I am not proud of my track record.

[STARL]

Where do begin? I have been an LPN for 1 year in 2 months and unfortunately during this period I have had 5! nursing jobs. yes 5.

(1) I started off in a nursing home, just to find my niche I didn't like it but I needed a form of income and I needed some experience in the field. Two months in the DON called me and said, he thinks that its best that he let me go. He didn't give me a specific reason, but during my orientation the nurses that trained me had to evaluate how I was doing, so I assumed that did not do well during orientation. Like I said, I did not like the nursing home, I had 30-32 patients to care for and I just did not feel safe nor happy.

(2) My second job was in a pediatric home health, I was working for a family and one of the orders called for me to put cotton ball in the little boy's ears as he had surgery 2 days before. Well, I did put cotton ball in my patient ear but I had soaked and drained it with H.Peroxide. Well, the next day the family called the agency and said I put a wet cotton ball in the boys ears. The order stated for me to cleaned around the boy's ear with a cotton tip and H.peroxide and then placed a cotton ball in his ear. My mistake was I misunderstood what the outgoing nurse was telling me before she left about the patient new orders. My fault. It was a med error and the agency said I cannot work for them unless I complete a med error CEU. I never completed it, so never went back to work for them. Although, 6 months later they were still calling me to come work for them because they need nurses so bad. I didn't the patients they assign me usually live 45-50 minutes away and I just couldn't put myself through that again.

(3) My third job was a nursing home again. This lasted a month and a few weeks. I mentioned that I do not like the nursing home. I don't. But my mom work in this particular nursing home and she gave told the DON about me. Well, since my mom has been there for 5 years and a good worker they hired me. Well, I had so much patient work load that I did not do my treatments, although I charted that I did. This led to me having a meeting with the DON and 4 other people in administration. I was so nervous at that meeting that I told myself that I never want to be in such a position again. I felt humiliated, embarrassed, and just incompetent as a nurse. I was first suspended, but then let go. They informed me that they would report me to the BON. well it's been 8 months, have not gotten anything from the BON and I've checked my license online and it says I'm in good standing no complaints.

(4) My fourth job was at a pediatric clinic. i did not like it much as I felt I was losing many of my skills. I mostly gave immunizations to babies and worked on the doctor's schedule for the week. I worked there for 4 months but then i had to leave due to the fact that I started an RN program and the schedule would conflict with my work schedule. The manager loved me, got great reviews from them. I still felt bad though due to my recent firing. My self esteem just plummeted and Im still feeling like somethings wrong with me. Anyways, I did not get fired from this job, I left due to school.

(5) I am currently working for 2 agencies. one is a pediatric agency and the other is a pediatric and adult agency. Well, yesterday I got fired from the pediatric agency. The reason is I document that I left at my scheduled time when in reality I left 30 minutes early three time. Did I think they would find out? yeah. Did I think it was an issue. I did. I literally cannot figure out any reason as to why I charted that I left at 0700 when in reality I left at 0630. At the other agency I work for, one of the parents always let me leave early and she said I can still write down the time I left as the time I was scheduled. in my head, I started to think it was no longer a big deal so i did it with this agency. I know in nursing school they teach us not to do this, I hate that I'm not abiding by the things that I was taught in school and letting others influence my judgement. I knew it was a big deal and I did it anyway. I'm sure the other nurses that work with the pediatric/adult agency leave early but chart their scheduled time cause the guardian (mom) said its ok. Anyways, got called into the office today and I was let go. It is considered insurance fraud. in total I lied and said I worked 1 hour and 30 minutes. The DON were saying that the insurance company might not think its a big deal they might just say "oh, its only 1 hour and let it go. they do not think that I was trying to be malicious. but they have to report it to the BON. Two of the times I left, the patient had an appointment in the morning so he had to leave at 0530 but I charted that I left at 0600. the other time I left early is when I emailed the agency saying that I can now work 12 hours form 7pm-7am. well it wasn't suppose to start that particular week, but the following cause I have nursing clinical in the morning. Hence I left at 0630 but charted i left at 7. The DON was saying it all depends on how the BON choose to handle it.

