I've been a nurse for ten years and I recently was terminated by my employer for a documentation/med error. I signed out all my meds for the entire shift. I was multi-tasking and I wasn't paying attention.
I discovered the mistake but not until afterwards.
I had to take my client to a md appt and if I corrected the mistakes we would have missed the appointment. So, I did mention to the CNA that I did make the mistake and I told her I would correct upon our return. It's a group home and I was the only nurse.
I didn't think it was that big of a deal as long as I fixed the mistake. Off we left to the md appt. Once we returned to the facility, I discovered that my supervisor stopped by and notified management. I was terminated after the investigation.
The CNA did write a note in my behalf stating that I did say I would correct the mistakes when I returned. The employer of the company reported me to the state board of nursing.
I'm freaking out and I don't know what to do. This is my first complaint and the first time I've ever been terminated. I don't know if I should take a lie detector test and submit findings to the board?
Should I obtain a lawyer?
I'm sick about this and I'm worried.
Any advise is much appreciated. I do not have any other complaints with the board and I live in Colorado.
Specializes in Oncology, Med/Surg, Hospice, Case Mgmt..
I've been a nurse for ten years and I recently was terminated by my employer for a documentation/med error. I signed out all my meds for the entire shift. I was multi-tasking and I wasn't paying attention. I discovered the mistake but not until afterwards. I had to take my client to a md appt and if I corrected the mistakes we would have missed the appointement. So, I did mention to the CNA that I did make the mistake and I told her I would correct upon our return. It's a group home and I was the only nurse. I didn't think it was that big of a deal s long as I fixed the mistake. Off we left to the md appt. Once we returned to the facility, I discovered that my supervisor stopped by and notified management. I was terminated after the investigation. The CNA did write a note in my behalf stating that I did say I would correct the mistakes when I returned. The employer of the company reported me to the state board of nursing. I'm freaking out and I don't know what to do. This is my first complaint and the first time I've ever been terminated. I don't know if I should take a lie detector test and submit findings to the board? Should I obtain a lawyer? I'm sick about this and I'm worried. Any advise is much appreciated. I do not have any other complaints with the board and I live in Colorado.
BBM- If you admitted the error, why the lie detector test? Are they saying that you are not being truthful about the incident? If it were me, I would avoid a polygraph unless they were investigating me for a criminal offense. Either way, I would definitely retain a lawyer and try to find one that specializes in medical issues, particularly, one with experience in dealing with the BON in your state. A good attorney with experience should be able to advise you on exactly how you should handle this. Good luck.
Just because they say they will contact the board doesn't mean that they will. It's frequently used as an intimidating process. Go apply for unemployment.
But everyone should learn from this. Do not ever sign out meds you have not given. Ever. Period.
What would you possibly hope to accomplish with a polygraph exam? Yes, you documented falsely about adminstering medications that you in fact had not. Yes, you planned to change your charting to reflect what you had actually done. Are these things in dispute with your employer?
I've been a nurse for ten years and I recently was terminated by my employer for a documentation/med error. I signed out all my meds for the entire shift. I was multi-tasking and I wasn't paying attention. I discovered the mistake but not until afterwards. I had to take my client to a md appt and if I corrected the mistakes we would have missed the appointement. So, I did mention to the CNA that I did make the mistake and I told her I would correct upon our return. It's a group home and I was the only nurse. I didn't think it was that big of a deal s long as I fixed the mistake. Off we left to the md appt. Once we returned to the facility, I discovered that my supervisor stopped by and notified management. I was terminated after the investigation. The CNA did write a note in my behalf stating that I did say I would correct the mistakes when I returned. The employer of the company reported me to the state board of nursing. I'm freaking out and I don't know what to do. This is my first complaint and the first time I've ever been terminated. I don't know if I should take a lie detector test and submit findings to the board? Should I obtain a lawyer? I'm sick about this and I'm worried. Any advise is much appreciated. I do not have any other complaints with the board and I live in Colorado.
Was this really a MAR error? I'm no lawyer (thank fortune!), but it sounds like its more along the lines of falsifying records ie: charting that something was done that wasn't.
They're going after your license on a MAR error?
I don't know the severity of the circumstances, but it seems pretty extreme if you accidentally initialed a colace administration for the next shift or something similar.
Specializes in Med-Surg - Neuro Science - Cardiac.
