blueshoe

You may be able to get more information from the folks mentioned on this link: http://www.wahsa.org/issmns.htm or your Secretary of State should know.

I will see her this evening and will certainly ask/suggest that as a possibility, perhaps even temporarily until things are more stable otherwise. The patient interaction has always been an important part of the job, but we could find other ways to do something similar (ie: volunteer work) that would be fulfilling and yet not risky to patient or employment. This forum has been such a blessing in working through possible options. Many thanks!

Thank you all for your replies! She is currently on several medications for severe chronic depression & is seeing a therapist on a weekly basis. Before going to pool/agency nursing and home health, while at the hospital job, she was able to take two leaves of absences under FMLA. After the second one it really seemed they just wanted her OUT, though at that time I don't believe major errors were being made. (Or not that I know of.) The hospital was under new management, her unit closed down & there was a new DON. At the same time there was a huge tragedy in the family that directly impacted her. The tragedy and being asked to resign seemed to really set off a fall of dominoes effect. Her identity is very wrapped up in nursing and in being a GOOD nurse. We're all perfectionists to some degree as well. Is EAP available to agency/pool nurses? Or would she have to check on her particular agency? The husband is a selfish jerk and I see no change forthcoming in that area. She is determined to stay in the marriage to not upset the remaining school-age children, now in high school, at least until they graduate. Wow, I didn't realize how afraid I was until I started actually writing it down. I completely understand the position of hospitals that don't want her to work there again due to errors for patient safety and their own liability, but as a family member I know the "why" of how she got to this point and why she keeps working in spite of the difficulties. Perhaps it is a breech of confidentiality, but I may speak to our physician as a friend as he knows and sees both of us. From my perspective it seems she needs to somehow step away or get some substantial help before painting herself not only into a corner (financially, emotionally, & career-wise)... but painting herself right off a cliff. Thank you again. Coming from a family of health care professionals and first responders I understand the pressures of that line of work, the trauma, and also the need to be accurate and "on your game". I also understand how much it becomes part of one's identity and purpose in life ~ helping, care-taking, making a difference.

I would like some advice please. A very close relative of mine is a nurse with +/- 20 years experience. At one time I know she was an excellent nurse, as I have been her patient and know how deeply she cares about her patients and how much her job means to her. However, in the last several years many things have happened in her personal life that have been incredibly stressful (some very traumatic) and there is just a lot going on. It has affected her work and ability to concentrate and stay focused. She was asked to resign from one job, but I know more than some of her employers and I am concerned -- both for her, her patients and her employers. As a family member of a once wonderful career nurse who has slipped, can you advise? She is the primary income for her family and her husband refuses to carry family health insurance, so there is a lot of financial pressure, but she really does not need to be working... or working as much. Every mistake upsets her more and causes more stress and anguish, but I am really becoming concerned about possible effects on patients at this point. I certainly don't want her to be sued or something like that either. I don't think she could handle that emotionally. I also don't want to cause more trouble than she already has. Thank you in advance.

I would like some advice please. A very close relative of mine is a nurse with +/- 20 years experience. At one time I know she was an excellent nurse, as I have been her patient and know how deeply she cares about her patients and how much her job means to her. However, in the last several years many things have happened in her personal life that have been incredibly stressful and there is just a lot going on. It has affected her work. She was asked to resign from one job, but I know more than some of her employers and I am concerned -- both for her, her patients and her employers. As a family member of a career nurse who has slipped, can you advise? She is the primary income for her family and her husband refuses to carry insurance, so there is a lot of pressure, but she really does not need to be working... or working as much. Every mistake upsets her more and causes more stress and anguish, but I am really becoming concerned about possible effects on patients at this point. I certainly don't want her to be sued or something like that either. I don't think she could handle that emotionally. Thank you in advance.