I do not know what's wrong with me. I've never been fired before until I started nursing. I'm a few months from graduating an RN program and I still cannot get my act together. I want to treat this as a lesson learned. I'm feeling stupid cause I've been fired so many times. I'm still working for the pediatric/adult agency but I am going to chart the correct time that I leave, at the end of the day the I have to protect my license no one else. Does anyone know how long it will take for the BON to contact me? will they make a big deal over 1 hour and 30 minutes? My first year of nursing was rough. I take full responsibility. I am so embarrassed that I created another account to write this although my other account is not even lay real name. I need to remember all the handwork I put in into obtaining my license and not let it go so easily. What's wrong with me? I just do not think that I am learning from my mistakes as a normal human being would.

[Beaue]

I agree with NurseGirl, and fully recommend that you take her advice. You falsify information on your chart and even lied about the time you left work. You are lucky that they did not report you to the nursing board. After getting fired from your second job, you should have known that you were making unnecessary mistakes that needed thorough exam and corrected before you started another job. you need to ask yourself why you make these mistakes and find a way to fix them so you can be a better nurse.

[mtmt99]

This will be the first time, I will be reported to the board. I am not aware that the BON know about the previous things I've done so, how will I not be able to sit for my RN license? I understand falsification is a crime and for 1 hour and 30 minutes, I do not think my license should be taken away. MY DON at agency, said this might not be a career ender but to take it as a lesson. I won't do it again now that I know what I know now.

I believe charting that treatments are done that are not done is also a crime. It's called falsification of records and you can be held liable for any harm that comes to the patient as a result of your actions or lack of actions. Your employer could also be held liable, making you a poor choice for an employee. I am glad you recognize that there are problems here, but instead of continuing to pursue a career that you seem to be poorly suited for, how about getting yourself together before putting any other lives at risk.

[Paws2people]

I already planned on leaving the job.

That may be, however taking that CEU may have helped you understand better what you did wrong.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Guys, the OP has not been back to this thread in over a week. I suggest we let it die. Nothing new is being added.

[caliotter3]

Admin can close the thread if they choose. If the OP wants to bring the subject up again, undoubtedly there will be responses. Hope that the OP was able to obtain something of use from the discussion.

[jg90027]

I current work as a Step-Down RN. My background is retired police officer - and after leaving the police dept I opened my own private investigations firm in Los Angeles. Most states utilize private investigators such as myself to do the "leg work" on issues that are reported to the various licensing boards including the BON. As a former contractor for several state agencies I conducted many investigations involving these types of issues. So as I make my remarks keep in mind I'm not responding to the original post per se because I question the very validity of the post. Having said that I would like to contribute to the rather lengthy dialogue and touch on some license regulation points.

If someone is reported to a 'board" by anyone it is required of the 'board' to make a determination as to whether the matter involves the potential for imminent harm (person actively practicing under their license), license application fraud (were they qualified to obtain an initial license or did they falsify a renewal), or matters not necessarily relating to their actual practice of nursing but could have some indirect effect.

If I had received a report on someone (such as represented in the post) - my first step is the determination that this rises to the level of having the potential for imminent harm. I then compose what most states refer to as an initial notification to the licensee indicating that (1) the Board has received documentation pertaining to the licensee's practice of nursing, (2) State statue 123XYZ requires that the State conduct a preliminary investigation as to the veracity of the information obtained, (3) the licensee upon receipt of this notification has "x" number of days to respond to the Board with their version if they choose to do so, (4) the licensee must sign the enclosed authorizations for past employers to release any/all information to the Board to facilitate the Board's due diligence investigation. This letter ends with the bold notice that failing to comply with these instructions will result in a temporary suspension of their license to practice and potential revocation.

Let's say that the licensee agrees - writes a statement - etc. Data collected so far is anecdotal. At this point I notify the licensee depending on the issue - that (1) the Board is temporarily suspending your license to practice pending outcome of our investigation, or (2) You are required to notify any and all current employers within xx # of days that you are the subject of a Board inquiry. If you are not employed and are seeking employment you must disclose this to your potential employer.

(Fast forward to the investigation) So in this "case" I would proceed under the same rules I follow for pilots, truck drivers, nurses, physicians - basically anyone in a position that impacts public safety. So the investigation becomes a Fit for Duty / Fit for Practice investigation. Once I have all statements from licensee, and the people who made the initial report - in this case I would determine that I need specialized expert review. First I would require that the licensee obtain at their own expense (or their malpractice carriers expense)

a Medical Fit For Practice Evaluation by a physician selected by the BOARD. That would be followed by Psychological Fit For Practice Evaluation (written testing and in person interview by a BOARD chosen psychiatrist/psychologist.

