New nurse here. How do I overcome a suspension from work?

OKNurse2be · Apr 4, 2012

BostonLovesTerrierRN:

I read your post about "Box grid".. I am a soon to be nursing student (finishing last prereqs), and if you do not mind the "box grid" idea is one I will carry with me and quite potentially use in the future! Thank you for being willing to give out such a great little "secret."

Merlyn · Apr 4, 2012

"Electricity the High Priest of False security" - Sherlock Holmes

I knew the day would come when people would trust machines too much. First, the three day suspension is over and it made you think more that is a good thing but it also made you paranoid and that is a bad thing. No patient contact? I would take it but I have had 40 years in this business. You on the other hand are just starting out. You take the job in LTC you will loose your skills and LTC can be much worst than Med/Surg even if you have little contact with the patients there are still the staff and the families of patients that you might have to deal with. I don't know what to tell you. Med/Surg might get better over time. But If you are unhappy, now is the time to get out

vwgirl22 · Apr 4, 2012

OP- I can relate to the feeling of being shaken up by that sort of thing. Give yourself some time to get over it and then forgive yourself. As far as the other nurse on the floor who seems to be "out to get you," maybe you can discuss this with someone. I don't know about your manager, but maybe HR. No one should have to feel uncomfortable in the workplace and with her constant eye on you, I think it endangers her own patients. I'm not sure how bad it is, but it sounds like lateral violence which should not be allowed. I understand why you would want to leave, but try to stick it out as long as you can while you look for something else in another hospital. Keep your head up and don't give up! Good luck!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 4, 2012

i recently got my rn about 5 months ago and have been employed on a medsurg unit. it is a very busy unit that is at times understaffed and it is a lot to adjust to. i started with 2 other nurses and we have all made mistakes, however i made a very big mistake that is resulting in having a 3 day suspension from work . i am horrified that it even happened (dont worry nobody died or was harmed!), and i have definitely learned from my mistake and have completely changed the way i do everything. the problem is that now i am paranoid of making any mistake at all and i fear going to work every day because i am afraid any mistake at all will get me fired. even though i made this mistake, i still feel as though i am a good nurse, and i always try my best.
i really want to change jobs and work at a nursing home because i realize that maybe i am just not cut out to be a medsurg nurse on a very busy unit. the problem is that i do not know how to go about applying, since i am not sure if i should put my current employer on there or not. i know that i will not get a good reference from them, so i am tempted to leave them off since i have only worked there for 5 months. is this dishonest to do this? what would you suggest would be my best course of action to find a job that is less hectic and stressful?
thank you so much for your reply!! this whole thing is very disturbing to me .

everyone makes mistakes, and it's good that you learned from it. this may not be the best time to change jobs . . . why not stick it out for a year, prove you've learned from your mistake, and soak up every bit of knowledge that you can. it's dishonest to apply for a new job without listing the one that suspended you, and it's doubtful that you're going to get a good evaluation from them right now. stick it out and improve -- if you still want to leave in a year, try then.

NotFlo · Apr 5, 2012

I'm sorry, I think it's not the best idea that you are being offered a supervisor position and you should reconsider taking it. You might very well be the ONLY RN in the building when you are supervisor. Your assessment skills have to be top notch to be safe in this position. I think any nurse considering taking a supervisor position in LTC should have plenty of hands on experience. Everything that goes on in the building from pts critical change of conditions, CPR, flash pulmonary edema, falls with injuries (are you positively confident in your ability to detect the sometimes subtle signs and symptoms of hip fracture or epidural hematoma), possible MIs, pts trying to elope, pts hitting each other and freaking out, angry family members, staff issues, replacing staff call outs, broken TVs and on and on will all be ultimately on you.

You also could very well end up working the floor passing meds to 20, 30, 40 or more pts while fielding constant pages for any and all of the above listed when the building is short staffed.

From frying pan to fire.

PinkNBlue, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2012

I am so sorry you're going through this. ((hugs))

littlegreenfrog · Apr 5, 2012

First things first, you have learned from your mistake, and you need to re-gain your confidence! I agree that might be hard if you believe you have someone breathing down your neck. I am finding it difficult to believe you were suspended from this one omission and given no more chances. I reflect on the things I've seen where there were no repercussions to speak of, ie, infusing a 250ml bag of Heparin in one hour; two RNs fist-fighting in a patient's room, etc. That said, skipping over everything else, it might be in your best interest to seek another position. Rather than going to LTC, does your hospital have a Skilled Nursing Unit? Slightly slower pace, slightly less acute patients, but still a hospital. Might be a good place to get your footing and your confidence back. If someone really does have it in for you, that could be difficult to overcome.Regardless of what you decide, don't leave this employment off your resume. Always be as up front and honest as possible.Best of luck! We have all made mistakes. The key is that you've learned from it.

um. . .I REALLY want to hear this story!! lol

Vespertinas · Apr 5, 2012

That sounds odd that as a brand new RN you were suspended for 3 days for not putting a pt on tele right away.

Ms.RN · Apr 5, 2012

How about an inpatient rehab unit in the hospital? Patients are less acutely ill, better patient to nurse ratio then LTC. Your nurse manager doesnt seem to be very fair to me. ((hugs))))

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2012

I have a friend who's a "supervisor" at a LTC, and all that means is she supervises the LPNS and CNAs -- AND she has to come in and cover shifts if someone calls out or quits, and half the time she's "supervising" she also has a patient load.

I just don't want to see you jump out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2012

Supervising means carrying a greater load than one nurse's assignment. You (and your license) are responsible for the actions of those you are supervising. By definition it cannot be easier than what you are doing.

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2012

Wow, you got some wise advice from some awesome nurses here, I know it must be incredibley overwhelming to face your fear of getting up and going to work everyday. This is not an ideal start for the New Nurse, and I wish they would have went lighter on you, instead of the false documentation vs. not starting the monitoring. I totally understand what you are saying, No alert, no problem.

I'm not going to torture a cliche', but never assume in nursing. The times I have got called on something- I knew it was coming. I recieved a "gut" alert, or signs were pointing there, and I missed it. Now not all of these times did I get in "trouble,'' in a disciplinary sense, I just suffered a negative action because I didn't use my best clinical sense.

I have learned NOTHING ever goes away, and NOTHING takes care of self within my first year of nursing. Address everything! That was the best advice I ever got, and I use it until this day. It really sucks sometimes taking extra time to bridge something, but peace of mind is wonderful. (you are still going to have OMG- I didn't . . . moments, but never let that pen write ANYTHING!, that you didn't see with your 2 eyes, feel with your hands, hear with your ears, or something you didn't do giving credit for done.

The Assistant may not tell you that the patient in room 323 has a blood pressure of 83/37 HR 46, and Sinus Brady (and has no urine output), but don't ASSUME it's fine because you weren't allerted. And now, it's time for her Clonidine, Lasix, and Atenolol. This would probably mean more than a suspension.

Just want your patients, and YOUR CAREER to have long happy lives.