please help Drug Diversion

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 17, 2016

Wow, that's insane. I can't believe you are essentially being accused of doing your job. Giving a prescribed prn pain med to a patient in pain, how dare you! I am assuming the sarcasm came through loud and clear there.

Anyway, I second my earlier suggestion of finding another job no matter how this turns out. Obviously for whatever reason or no reason at all somebody there doesn't like you. So sorry you are going through this.

dago1000 · May 17, 2016

My attorney believes they are assuming the meds are not being given to the patient. That is why they are saying previous nurse gave no meds & how many more patients like this will we find. I am certain many RNs have given meds to a patient that did not receive any from a RN they relieved. Once in 15 years I had a patient say she did not get her meds. That patient had a history complaining about meds. So we believe once the drug test comes back clean they will search to see how many more patients they can find. Question is what is the magic number of patients they are looking for ? What number are they looking for to fire me. They found only one going back 6 months.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · May 17, 2016

Wow, unbelievable. Have you told them you have retained counsel? That might make them calm down a little bit, knowing that someone else is watching your back.

dago1000 · May 18, 2016

My attorney has made Upper management aware. Meanwhile I am still sitting here not working or knowing whats going to happen

dago1000 · May 19, 2016

I still have not heard anything. A friend of mine suggested I contact The Business Of Integrity Department of the hospital I work for. I have never heard of them. Doing a little research I see they work from headquarters and one of the things they do is investigate complaints at a higher level. Has anyone ever dealt with them and could they be trusted. They are paid from the same company they would be investigating. I have not asked my attorney because everything is a wait and see approach with him. Waiting is killing me

SororAKS, ADN, RN · May 20, 2016

I think I would trust your lawyer on this. I know waiting sucks but calling anyone in house seems a bit more risky.

dago1000 · May 24, 2016

Well my manager called me and said I had until the end of the phone conversation to resign. I asked about my drug test results and she said it camp back clean. She told me I had to many errors and behavior issues (1st time I ever heard that one ). I told her I could not

resign for no reason. She warned me that it was the last time she was going to ask before firing me. I asked if I could call her back after discussing it with my family . She said now or your fired. So she fired me. I am so screwed in life and not sure what to do.

SororAKS, ADN, RN · May 24, 2016

Not so fast. Tell your lawyer about what was said, ask for proof of these alleged behavior issues and errors (do you have any copies of past performance evaluations?), reiterate that this is the first you have been advised of anything but good performance, and see if your lawyer can work something out with HR and upper management. If you don't want to work there any more, which in this situation has merit, I'd still ask your lawyer to get the termination changed to a resignation.

Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B · May 25, 2016

OP. I really feel for you. My accusations were for a more serious crime but the effect was the same. No evidence, guilty until proven innocent, and fired before an investigation was concluded.

Obvioisly consult your counsel, but j would file for unemployment immediately. If they fight it they will have to prove to a review board that you were fired for cause and you may be able to get a look at this "evidence" against you. Otherwise I would recommend using your lawyer to negotiate with HR and see if you can reach a settlement where you leave but are given a neutral reference. Your not gonna win when someone decides to stab at you this hard, especially a manager. If you manage to get out without loosing your butt your ahead of the game.

Irish_Mist, BSN, RN · May 25, 2016

Well my manager called me and said I had until the end of the phone conversation to resign. I asked about my drug test results and she said it camp back clean. She told me I had to many errors and behavior issues (1st time I ever heard that one ). I told her I could not
resign for no reason. She warned me that it was the last time she was going to ask before firing me. I asked if I could call her back after discussing it with my family . She said now or your fired. So she fired me. I am so screwed in life and not sure what to do.

Are any of these errors and behavior issues documented? Were you ever provided counseling on these issues?

RescueNinjaKy · May 25, 2016

Where's the documented errors and behavioral issues?

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · May 25, 2016

Well my manager called me and said I had until the end of the phone conversation to resign. I asked about my drug test results and she said it camp back clean. She told me I had to many errors and behavior issues (1st time I ever heard that one ). I told her I could not
resign for no reason. She warned me that it was the last time she was going to ask before firing me. I asked if I could call her back after discussing it with my family . She said now or your fired. So she fired me. I am so screwed in life and not sure what to do.

Even in an "at will" state, one can win a wrongful termination suit if your facility has an employee handbook which describes a process for documenting warnings and other issues prior to termination. If they do not follow their published, stated policies, you can sue for wrongful termination. I'd look at your employee handbook.