At this juncture I rely more heavily on the experts evaluations primarily because I have questionable evidence of actual harm but valid concern for the possibility of harm.

Lets say now that the medical expert clears the licensee with no restrictions. However, the psychological testing clearly indicates either that the licensee has no discernible mental illness, a mental illness that with proper treatment the licensee could safely practice, or that the testing identifies significant and permanent psychological impairment that disqualifies the individual from lawfully possessing a license to practice.

Most of the cases I worked fell under no mental illness, or treatable mental illness with workplace monitoring by an assigned staff member

Under the no mental illness - the issue then becomes an issue of intentionally and knowingly engaging in conduct that is in violation of whatever legal provision - thus a criminal misconduct issue - of which the Board would conduct an administrative hearing to determine what the punishment will be: None, Revocation, Remediation, or workplace supervision in which the person has to have an employer willing to assign a coworker to act as a "coach" for a specified period of time. During that time no home health work, no hospice, no PRN, no per diem, no registry, no float pool, no travel nursing. Must work same job and same shift with the same days off as her coach.

Treatable mental illness is basically the same in most states as far as the restricted work requirement with the additional required psychiatric visits for however long is determined.

So - if the post is valid - and the nurse correctly stated the issues - the recommendation I would offer is:

Immediately remove yourself from the practice of nursing (temporarily)

Immediately obtain the Psychological Fit for Practice examination

If deemed suitable for the practice of nursing - seek a nurse residency program or a job with a similar type of oversight built in as a way to develop your skill, hone a better work ethic, develop your professional judgement, and be a nurse who has a safe practice.

Footnote: Sorry for the crazy long post. I actually deleted a lot of the details - but this scenario gives a very vague/generic overview of how most boards would address these types of practice concerns.

FYI - I wholeheartedly encourage every professional to obtain their own personal malpractice. For most nurses the cost is a mere $108.00 for the entire year. Whatever coverage your employer provides is designed to protect THEM hence when they report you to the Board - you need to hire an attorney, etc to represent you to the Board. The retainer alone can be in the $5000.00 range - then fines fees court costs. I would/will never touch a patient or discuss medical with them without insurance.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

I current work as a Step-Down RN. My background is retired police officer - and after leaving the police dept I opened my own private investigations firm in Los Angeles. Most states utilize private investigators such as myself to do the "leg work" on issues that are reported to the various licensing boards including the BON. As a former contractor for several state agencies I conducted many investigations involving these types of issues. So as I make my remarks keep in mind I'm not responding to the original post per se because I question the very validity of the post. Having said that I would like to contribute to the rather lengthy dialogue and touch on some license regulation points.

jg90027, thank you for this post. It is very informative. Please consider turning this into a standalone article so more people will see it! I think many will appreciate knowing about how the process really works.

[Kak1206]

All I can say is Yikes!!!

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

people like you are just so darn worried about competition instead of helping her...

RUBY VEE is worried about competition from the OP??

On a serious note, it sounds like the OP has been offered help. That med administration CEU would have been helpful. Listening to advice not to falsify records before losing multiple jobs would have been helpful.

[RNikkiF]

The much larger and much more important issue than your license is that if you keep going like this, you're going to end up killing someone. You need to do some serious soul searching and ask if you are capable of becoming the nurse you want for your loved ones. If that answer is no, get out. There are LOTS of things you can do in Healthcare without being a nurse. You could explore those, but as things are right now, you're endangering lives. I don't really care about your license.

[Danrob]

I just want to say that I really liked your advice "Purplegal"

[hexoptic]

Do yourself and any patients that might come your way and get out of nursing now.

You have had 5 chances to see your mistakes and protect your license and you don't care. You say you are taking responsibility for your actions but you aren't. PLEASE don't continue to be a nurse.

Find something to do for a living that doesn't have other peoples lives in your hands. We all make mistakes but real nurses are humbled and terrified by them and do everything they can to never repeat them. I cannot imagine just going along creating one train wreck after another like you are doing.

It doesn't matter if you, "like," working in a nursing home, you accepted the position, patients & fellow staff rely on you.

I am appalled that you are becoming a registered nurse. Again let me sum it up, GET OUT OF THE PROFESSION!!