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.
"Did the right thing"? The OP signed off on medications that they never gave! What is right about this?
When you start working in a hospital, you'll realize how things are really done. I have taken one narcotic out of the pyxis, signed off on two and then realized the second I shut the drawer that I meant to take two out (or vice-versa). You call someone and get the process going to fix it...which may take awhile. You may have to wait on a pharmacy supervisor, your manager, etc. It may be a couple of hours before it's fixed. That's just one example depending on how your facility keeps up with the paperwork. But nobody fires you while you are waiting...you just really have no clue how bizarre the OP's experience was.
If you think a simple error like that will never happen to you...just wait until you start working. You'll find out real quick how easy it is.
It is NOT appropriate and you'll get yourself into trouble very fast, if you sit there and ignore your patient's needs, stand there and tap your foot and say, "Hey, I need for someone to take over my entire assignment and attend to my patients until I can get this paperwork fixed."
You get a witness so you have a backup and get the process going.
That is all the OP did..a simple paperwork error and she told someone she would fix it, she was the only nurse...she PUT HER PATIENT FIRST (as she should) and then before she could even get a second to breathe, they already started an investigation??????
No, she did what she was supposed to do. We all make mistakes. Hers was one of the most minor mistakes that you can possibly make and her boss was on a power-trip that day.
I agree with Jory here on that. Those in management or supervisors seem to just quickly swoop down on a nurse and only regard the paperwork/documentation side of a situation ONLY, without backtracking the events that led up to the error. A nurse buddy of mine was fired right on the spot down a hall, standing at her med cart, for a delay in giving an a.m. Rocephin. Didn't matter she had been there for several yrs and was a very safe nurse. I know I don't and haven't presigned for any of my meds, and was bashed for being slow, while others were clocking out right on time, but they were presigning and some have pre-pulled. Both being wrong to do. But the OP's predicament placed him/ her outside of the facility, so time wise that worked entirely against the nurse. Quite a few facilities allow for a nurse to go back and attend to correcting her paperwork on a MAR. Didn't happen that way for this nurse. Hope this gets smoothed out for you.
These situations - being the only nurse - having to CYA because there just isn't enough help- being the sacrificial lamb if someone above you decides to come down hard where in another place you could correct it without further incident - are exactly the reasons I felt like my license was always on the line.
Contact an attorney, preferably a nurse attorney then take a refresher course and/or CEUs in medication administration and documentation. This way when the Board finally reviews the complaint and asks for your reply you can show that you've taken the necessary steps to ensure that it won't happen again. Please also keep in mind that it may take the Board a year or more to investigate the complaint. Call the Board and verify the status of your license. It may not be suspended/revoked/etc... and you may be able to continue working until the Board investigates and renders a decision. Good luck! It sucks, I know but you can move past this.
Wow! Personally I think at the very least it was an overreaction by the supervisors, but there may be more to what they are thinking. I would get a lawyer. This is why people in healthcare are so afraid to admit human error and yet I have never met a perfect human.
Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM
1,486 Posts
When you start working in a hospital, you'll realize how things are really done. I have taken one narcotic out of the pyxis, signed off on two and then realized the second I shut the drawer that I meant to take two out (or vice-versa). You call someone and get the process going to fix it...which may take awhile. You may have to wait on a pharmacy supervisor, your manager, etc. It may be a couple of hours before it's fixed. That's just one example depending on how your facility keeps up with the paperwork. But nobody fires you while you are waiting...you just really have no clue how bizarre the OP's experience was.
If you think a simple error like that will never happen to you...just wait until you start working. You'll find out real quick how easy it is.
It is NOT appropriate and you'll get yourself into trouble very fast, if you sit there and ignore your patient's needs, stand there and tap your foot and say, "Hey, I need for someone to take over my entire assignment and attend to my patients until I can get this paperwork fixed."
You get a witness so you have a backup and get the process going.
That is all the OP did..a simple paperwork error and she told someone she would fix it, she was the only nurse...she PUT HER PATIENT FIRST (as she should) and then before she could even get a second to breathe, they already started an investigation??????
No, she did what she was supposed to do. We all make mistakes. Hers was one of the most minor mistakes that you can possibly make and her boss was on a power-trip that day.