Nurse Manager threatening to report me to BRN...

Nurses General Nursing

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There's a fellow RN on the job who is suspected of sleeping on the job. NM calls me into the office the other day and says that my name was given as a witness to this incident. I told her yes that it appeared as though he was sleeping. She states that she would like me to write up a report on it. On one hand fine...the guy's eyes were red and puffy and he was sitting there for two hours with his eyes closed. I do believe he does deserve to get fired but she's gang-ho about reporting him to the board.

Then she tells me if I don't write him up then she's going to report me too, and that the BRN would take away my liscence for it. Her reasoning was if I didn't I would be an accomplise(sp?) and that it is the same as if I saw him stealing drugs.

I am not the guys supervisor, so feel as though by reporting to her what I saw was my only responsibility. I am a new graduate with limited experience and this creates various problems with me...having a family to support and various other issues. Quite frankly I don't feel comfortable writing this report, and feel insulted by her threat to report me.

Would the California BRN see it as a reason to take away my liscence, or was reporting what I saw to her enough?

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Why would you feel uncomfortable writing the report? Just write what you saw. No need to make it into a book or to lean toward embellishment. Just write it and get the DON off your back. You also might want to look at your long term role at this place since it seems that the DON is getting a negative slant toward you. Always watch out for yourself first.

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I take it you have no union representation. If you do, I wouldn't do anything without talking to a union representative first.

I would write a simple statement, such as, at the request of (NM) I am providing my account of what I witnessed on (date) at (approximate time). While (location, circumstances) I observed (co-worker) who appeared to have his eyes closed.

The thing is you already admitted that you saw him with his eyes closed. You can't backpedal your way out of this, and if the Board decides to interview you, your failure to comply or tell the truth WILL potentially cost you your license. Don't be elaborate. Just write a statement telling what you saw. You don't have to say he was asleep or for how long he appeared to have been asleep, etc. The Board has its own investigators, and they get paid to discover the details. The less you say, the better off you are, IMO. Just tell the truth.

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Reason I am uncomfortable writing it is that this person has been here awhile and has friends up the chain. He's already gone after another person after learning they had reported him for a similar incident. This is a bunch of immature nonsense and I really just want to do my job. Not looking to backpedal, I would admit what I saw to anyone that asked....but putting something to paper is entirely different.

Which is why the question was is this an incident that could get me reported or have I already done what I am legally required to by telling the NM what I honestly saw?

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It (his sleeping) doesn't effect your own job, so why on earth would BRN care?

It's not your job to write it out. If your manager is going to be like that now, I'd hate to see how she acts towards you later on down the line. Sounds like she uses her employees as pawns.

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Specializes in Addictions, Acute Psychiatry.

Call the BON first and ask them. Then you'll know what to do.

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Yeah good idea Castlegates. And good advice all around, thanks everyone.

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Sounds like your work place is rife with cronyism, and your boss is a bully.

I wouldn't want to work there.

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Specializes in ER.

You can call or email the board, and they will be happy to outline your obligations. Then go to your manager, and whatever you've decided as far as reporting make sure to let her know that you contacted the board to clarify your position. She will get the message that you are not a pushover, and will not be bullied in the future, but you'll have been somewhat nice about letting her know.

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Reason I am uncomfortable writing it is that this person has been here awhile and has friends up the chain. He's already gone after another person after learning they had reported him for a similar incident. This is a bunch of immature nonsense and I really just want to do my job. Not looking to backpedal, I would admit what I saw to anyone that asked....but putting something to paper is entirely different.

Which is why the question was is this an incident that could get me reported or have I already done what I am legally required to by telling the NM what I honestly saw?

Maybe you can anonymously ask this question of the Board.

I think your boss is coming on very strong, too strong. Not necessarily wrong, just wow, she's really wanting to get rid of this person it seems. At least, she's willing to get rid of a problem. It's good when bosses take action, as long as it's done fairly and by the rules. Always traumatic, of course, no matter what. This man has been trouble for a while, I guess.

I'm inclined to say don't worry too much about the "friends" he has. If they razz you or threaten you, just say very succintly and honestly that the boss somehow believed you had seen him, did not believe that you had not seem him, and put the screws to you to write the incident on paper, you would never have done it otherwise, etc. The less said, the better, ABOUT ANY OF THIS TO ANYONE EVER.

Just curious - how did you get involved in this?

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You can call or email the board, and they will be happy to outline your obligations. Then go to your manager, and whatever you've decided as far as reporting make sure to let her know that you contacted the board to clarify your position. She will get the message that you are not a pushover, and will not be bullied in the future, but you'll have been somewhat nice about letting her know.

She will not take kindly to your having contacted the Board. She will fire YOU if you let her know you did.

Keep your contact with the Board anonymous, if possible. You just are asking a general question, that's all.

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Just curious - how did you get involved in this?

She pulled me into her office and said that someone else had told her that I and a few others witnessed this occure, and asked what I saw.

Did not realise at the time I'd be pulled into this nonsense simply by doing the right thing. In any case yeah I'll simply contact the board and worst case senairo write the most benign-yet-honest letter I can come up with and wash my hands of it. One step closer to becoming jaded, grrr :(

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