I started on a med/surg floor right when I graduated a little more than a year ago. After six weeks of orientation, I was fired without warning (they can do that at this hospital). When I asked why, my manager listed several things my preceptor told her: giving a patient xanax when they didn't need it so that I would have an easier shift, not telling anyone when my patient had PE symptoms, etc etc. I hadn't done ANY of that and I was devastated about being fired. To this day I don't know why my preceptor lied about me.
I got re-hired to a different floor of the same hospital within a few weeks. I've worked there for two weeks shy of a year without getting in trouble... I did get a note once saying I'd forgotten to clock in with my badge too many times (we have a book where you sign in when you forget so they still have a record). I'm not sure if that counts as a "written warning" or not. I have been way better about that since then and, other than that, things have been good.
Well..... Last week I was having an ultra busy shift and I did something really stupid. I was giving two liquid meds per feeding tube. One came in a little syringe (wrong size to attach to feeding tube) and one in a cup. Well, I drew up the one in the cup into the right size syringe, and then I set the cup on the garbage can. I say "on" and not "in" because it was overflowing. The whole top layer was "clean" type trash- papers and stuff, and I put the cup right-side-up on top of that. Then I remembered I needed a cup to put the other med in before I could draw it into the right syringe, so- you can probably guess where this is going- I grabbed the cup back from on top the garbage. I used the cup to draw up the other med, gave the meds to the patient, and threw the cup away (again). I'm pretty sure the patient didn't see any of the stuff with the garbage can since I was doing it with my back to him. A CNA was in the room at the time, and he pulled me aside an hour or so later and totally chewed me out for using a cup that had been in the trash. He also said that the end of the feeding machine tubing touched the floor while I had it disconnected to administer the meds. I didn't think it did, but maybe he saw something I didn't. Anyway, he told the charge, who told the manager. I didn't get a chance to tell the charge or the manager my side of the story, and I'm pretty sure the CNA exaggerated, because he's never liked me and he's that kind of guy. My manager called me at the start of the week to put me on suspension until she has time to meet with me (tomorrow), and she said she is discussing disciplinary action with HR (she'll tell me what they decide tomorrow, so I don't get a chance to state my case to her at all). What really worries me is that when she called me, she had her boss's boss in the room, and had us all on speaker phone.
I totally admit that I did something wrong and stupid, but I don't think I deserve to get fired for it. I hope I get a written warning or something... but if her boss's boss is involved? That seriously doesn't look good. And I'm not sure if my clocking in thing "used up" my warning, which they don't even have to give me anyway. After getting fired from my first job, I'm really terrified that I'm going to get fired again. I doubt anyone would hire an RN who has been canned twice in the one year she's been a nurse... What do you guys think? One of my friends suggested I just quit before they can fire me. I really want to work for this hospital.... what would you do? Do you think I'm going to get fired?
