kaylsumrn2

first, i'd like to whole-heartedly thank all who took the time to read and reply... your time is valuable and greatly appreciated!! second, here's the update of my situation: the complaints: 1. i used vulgar language (the f-bomb to be precise) in a conversation with a patient in they were using profanity, and i was asked to comment by the patient. the truth is the truth.. i said it, i admitted i said it. in context, it was a comment made in reply to comments the pt was making about something on television. i apologized profusely, and i was hugged by the patient and told "it's no big deal sweetie, i feel more at home now". 2. i didn't do an assessment: i did, it's documented. this issue was dropped. 3. the patient questioned one of the medications that i had given and that i told her "just take it". the pill in question did not exist after consulting the pharmacy and mars, it was not pulled nor administered. this issue was dropped. resigning was never given as an option. my employment was terminated due to extreme unprofessional behavior for saying the f-word, and because i stopped to take my blood pressure in the patient's room (i wasn't feeling ok, i had given report on my patients and was on my way out). so.. now how do i go about trying to get another job.. after being terminated for "extreme unprofessional" behavior. everything happens for a reason right? thanks again!

There's no union, no real support for nurses as it becomes a "he said, she said" situation... where "they said, and I said". I'd heard that there were some underlying "hospital" issues months ago and to watch my butt, however I'm such a details freak that I never gave reason to take a second glance in my direction. No news is good news, because how often are you ever called to an office to hear how good you're doing. Thank you, and all the advice I can get is welcomed! I know I messed up!

Last week... I lost my mind.. for a moment.. and said a curse word in a patient's room. It wasn't directed toward the patient, family member or anything of that nature. It was an off-handed (and STUPID) remark towards something that was on the television. The patient had used this particular curse word multiple times since I entered the room, and as previously mentioned.. I lost my mind... I immediately apologized, profusely...the patient came over, hugged me, and stated "it's no big deal, I feel more at home now". The problem: I had to leave early, due to temp 101.5 and BP 204/103 with no clue as to what was going on. I went to the MD, and when I got out, I received a phone call from my manager stating there were "serious patient complaints" after I left. The complaints: 1. I used vulgar language (the one word I used.. has been inflated to 3). 2. I didn't do an assessment (I did indeed to a full and complete assessment and documented it as such) according to pt and significant other which is being counted as false documentation 3. The patient questioned one of the medications that I had given and that I told her "Just take it" (I always take MARS to the room and go through them one by one as I'm popping the pills out of their unit dose packages, and there was no question of an unidentified medication when the patient took the pills). I am a patient advocate and have NEVER prompted a pt to take a questioned medication! In short, unprofessional behavior, a medication error, and false documentation, poor patient care. This particular patient was admitted for something psychiatric in nature, and I can only guess that the significant other is enabling negative-attention-seeking behavior. I am NOT lying, I admitted that I said the curse word that I said, and I agree that some kind of consequences should come from that. I have worked for this company for almost 2 years, and have no previous discipline other than a past attendance but I've been recommended for termination and I have one last shot (in 2 days) to plead my case. I'm a very good nurse and I like my job, does anyone have any suggestions of how to fix this issue?

Sorry, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, formerly United Medical Center.

Yes, CRMC does.