PinkRocksLikeMe

OK, this is totally UNACCEPTABLE and taking a picture because you don't have a pen?? That just screams unproffesional! I have to admit one day my watch stop working and I pulled my phone out to use the stopwatch, but I explained to the patient what I was doing so there would be no question was I taking care of them or posting a status on FB. We as well do not get good cell reception, I do not make calls from my phone unless I am at lunch but if I am at my station away from view of the patient's if I get a text I will look at it and sometimes respond. Most days before i go into work I do that check in thing on FB saying I am at BLANK BLANK HOSPITAL, it tells my friends and family with common sense not to call or text unless a true emergency is going on and I check my text because 99.9% of the time it is my daughter who could care less if I am working or not because EVERYTHING in a 16 y/o's world is a emergency! But this story, not cool!

No girl, your fine

CHEMISTRY CHEMISTRY CHEMISTRY Did I say Chemistry? LOL I LOVED pysch and I have made awesome grades, then hit chem like a brick wall, having to take class over!

The only med I see that is label to treat bi-polar is Seroquel if I am not mistaken, I am not a nurse but a EMT, so please educate me if I am wrong. Tney are probably talking about xanax and ambien and Adderall, because it is almost like your taken downers at bedtime, the uppers in the AM when those arent really used to treat bi-polar. I know if I took xanax and ambien at the same time, I would be OUT of commission for a week. Maybe you can talk to your doctor about not taking xanax just the ambien and adderall because you don't mention you having anxiety issues. I can see where they can say you are impaired to be honest. This is coming from someone who has ADD/Anxiety/Chronic Pain. I know the stigma, and I feel for your situation and hope it works out for you to what is best for you!! God Bless, Jenn

"TSH"....Ok can you tell I am tired LOL...I meant THC....I don't think they are worried about your thyroid right this second....

Sorry I just ASSumed and you know what they say about that....

I would say since it is YOUR responsibility to do the 5 rights it is every single nurse that gave the wrong dosage.

Also wanted to say this, I dont know anything about hair follicle testing but can it tell WHEN you took the percocet, if so I would ask them to review that to see that you did not have it in your system in tthe timeframe they are investigating.

You will get a job, I will keep you in my prayers about this situation. The only thing I can add is maybe the TSH wasn't the biggest issue but the percocet was. You said they were going off a claim that a patient made about not getting PAIN medication. Then you have pain medicine in your system that you did not have a valid Rx for. I'm guesing here of course but just wanted to throw that out there/ Keep your chin up we all make mistakes!!

Ok girlie, Stop the beating up of yourself!! We ALL have these days. This is what happens to me, if O have IV sticks that do not go well in the 1st hour or so of my shift, the rest of my entire shift is doomed and I feel sorry for the patients to come! We all have these days as I said, it just means we are human!!

Stay out of it. Pink

Oh honey, bless your heart. You did what you were told to do by the senior nurse and the doctor. I would just document everything and how it played out for yourself and know all nurses make med errors, it is just a matter of time. And the ones that say they don't are the ones to watch out for!! (((((((((((((Big Hugs)))))))))))))))) Pink

First of all I want to say I am so sorry to you for what you are dealing with in your home. I am going through the same thing and it is hard to come to work acting like everything is OK when you are dying inside, I was married 17 years, still am but about to be divorced. The way you were fired was horrible and again I am sorry for that. But, you do not need to ask what you would be good at, you would be good at anything you wanted to do, your self confidence is so low right now and I think that is why you ask that, I am here if you need to talk. Keep your chin up, know you are a good woman and a good nurse!!

I am so sorry you got let go from your job but I wanted to say the most disturbing thing about your post is that your husband saying you are not cut out to be a RN, what inda crap is that?? I hope you don't believe that, you need support right now instead of critisim, hang in there, people get fired all the tume doesn't mean you are not a good nurse OK Pink

You could appeal it I would think...

Hello, I was wondering a couple of things. I have pseido tumor cerbri, fibro and intercranial hypertension. I have had several LP's with pressure in the high 40's. My vision is getting worse and my doctor is wanting me to get a shunt. The idea of a shunt at 1st didn't sound like something I wanted to do but with continued high pressures and headaches that are the worst DAILY the idea of the shint is looking better and better. I was giving oxycodone to take when things get bad and I also take Lyrica for my fibro. I have been fortunate to not to have to take my oxycodone but a couple of times and it happened to be on the weekend I did not work but it got me thinking about what happens if I need to take one at night when I work the next day, or if I am at work (if you can even do that) hence my post. Sad thing is this, I have heard how many people were I work sometimes jump to the conclusion a patient is drug seeking because they are asking for pain meds witen they cannot find anything wrong, for instance had a patient that had a suspected pseudo tumor, pt was headed to get LP, asked for pain meds before the procedure, the nurse was annoyed and made comments about why does she need pain meds for a LP, she is a seeker, etc I asked this nurse if she ever had a LP, she states NO, then I tell her I have and it is painful, and maybe just maybe the patient was hurting NOW , it is not like the pt was no allowed to hurt before the procedure after all pt came in for a headache. BTW, you can only dx a pseudo tumor through a LP doesn't show up on a CT or MRI. Getting off subject here and I apologize, I just wanted to show bias to chronic pain even in the ER where people have ACUTE pain as well. Was wondering how many of you take pain meds, does anyone know you are taking them, what is the policy at your hospital? Thanks in advance!! Pink

or mortality rate....