I am not sure what you mean by signing out all your meds for the shift. Please explain this. I have never worked in a nursing home and don't know the procedure. Would this have been against procedure for the facility? I understand that you would have missed the appointment but was multi tasking the best thing to do? I don't want you to think that I am condeming what you did. I think that you should have been given the opportunity to explain the situation to your supervisor. I can only say that all protocols are put in place to prevent medication errors and so that nurses can not abuse medications. I hope that everything works out for you.
Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.
I'm not sure I understand....did you "just" initial that you signed out all of your meds, or did you actually sign out all of your meds. And, I'm not sure how that can be a mistake.......
Specializes in Cardiology, critical care, hospice, CCM.
I'm a bit confused, as are many of the other commenters here. This does not appear to be a MAR error. If you had given the wrong med, I could see your point. But I tend to agree with CollenRN2B, this was false documentation. You signed out a med, documenting that you actually gave it when you had not. You clearly state that you planned to go back and change that documentation. I'm not placing blame or guilt, but this seems to be a case of not following basic nursing practice or your facility/company's documentation guidelines. Also, you knew you had done this, and went ahead with the other activities of your day. You probably should have at least contacted your immediate supervisor (not the CNA) with your issues and asked for direction. Unfortunately, based on what you have said, you seem to be the party at fault here; not the company.
This isn't a case of malpractice and I would not sweat this...whether they reported you or not.
The bottom line is paperwork should never, ever take priority over the patient. EVER. You did the right thing. The patient had an MD appointment, you were responsible for getting them there and even though you told a CNA, you told SOMEONE, that you would correct the error upon your return.
The fact remains that the CNA is backing you up and they didn't even give you a chance to fix it.
It's not like you went home for the day.
I see no case here....not even close.
PS: Yes, you should obtain a lawyer, but I am curious...are you SURE they reported you to the BON or are they just blowing smoke? Has the BON contacted you with a formal complaint?
I've been a nurse for ten years and I recently was terminated by my employer for a documentation/med error. I signed out all my meds for the entire shift. I was multi-tasking and I wasn't paying attention. I discovered the mistake but not until afterwards. I had to take my client to a md appt and if I corrected the mistakes we would have missed the appointement. So, I did mention to the CNA that I did make the mistake and I told her I would correct upon our return. It's a group home and I was the only nurse. I didn't think it was that big of a deal s long as I fixed the mistake. Off we left to the md appt. Once we returned to the facility, I discovered that my supervisor stopped by and notified management. I was terminated after the investigation. The CNA did write a note in my behalf stating that I did say I would correct the mistakes when I returned. The employer of the company reported me to the state board of nursing. I'm freaking out and I don't know what to do. This is my first complaint and the first time I've ever been terminated. I don't know if I should take a lie detector test and submit findings to the board? Should I obtain a lawyer? I'm sick about this and I'm worried. Any advise is much appreciated. I do not have any other complaints with the board and I live in Colorado.
First, If you have been reported (confirm that first), yes, you need a lawyer...regardless of what anyone tells you.
Second, DO NOT take a lie detector test. There is a reason that those tests are not admissible in court...it's because they are not reliable.
"Did the right thing"? The OP signed off on medications that they never gave! What is right about this?
This isn't a case of malpractice and I would not sweat this...whether they reported you or not.
The bottom line is paperwork should never, ever take priority over the patient. EVER. You did the right thing. The patient had an MD appointment, you were responsible for getting them there and even though you told a CNA, you told SOMEONE, that you would correct the error upon your return.
The fact remains that the CNA is backing you up and they didn't even give you a chance to fix it.
It's not like you went home for the day.
I see no case here....not even close.
PS: Yes, you should obtain a lawyer, but I am curious...are you SURE they reported you to the BON or are they just blowing smoke? Has the BON contacted you with a formal complaint?
So what was the documentation/med error? Those who have made some mistakes have fessed up on it, so the degree of the mistake I would think carries the degree of importance or not. malpractice insurance representation would certainly be helpful for your situation.
JMBnurse
82 Posts
BBM- If you admitted the error, why the lie detector test? Are they saying that you are not being truthful about the incident? If it were me, I would avoid a polygraph unless they were investigating me for a criminal offense. Either way, I would definitely retain a lawyer and try to find one that specializes in medical issues, particularly, one with experience in dealing with the BON in your state. A good attorney with experience should be able to advise you on exactly how you should handle this. Good luck.