jkmjones

I'm a nurse at the end of my career, and I'm sorry to hear that bullying is still going on. I'd like to share my experience with you in hopes that it will be helpful. I never had a preceptor. In fact, I never even had an orientation. I was a new BSN grad on a floor full of diploma grads. Diploma schools were being phased out at the time, and there was a lot of resentment toward BSN grads. There were many procedures that I didn't learn in school, so I needed help from the RNs on the floor. When I asked questions, the staff nurses told me I was stupid. I learned to cope by doing the following: I committed to doing whatever it took to become not just a good nurse but a great one. I realized that I was the only person who had a stake in my goal, and I was the only person who could ensure success. I listened to criticism without getting defensive. Some episodes of criticism were helpful and some weren't (such as calling me stupid.) I confronted nurses who were disrespectful. For example, when someone called me stupid, I would say, "I know you don't mean anything by that comment (even though they did), but I don't appreciate the word 'stupid'. Maybe you could show me a better way to do it." I offered to help others whenever there was a skill to be learned or a type of patient that I was unfamiliar with. Who doesn't want a little bit of extra help? After time passed and new RNs started on the unit, I helped them the way that I had wanted to be helped. After a year, I was thrilled when I overheard two new grads say that they hoped that I was working that day because I was "the smart nurse who could answer their questions." Did I go to the manager when I was being mistreated? No. I didn't think my manager cared one way or the other about my success.

Check your policy to see if it covers criminal matters. Medical malpractice cases are always filed and tried in civil court, not criminal court, which is why this case is so sensational. I'm sure that all medical malpractice policies will cover you and pay attorney fees in medical malpractice cases, but I'm not sure those policies do the same if you are charged with a crime.

Here's what I learned about reckless homicide from Wikipedia: Reckless homicide is a crime in which the perpetrator was aware that their act (or failure to act when there is a legal duty to act) creates significant risk of death or grievous bodily harm in the victim, but ignores the risk and continues to act (or fail to act), and a human death results. This nurse didn't deliberately administer the wrong medication. She made a terrible medication error and will live with that for the rest of her life.