I am not proud of my track record.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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.

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
Can I say again, wow!

Yeah. Wow.

.....

Guys! Don't you think that people have the ability to change? Goodness! one would think that I am the WORST nurse in the history of nursing by some of these comments. Anyways, I would like to thank those who offered constructive criticism. I know "Nursing" is what I want to do and I can only get better from here on out.

It isn't a matter of best, worst, not that bad. It is the underlying view you have. Please get help, as suggested, and explore other careers.

Is there anything in your family life, your growing up years that you think might have brought you to the point where you now find yourself?

Justifying your views and behavior? Knowingly letting others negatively influence you?

Good luck.

Sometimes, I think that this may not be the profession for me because I can't even get through my first year. I love caring for people and helping them get better. I guess I just didn't think nursing would be this strict about EVERYTHING! Literally have to follow rules to the T. and I'm not used to that unfortunately.

Sorry, but not sorry. This post really shocks and concerns me. I really hope BON does make a good judgment about your error. I would not want my child or family member to be taken care of by a nurse like you, to be honest. If you thought it is "too strict" in nursing, you really should not be a nurse. You're working with people's health and lives on daily basis. That is not a joke. You really need to take this seriously. How would you feel if your patient dies because of your mistakes or you get sued for fraud or malpractice for what you did or did not do? I hope you realize the seriousness of this job before you graduate from the RN program.

As soon as I read that, I realized my error. Of course an LPN IS a nurse! I seriously meant RN.

Specializes in ED.
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.

Dr. Phil said "past behavior is a good indicator of future behavior". The board will look at your past behavior and rule on what you can do in the future. They can and do this.

Um, Like so many are saying- there are many issues. The Number ONE issue is you are lying saying you things you didn't. NEVER, NEVER chart you did something you didn't! NEVER!! If you can't get it done, tell someone. Ask for help, chart you didn't do it. Granted, that is not good that dressings didn't get changed, but that lets the next shift know they need to do it. It lets your bosses know that you need more help. As a nurse, HONESTY is the best and ONLY policy. If you are honest about what you do, when you come and go, when you make mistakes- you gain respect and experience on how to fix problems as well as ensuring that your patients receive the care they are needing. I have been a nurse since 1995. The first 5 years were as an LVN in a nursing home. It was HARD work. I remember not getting evening blood sugars done till almost 10 pm. I remember missing giving someone their insulin at supper. I was so devastated at my incompetence. The patient survived, and I learned how to manage my time. Every med error that I have ever had, I turned myself in for. Noone would ever have known about 90% of them, but I knew. I knew that I had put my patient in jeopardy and their safety meant more than my pride.

I think that is the main thing in nursing- your patients needs come FIRST. You have to forget about your needs and your pride and ensure that they receive the care they need. Otherwise, you don't need to be in nursing. Sorry- that is just it. I know nursing pays well, but nursing takes dedication and honesty- if you can't give it that you have very little chance at being successful. Sorry to be harsh, just don't want you to waste your time or put patients at risk.

Dr. Phil said "past behavior is a good indicator of future behavior". The board will look at your past behavior and rule on what you can do in the future. They can and do this.

Fair point, but should we really be quoting 'dr' phil? He's not such a great example of an ethical practitioner. It's like Jerry springer but 'better'

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

When I started reading your post I thought, "Oh, that sounds like me". But then you spoke about falsifying records & lying. Even when I became an LVN at 21/22, I still knew lying & falsifying documents was wrong wrong wrong! Did I job hop? Yes. I can't tell you how many nursing homes, pediatric home health or jobs in total I've had throughout my LVN career. But I never lied about anything, I knew it could come & bite me in the butt.

After making all all those errors in such a short period, I would NOT have even thought about getting my RN. You need help. Whether it's professionally or by seeing a doctor to find out a deeper root cause.

You may not be suited for nursing either but becoming an RN will not make things easier. You need to really evaluate your decisions & determine if nursing is for you. You say you want to be a nurse but actions speak louder than words. Your actions tell me that you don't care about being a nurse & don't care about your license.

Also, I don't feel you ever took responsibility for your actions. If the first ped home health company said you could come back after doing a CEU, why didn't you do it? Or why didn't you change at all after the the first time you got in trouble for falsifying records? Your past behavior is very indicative of future behavior, especially since you did the same thing repeatatively & never learned your lesson (after how many jobs lost because of it?).

