Please help me, I'm in trouble.

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Hello. I have been a nurse for about eight years. I have been employeed in a skilled rehab unit for about five years. This past weekend I made a serious med error. I gave a resident another residents medication. I administered oxycontin 20 Mg instead of the ordered oxycodone 10 '=: This was realized at change of shift. As soon as I realized the error I assessed the ot and contacted the doctor as well as told the nurse assuming care of this pt. I told my supervisor that I had made a med error and she said make sure you call the MD. I did not go into details as it wa already two hours past the end of my shift, and you do get written up for being late out. Not to mention that I had twice as many patients as I should have due to staffing problems. Later that same night the supervisor calls me for clarification. I did not fill out the proper paper work. More importantly I wrote in the drug manifest "Wasted" To adjust the count from the pt that I took the meds from. After I wrote that I thought well its not actually wasted so I documented beside my signature "Given to wrong patient" In a very small space. Well long story short a few days later my DON questioned me statng that I falsified the document, I was being terminated and reported to theboard. I am in complete shock.. she said it looked like a cover up. But remember I told the other nurse and called the doctor and no harm came to the patient...thank god. Now im out of a job, will face the board and I don't know how to get a job after being fired. Please please help me.

Wow, what amazing ideas! Let me tell u where I am at this point. I have an appt with the social services worker monday morning in regard to emergency services which I have applied for like food and medical as well as assistance with my electric bill. Im waiting for the unemployment hearing. I am going to the on stop job market Monday. What I will add to my to do list are your suggestions like to run errands etc. I also have a job interview lined up, I do not want to mention details in case the psycho DON is on this site, and I think she is based on a comment she made. I am also waiting for a returned call from an employment attorney that I found on this site, ad for him. I am definately going to seek some unofficial under the table work as I search for nurse work to feed the family. I also have a list of food pantries at churches, heck I may even offer to volunteer there. I am going to figure out very cheap meals and dry goods I can stock up on with coupons. Feel free to give me any cheap eating ideas or products to buy. I am also starting the formal appeal/grievances process with my former company. Im. Also looking for some place I can print my updated resume as my printer is DOA. LOL, thanks a ton friends. I may also look at some private sitting opportunities if I can find any needs, also applying with my local nsg agency...lol now wouldn't my old company love it if I showed up as a temp hahhaah

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Do some spring cleaning- old appliances, air conditioners, any thing metal, take to the scrap yard, they pay cash per pound and rate depends on the kind of metal, My ex husband was a pack rat-re did the plumbing in our house. I found all the old copper pipes in the yard last week cleaning up the yard- PAY DAY($175.00)!! Have a yard sale with old clothing and household items you don't want. Check out Home Depot for free classes on power tools and painting/wallpapering- do that as odd jobs.(start off by doing work for people at school or church then word of mouth) Just some suggestions.

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I just went and turned off all the extra lights in the house and unplugged phone chargers...lol a penny saved is a penny earned, right?

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For the printer problem- go into the unemployment office- they have one just for that reason. It's a free service. They also have FREE classes/ 1-2 hr seminar on resumes., interviewing and job searches. I did those with my unemployment office. Was very worth it. They also have what is called "vouchers" which is unemployment will pay for a course/certificate at a localcommunity college on a space available basis. I am considering one of those. Take advantage of the unemployment status- apply to go back to college and apply for financial aid. Unemployment has a schedule of the seminars and services they offer. Just some more tid bits from one who has been there done that got the t-shirt!

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I don't know how to approach the subject of my termination with potential job interviews. I can't lie and I know that my former employer will give me a negative, at best, reference. Im in a small town where blacklisting is common practice sadly.

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There is always the employer of last resort, Maxim. They should hire you if your license is clear. Then, keep looking for a better job.

