I have been working for a home health agency that has used some questionable ethical practices, but this may be a new low! I was given a schedule one day that was just not humanly possible..a ten hour day by their points system and then an admit that evening at 5:15pm which takes 4 hours according to their points system (but really takes 6 hours for an admit with all of the paperwork). On top of that, I was to turn in all of the paperwork for that day INCLUDING that admit the next morning and then face another 10 hour day and go back to the newly admitted pts house the next evening at 7pm to initiate her TPN therapy for the day. I was also supposed to repeat that schedule for the next 4 days.
Although that schedule was ridiculous, I would have tried my best to do it all and just keep my mumblings under my breath, my problem was the TPN therapy. I'm a relatively new nurse, having graduated in 08 and most of my nursing experience has been in the ER/Trauma setting. TPN therapy isnt something routinely done in the ER, therefore, I have NO experience with it whatsoever! I've never even seen it done!
I understand that its basically run like an IV through a central line, which I've had plenty of experience, but I also understand that it can be dangerous d/t what is in it and effects on blood sugar, etc. I also know that in the hospital setting, two nurses have to sign off on the contents and make sure the label is exactly as the MD ordered and then there are protocols on how often to check blood sugar and other labs. The nursing agency however, was wanting to send me out to this patients house to initiate this treatment..her first ever TPN treatment...alone, knowing that I have never done this before (they keep checklists on what we are and are not signed off on). I immediately told my nursing supervisor as soon as I received my schedule that I did not feel comfortable doing the TPN and the reasons why. I was basically told that it was just like an IV and I'll just have to hope that the pharmacy mixed it correctly. I begged with other supervisors and got no help either, no one wanted to come and sign me off on it/ train me because it was after 5pm.
I then notified my nursing supervisor that I refused the schedule and was not taking the assignment, and that I quit for that matter, and left. The agency has no safe harbor board and quitting was the only way I felt I could get out of the situation with my license intact.
Now, I have received a certified letter from the agency stating that they have filed a complaint against me to the state board of nursing for patient abandonment?!?! Am I just crazy or does this seem ironic?!?
