incompetent me

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Im a nurse working for a large corporate company. I took the post on to be a clinical lead/deputy manager in a learning capacity. I recently discovered the person who interviewed me never made a written interview and has since left the company. I've been there for over a year and have never had any real induction, am currently on my 5th home manager, have been pushed from pillar to post, no real support, very stressful and now i've done something i have never done before, I made a drug error, which im wholly accountable for. likely to be a disciplinary, which I deserve, but feel I never had a fighting chance to begin with. I'm not strong enough to fight that. My union cannot help as my membership lapsed and I didnt realise and they can only offer me telephone advice. I only ever wanted to be successful in my job so I'm devastated by recent events.

Can someone please help me?

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is it to late to activate your union membership? you will need representation in case the problem goes further. good luck.

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I reactivated my membership but it was after the event so all they can offer me is phone advice.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

You need to see your local doctor and get it documented that you were suffering from stress, depression, had no support at work, etc. That way you will have a back up to defend yourself. We ALL nearly make drug errors, but it has been proved in clinical studies I've read that when a culmination of stressful events occurs, nurses do make more drug errors.

Also see the manager/CEO of the company and give him/her a copy of all the things you lacked leading up to this: lack of training, lack of support on any level by the sounds of it, no real induction etc.

Ring your local nursing board & also ask for advice re what to do in this matter.

Yes you made a drug error, but you can defend yourself citing stress and all of the above as contributing to this. And also emphasise the fact that you have never made a drug error before.

Don't give up, hope this helps a bit.

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