I don't usually hear of back pay for time off. UNLESS they cannot justify why they suspended the person to start with. I dunno...just some crazy thoughts I had.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Parish Nurse, Hospice.

please don't question yourself. as i have been posting, i felt my back was up against the wall. I didn't even get a meeting. just told i was on adminsitrative leave without pay, and call back on tues. i choose to resign as i didn't want them to be allowed to fire me. we each have to do what we feel is right in our hearts and minds. best of luck to you. :)

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Specializes in ICU.

glad it turned out ok! :beer:

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I am a little late on this thread...but I had a few quick thoughts for you. Sooooo glad everything worked out for you. I am always scared of making a mistake that will land me in the bread line and if anyone can make a mistake it will be me. However, I noticed one particular thing in your good news post. You said they "offered to pay you for your days off without pay". Did they suspend you until the meeting? If so, why are they offering to pay you for them now? They would not do that unless a review of the situation proved you were not in the wrong. Perhaps the charge nurse was trying to "get you" since she made a critical error earlier and you took the heat. Maybe she thought she would get rid of you before you had a chance to repay her. I understand them offering you another unit and planning more training for you. That is not so unusual. Some nurses need more time (ME for one). But, I don't usually hear of back pay for time off. UNLESS they cannot justify why they suspended the person to start with. I dunno...just some crazy thoughts I had.

YOUR mind works along the same pathways as my own,lol

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i was about to do the same, that is what my husband suggested. the reason i did not is because of the union rep, he said he would help me through it. all of this has taken its toll on my self confidence. well, good luck to you.-lisa

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i think you are so right. one of the reasons i think they offered that to me is because i went to the meeting with the union rep, and he asked them why after the first write up, and when my manager gave me a bad eval they said they would give me more training and they never followed through. i really do not liking working hard for bad and dishonest people, and thats what the er turned out to have. now they transfered me to med surg which is better than being fired, but i feel like all my critical care training is going down the tubes. people who know me at the hospital keep asking why i went frm er to med surg, i know i will make the best of it and give it a good shot. thanks so much-lisa

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