Please Help!!

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I am a fairly new nurse and have been working at a nightmare of a nursing home. I was working the6a-6p shift. The nurse that was supposed to relieve me came in an hour and a half late. When I tried to leave, she was on the phone, but told me I couldn't leave without giving her report. I told her to hang up the phone so I could give her report. She didn't, so I attempted to take the phone out of her hand. A screaming match ensued. The ADON was called. The other nurse called the police, and i was placed under a citizens arrest (Not going on my record, I am told by the officer). The other nurse had a red mark on her neck, supposedly from where I grabbed the phone. The nursing home is turning me over to the board. I have only been a nurse for 6 months. I only wanted to get home to my kids. I never agreed to work late. What can I do? Am I going to lose my license?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

We don't know what the BON will or won't do.

However, we want to support you.

Sounds like a horrible situation.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Very much soounds like a horrible place to work

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Get a lawyer! I've sat in on BON hearings- do not go in by yourself! It is like a court of law and they have attorneys sitting behind the table...you need one too if you are called before the board.

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Thank you for all your support. I really can't afford an attorney, but I will call around.

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check with the Oklahoma Nurses Association or the BON directly......find out what you can do for representation. Search for attorneys that give a free consultation.

good luck

The BON might not consider it relative because it was between two co-workers and did not involve patients or nursing duties. Not sure.

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okchug,

Can you tell me what I hearing with the BON is like? I have a hearing coming up later this month and i'm very scared. Will they nursing attorney question me like in a regular court, will they present evidence against me etc etc?

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Yes & yes. When I was there as a student observer, the person being "charged" sat in front of the panel and answered questions from attorneys and others on the board.

Most of the people were there for drug issues. The board had evidence against the nurses and it was very much like a court of law. BUT they also gave people many chances to admit their problem and seek help. The ones who agreed to go to peer counseling were treated fairly and got through quickly. The ones who continued to make excuses and deny their problem (even in front of solid evidence, like drug tests or Rx forgeries) ended up being suspended.

I realize that your situation is different and doesn't involve drugs.....but don't try to hide anything. Just tell exactly how things happened. Reflect on the situation and be ready to admit how you could have handled it differently.

I wish I had more legal type advice....the BON is intimidating and I'm sorry that you are going through this. I will say that they are not evil- they really gave people chances to work with them and resolve issues. Be open to working with them.

Good Luck

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sorry- didn't mean to scare you with the attorney thing.

It just seemed to go better with a lawyer because they understood what was going on and what needed to be done.

people without lawyers got in trouble when they continued to talk in circles of lies and excuses.

Have you contacted the BON about who you can take with you or how to get representation?

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what happened to the other nurse? was she disciplined? she was also very wrong!! first she came in an hour and a half late then she would not get off of the phone to take report?? are you kidding me?! instead of grabbing the phone i would have went straight to the charge nurse told her the senario and gave her report for the patients stress the fact that i really had to get home and could not wait for her to get off of the phone...and i would have left. during my clinical rotation while in nursing school one of the facilites we visited recorded their end of shift reports and the oncoming nurse would go into a private room play the recording; write down any notes and then delete...that way the nurse waiting to be relieved could just go home once the oncoming nurse came in..so sorry your going through this... Good luck to you! :no:

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knortlpn-

Email me and I will tell you about my experience and give you some tips. I live in Texas, but my tips should help you anywhere. The main things are to keep your chin up and never give up. I agree with okchug- the BON may consider this an employment issue and not a nursing issue, in which case the BON will do nothing.

heidigosique:)

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To the best of my knowledge, the other nurse was not disciplined. Report was written down. Every time I tried to explain that she wouldn't let me talk. I really wish I had just walked away...what a mess. A detail I left out is that when I did leave...I was called (by the police) to come back, so i was gone for 30 minutes. When I got back she had the red mark...not sure she did when I left. Not makin this up...the girl is not that mentally stable. Recently was in rehab or mental health facility for nervous breakdown. Not judging...just saying

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