I lied to the state surveyor

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Hello everyone;

I am a new grad RN working at a nursing home for 4 months. I just went through my first state surveyor. I was off the fist day of the survey, so the second day i went to work only to hear that the state was in the building. so at 8:45AM the DON came and told me that the surveyor entered the building and that they will definately be coming to follow me. I became nervous which she noticed. She told me to just take deep breath, relax and continue to do what i usually do and that I will be fine...Five minutes later she came back and full me off the floor and replace me with our NP. i didn't feel comfortable with her decision to do this and express it to her. she said its find not to worry about it. i also ask her what to tell them if they ask me why i am there watching the NP pass med. She told me to say that i am on orientation. but the whole situation didn't feel right but i played along. The NP was not in our work uniform and for some reason she did not look like a floor nurse...Anyways the surveyor came to us and ask the NP how come she is passing med and who am I standing next to her. The surveyor also know the NP from previous med pass at another facility. The NP told the surveyor that i am on orientation. when she said that, the surveyor look at me and back at her with a suspicious face and moved on to another nurse. She didn't want to see the NP pass med as she knew the NP was experience in med pass. So throughout the day the surveyor continue to look at me for an opportunity to question me...so that chance finally came when i was doing accu check. during that time she ask me how long have i been on orientation and not knowing what to say i respond and said 1 month. When the NP notice that the surveyor was with me she came to my rescue so i told what happen and to inform he DON of what I told the surveyor about my employment. The reason i told her one month was because if i had said 4 months, she would wonder then why am i still on orientation. So i lied. i felt the only reason i lied was because the NP and DON started the misconception.

So i went to work the 3rd day and everything was ok. There were no surveyor in my face. Then i was off friday and today i went to work only to be told that the surveyor ask for my record and caught me in a lie. So the ADON gave me two options...she said that i can resign or two, my license can be tag for the lie i told the surveyor. So not knowing any better i chose to to resign. so what do u guys think? Can the state check human resources files? Should i have resign? Can my license be tag by the state or the facility? If my license is tag, how can I fix that? I just check its not tag yet.

Thanks

A naive new grad

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

You can resign or your license will be tagged for a lie? That sounds like bull to me. You were put in a bad position by a bad employer, and the employer is trying to cover their butt at your expence. I suggest you contact the Board and clarify all this from their point of vue. Your employer told you to lie in the first place, then you were stuck trying to maintain the lie they initiated. You might also want to contact a lawyer, scratch that, contact a lawyer. You're not the bad guy in all this, you're a victim, and don't let your employer give you a bad reference. They owe you big time!

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Specializes in Urology, Nephology, Internal Medicine.

I think that you were put in a horrible predicament. I know you told a lie but the circumstances speaks volumes for your employeers. You are better off some where else. Good luck with your future endevours.

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Wait, so they told you to lie to the surveyor and then when you did you got forced to resign?

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Specializes in LTC.

i would absolutely contact a lawyer

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Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Rehab, Home Health.

stop posting regarding this situation and get a lawyer to help you. You need to withdraw your resignation and let your lawyer help you "walk back" your statement to the surveyor and keep your license clear. You don't know what you don't know, but learn a lesson from this-- NEVER NEVER NEVER lie, fib, tell a 'story' to a surveyor. R

They are not here to 'catch you up' if you are followed during a med pass, say you are a new nurse and are "nervous" when being observed . Ask them to give you any constructive criticism that can help you. Remember they are not "the enemy".

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So sorry that happened to you! What a crazy situation.

I would call your state board and ask them if it is possible to "tag" a license or whatever. I'm not sure that's something they can do. Beyond that, I'm not sure what you should do but I'm guessing other, more experienced nurses might have more advice.

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You need to contact the surveyors they put their number up while surveying and report what your employer did honesty is the best policy

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Thanks guys....i really didn't know what to do. But i will find another job. i am just hoping my license is not tagged.

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Who owns the nursing home? Call them and tell them that their employee who was your manager instructed you to lie, and fearing for your job, you followed orders and are now being told you have to resign. Then call the Dept of Health or whoever it was that you lied to, and tell them that you were instructed to lie by your employer and that they are now threatening you with being forced to resign or having your license tagged. I'd then fax or mail letters in writing to both as well stating that you were under duress and your employer gave you instructions to mislead the surveyor into thinking you were on orientation. I wouldn't make anymore contact with the ADON either, just the company owner and the state.

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Thanks guys....i really didn't know what to do. But i will find another job. i am just hoping my license is not tagged.

i'm so sorry this happened to you.

it happened to me, as well.

i was a new grad and starting out in ltc...

and i didn't know that you needed a dr's order to apply heat.

so i applied a bean bag that you zap in microwave (ot had given it to us), wrapped in sheepskin, put to my face (it wasn't hot at all!!) then applied to resident's back.

she reported good effect and i checked site consistently, to ensure skin wasn't red.

reported to noc nurse and off i went.

when i come back next morning, 11-7 nurse said that i had caused 2nd degree burn where i applied heat.

i immediately flew to my don, and she told me to put in my nsg notes, that i had obtained md order...

and knowing it wasn't true, i still obliged...afterall she's my boss, right?

well...no one ever called to inform resident's pcp...

area became infected...state came in and the whole scenario just came to a head.

to try and shorten this very long story, the surveyor pulled me aside, acknowledged the difficult situation i was in...

and asked me to answer truthfully.

i ended up telling her that my don had told me to put "md notified, n.o. for _________" in nsg notes.

the surveyor very much appreciated my honesty, but those involved in this cover-up, did not.

my job was made miserable after that.

i guess i'm trying to tell you, that finding another job, to me, is not the answer.

the don should have never put you in that position, and i would come clean with the surveyor.

or, you could contact your bon, tell them what happened, and ask for guidance.

they do understand the challenges of being a new grad.

you were pushed against a wall...

next time if a boss orders you to do something that you know is wrong, politely but firmly refuse.

it'll likely be the end of your job...

but at least it won't be the end of your license...

which can easily happen when we take the wrong path.

best of everything...

and stay true to what you know as right and wrong.

leslie

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Just wanted to say how sorry I am this happened to you. Its horrible the position they put you in and just plain wrong. :(

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