It's not as if you made one bad decision, you kept making the same horrible decision time after time & lost jobs because of it. I have been let go from jobs, but never due to falsifying medical records.

You say you don't like having too many patients but got bored at the clinic because you were losing your skills. Well, there isn't a perfect job & in this climate short staffing in inevitable. Is the nursing home stressful? Yes, but all nursing jobs are. If you don't like having to manage a bunch of patients, being an RN & working in a hospital (I assume that's what you're going to want to do) isn't gonna be easier than a nursing home.

You screwed up your LVN license by falsifying medical records. I would have a deep talk with myself to figure out if I want or should stay in nursing. You will get a new license but if your BON punishes your for lying (which they should) they can put the same sanctions on your RN license as your LVN one. Also, if you keep doing what you're doing even after you become an RN, you could really harm someone. So please think twice about continuing in nursing.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I already planned on leaving the job.

That's an excuse & also a poor one at that. How long do CEUs take, really? Just because you "planned on" quitting the job doesn't mean you shouldn't do the work. I'm tired of your excuses. Please don't work in nursing any more.

I want to add that I found out *my* reason for job hopping. While I may not be working as a nurse right now, I know I would be able to handle it.

I just can't get over all of your excuses. Yes, every nurse has made a mistake. A mistake. You never made a mistake. You did things that were willful & purposeful. The fact that all you think about is you (never the patient) & think it's ok because you didn't know it was illegal shocks me. Even if you didn't know it was illegal, you never thought twice that it may just be plain ole wrong???

What nursing school did you go to that let you graduate. In my LVN program we covered such things like that & also clarifying orders. If you thought the order sounded strange or you didn't understand it, why didn't you ask the nurse you got the order from or call the company.

I know I made two really long posts but I just can't get over what you've done & your attitude about it. You think you may have only been reported once, but I would not be shocked if you were reported several times.

No one here is perfect, and I haven't seen anyone claim to be perfect. We all make mistakes. The OP isn't making mistakes, however. She is deciding to lie, to falsify documentation, to steal time. What she is doing is criminal. She knows that and does it anyway. Any ethical and honorable person would condemn that sort of behavior. The fact that you also don't seem to see that much of a problem in it makes me wonder about YOUR ethics and honesty.

I wonder about you also !!!!

ummmm...I really don't like to judge anyone and bullying is not in my interest.

However, I think you get a kick out of bullying....

This girl needs some coaching and she is well over her head....people like you are just so darn worried about competition instead of helping her... she apparently knows what she's done wrong

She made a mistake by coming to this forum to look for any support

so....keep it up...condemn the world, think we are all dishonest...etc....you have a problem !!!

No, not well said. Nobody is bullying her and she doesn't need coaching. She needs significant help. She didn't make mistakes. She made willful, egregious decisions to not provide care for her vulnerable patients and then lie about it. There is inherently something wrong with somebody who cannot see this. What she needs is a come to Jesus and I hope she got one. Our job, as nurses, is not to molly coddle people who are doing bad, bad things but to protect the patients to whom we have made a commitment to care. Congratulations folks. In our haste to make sure that every child feels like a special snow-flake we have now raised a generation of adults who have never experienced true consequences to their bad behavior. We call them "mistakes". We pat them on the head and say "there, there you just need to try harder". We blame the environment and say it wasn't "safe" for them. We tell them that any time someone is being critical they are being "bullied" lest they think there might actually be something wrong with their precious little selves. We bail them out!!! And instead of learning they go on screwing up. The OP doesn't need us to tell her that what she did was okay. She needs us to tell her where she went wrong and what she needs to do to fix it. Many (actually most) of us have done that, including myself, without judging her as a person. But as nurses we have a duty to judge her actions and speak up. She has been a nurse for 14 months and is likely going to be facing the board and even more likely losing her license. I have been a nurse for thirty and haven't even come close to doing anything that would bring me up before my board. Have I made mistakes? Absolutely but not one of them was a willful decision to neglect caring for the patients assigned to me. As fellow nurses and humans THAT should make you angry. I can assure you that if any of those patients were your loved ones you would have an entirely different take on this. The thing is they ARE somebody's loved ones and deserve the same kind of care we would expect a nurse to give ours. How can you not see that? How can you condone that?

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