I am sorry this happend to you but for some reason I feel like there is more to this story than being told. Your personality has nothing to do with determining if you are a drug seeker, diverter, etc. But I do not understand how they would just fire you for documentation errors, seems like they would counsel you about it. Have you ever gotten into any other trouble at work, no other counseling? Like said before if your not guilty get a lawyer, and you need to ask them what kind of drug test they want, I have never heard of you being able to take a OTC drug test and then show them results, you could have had anyone pee on it, you see what I am saying, that is what they will think to, you need a drug test witnessed through a company not on your own. Good luck to you, I hope everything turns out well!! Pink

He for whatever reason was asked to take a drug test, the very fact he refused is suspect. People do start rumors, makes claims, etc...Against people they don't like especially if it is a clique of people doing the talking and whispering. Sad but true, I have seen it happen. Just know it could be you one of these days, you know never to refuse a drug test and so did he, so his outcome was his choice. Sorry you lost a friend in all this though, but don't beat yourself up saying your assessment skills are lacking, you do not know the reason he was asked to take one. It could be gossip, he could have showns signs of impairment, it could be a on the job injury or it could just be that a RANDOM drug test. DO NOT 2nd guess yourself OK. Good luck to you sweetie, Pink

I guess it is what the nurse feels comfortable telling you. I am a ER Tech and I have had some nurses tell me, and then I have found out after the fact, after I have started an IV or put a foley in but it doesn't matter because I treat each patient as if they have HEP/HIV whatever cause you know what the PATIENT may not even be aware if they have something, Use universal precautions all the time and the take special care (like inspecting the skin for the BP cuff when taking vitals, you should do this with every patient by the way) all the time and you will be fine. Pink

Well it should actually be handled through your HR Dept. I have a pseudo tumor cerebri and I was out for an extended time. I had a very nosy manager who told me I had to bring my doctor's notes strictly to her. When I called and spoke with the lady at HR that handled FMLA, she told me that my manager had NO RIGHT to know the reason or anything about my medical issues. She said HIPAA laws still protect the employee. So I would make sure with your HR department that this is covered under HIPAA and let them know you want this to be confidential. That should really not have to be said, it should be known. Good luch to you, I hope the time off will help you re-group and get back on your feet!! Sending healing (((((((((hugs)))))))))) your way!! Pink

I am the OP and you guys really have had me cracking up in this thread!! I appreciate all the feedback you guys gave about posts that drive you crazy. Then it went off way to the left but the posts have MADE MY DAY the past few days. You guys are hilarious!!

Well I have mixed feelings about this. This is just MY opinion so you can take it or leave it but I was on Ambien for about 5 years. I tried several times to stop taking it and I would toss and turn and absolutely was NOT able to get back to sleep. After a couple nights of this I relented and took the Ambien. I was on 10mg QHS and I didn't take more than the prescribed dose but I believe very much I was dependant on them and that is so close to addicted to them. You guys hopefully know what I mean. One morning after taking Ambien the night before (and let me add, I do not drink with these pills or take any other meds at night with the Ambien) I woke up on my back porch with only my bra and panties on, now I lived in a two story house and my neighbors did as well so this was right out in the open! I also was smoking a cigarette apparently because it burnt all the way down in my patio chair cushion. That could have started a fire that burnt my house down with my family in it! Not to mention what my neighbors were thinking when they saw that. That day I flushed every single one of the Ambien down the toilet and I didn't look back! Thank goodness nothing serious happened but it could have. Also my husband would tell me that I was very short tempered and snappy and he thought it was from the Ambien, and when I stopped taking them he noticed a huge difference in my attitude. I also have worked (past tense) in a county jail setting for 4 years and I saw a lady brought in for DUI, apparently she got a RX for sleeping issues after her husband was deployed to Iraq, she got in her car and went through a drive thru then proceeded to stop her car ON THE MEDIAN of a 6 lane hwy. The cops had to go wake her up, she was in her nightgown. She explained to them what happened and they took pity on her and dropped charges to criminal negligance because she left her children age 1 & 2 at the house! Thank goodness they were at home asleep in their beds (not saying it is good they were there w/out supervision) but in the grand scheme of things it could have been a whole lot worse! I also would eat food, cook and do crazy things like that on Ambien. It is just not worth it to put the people I love in harm's way. I am not saying I don't miss the ability to go to sleep when I want to, but I have found other ways that help me and after about 3 months my body actually got into a pattern where I can go to sleep on my own most nights, the others I either take Melatonin and Valarian Root and warm bath, or I toss and turn, it is a coin toss. But I am so glad I am off and I do think your body might go back to where you can sleep on your own after you have been off for a bit. I say I hope all of you can find a solution that works for you, just be very careful with Ambien, I have personally experienced these events with no knowledge the next day and I have seen it impact others lives in a negative way, Take care and be safe!!

I liked the response that if they want to get the keys then you ask them to do inventory with you and they take responsibility for the keys. Then you are not saying no you are just giving the responsibility back to your DON, supervisor, whatever.

Or bloody mary 3 times!!!