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Funny u say that I just sent them my resume

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i cannnot personally vouch for this organization, however, i read a story about it in a reputable publication approx five years ago. it is geared towards nurses experiencing medical problems needing short term assistance to pay rent, food . depression is listed as a qualifier.

just passing it along. xo

http://www.nurseshouse.org/index.html

518 456-7858

[email protected]

welcome to nurses house, inc.

a national fund for nurses in need

who we are

nurses house is a nurse-managed, non-profit organization dedicated to helping registered nurses in need. our history begins in 1922, when nurses house began to offer nurses a place to rest and recuperate at a long island, ny beachfront mansion, donated by emily bourne. as times and needs changed, the property was eventually sold and nurses house became a national service program. click here to read more about our history and see memorable photographs of the original nurses house.

what we do

nurses house, a 501 © (3) organization, is directed by a volunteer board of directors and executive director. our mission is to provide short-term financial assistance to nurses in need as a result of illness, injury, or disability. and while it is often difficult for nurses to ask for help in their hour of need, they who live their lives giving "little unremembered acts of kindness and love" deserve extra special care. at nurses house, we remember... and we're here to help.

who we serve

the nurses we serve, known as guests, are a very diverse group, ranging in age from their 20s to 80s. diagnoses also vary from cancer and depression, to spinal fusion and multiple sclerosis. while some nurses house guests face short term illness or injury, others are permanently disabled. many nurses need funds to help pay for such basics as food, a car payment, or health insurance. some face imminent eviction. click here to read stories about some of the nurses who have received assistance.

how we help

nurses house has helped thousands of nurses in all 50 states to regain health and productivity. over the past three years, we've helped nearly 300 nurses, with grants totaling almost $300,000. that's an admirable record, but the truth is, we can't keep pace with the ever-increasing demand. in fact, with current levels of charitable giving, we can only assist about half of those seeking our help. while many nurses face truly dire circumstances, there are simply not enough funds in reserve to help them all.

help us care for nurses in need

nurses house depends on contributions and bequests from nurses and friends nationwide. there are many ways to support the work of nurses house: donate in memory of a loved one, honor a co-worker, or sponsor a fund-raising event. click here to read some recent fund-raising ideas, or here to make a personal contribution. nurses house also accepts monthly pledges by credit card deduction. with your help, nurses house will continue to do more than "remember" lifetimes filled with kind and loving acts; with your help, we'll be here to say, "thank you."

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Wow! You've gotten so much great advice that we are ALL learning from your mistake! The only difference between you and the millions of other nurses in this country is it just happened to be YOU that day. It could EASILY have been any of us. STOP PUNISHING YOURSELF!

I know it hurts, it really physically HURTS you because I got chills reading your story and I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOUR NAME;)!

You are sharing your soul with us and we are all learning and growing because of it. I hope that gives you some comfort, and a bit of your pride back.

One single momma bear to another, pick your chin up, your shoulders back, and soldier on! :redbeathe

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I first heard about Nurse House back in 2006 when I was an agency travel nurse- my nurse recruiter told me about nurse house. I was going through a very nasty, costly divorce at the time( lawyer bills, no child and spousal support as yet) and the local travel contract opportunity in my area dried up( I could not go across country, I still had 2 daughters at home and in school. I was also afraid of loosing my house) I have heard nothing but good things about nurse house. It's worth a try.

As far as explaining termination- stratagy. Work for an agency for a while, references- did you work other places. Some places won't even ask. If you volunteer some where, they could be a reference. You already talked to the BON and know your license isn't in jeapordy- so why mention it.

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If you don't need your land line telephone- get rid of it- money saved. If you don't need your TV- cut it off your cable bill- money saved. I did this this past month- I'm saving over $100.00/month. ( you can watch TV shows from the internet. Shop around for cheaper car insurance rates. If you only have a small affordable payoff on your car- pay it off- money saved every month. I had to do something to afford this low paying job. Claim you kids on YOUR taxes. I'm supposed to share this with my ex. He can go float in the river- I refuse to allow him to claim our daughters.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

I wish that there were some kind of fund that all of us members here could contribute to for nurses in your position. I think that someone already suggested that.

Any staff members online now that can give some feedback regarding an emergency fund that we can start?

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