ladytopaz56

Officially filed for unemployment this morning. Thank goodness you can do that online! And since my inital post on here, I can not believe how many nurses have had similar situations!! What is wrong with these hospitals? If a patient hits you, nothing is done. But whoa...if it were outside of the hospital it would be flat out assault!! SOMEONE needs to do something about how we are treated and 'thrown under the bus' !! At first I was in total shock, then hurt and now I'm just *bleeping* mad!!! And for the Student Nurse who asked the question as to whether the visitor was asked to leave? Well, try doing that at a hospital and see how far it gets you! You do not have the right to ask that, only the patient can do so!!

Ok, got the 'official' word....I lost my job to this drug seeking heroin addict!!! I reported only the 'facts' as to the incident and never mentioned that I and other nurses considered her a drug seeker. I am so disillusioned by all of this that I am actually considering not looking for a job in nursing. I don't think I would be so upset if in fact I had somehow been mean to her, but I wasn't!! In fact, I had been asked to possibly 'tone down' my cheerfulness at one time. ( A patient said I was too cheery??!!!) Geeze, you can't win for anything with these people!!

Without going into great detail and patient confidentiality, the pt has a long history of drug abuse. I DID give her her meds when she requested them and without any time delay. The issue was the argueing that went on in the room when I was in there but it was not between me and the patient, but the patient and a visitor. Yes, I diffused it twice but I'm beginning to think that she thought I was somehow involved and it's just a huge mess! I did as everyone suggested though. Presented MY side in a very professional, objective manner with NO mention of drug seeking. Remember how we were first taught to paper chart?? "This nurse observed, this nurse then assisted, etc". Well you get the picture. Hopefully I am back to work and soon!!!

Can we say, "Blame it on Press Ganey" !!! It's all about being a business, customer satisfaction, high rateings, etc. It's become so bad the past few years that I am surprised that we have any nurses left! Right now I am going through a similar situation and am on investigational suspension for a patient complaint. What ticks me off is, patients who are 'frequent flyers', act like they should be treated as if they are at the Ritz Carlton and know that they can get away with this type of behavior! It's blatant abuse towards nurses and somehow, someway this has to STOP and soon!!!

I keep all of my nursing reports or 'brains' as we call them and never throw them out! I've re-written my statement three times before I was satisfied that it was ok to submit. Yes, very professional, and there were wittnesses! And hurt doesn't even begin to describe how I feel right at the moment, it's more like devastated!! I treated this person with nothing but the utmost respect, compassion and respect and then this? I am praying that it is nothing more than management following thier policies. In the meantime, I will hold my head high..I did nothing wrong other than try to care for a very, very unhappy person!!

I know! I was 'told' that she didn't feel safe. They want me to write down exactly what all happened, said, etc. Geeze...I already did that in my nursing notes!

I have no idea what all the complaint said!! I was not allowed to see it. Where I work, this is not uncommon for Administration to go this far with patient complaints against staff. It rolls back to that old Press Ganey thing that looms over everyone's heads. They've turned hospitals into the Ritz Carlton for patients and at times make it very, very difficult for us to do our jobs. But the thing is, I love my job!! :redbeathe I love what I do and my patients!! Now I think I am seeing why so many nurses are leaving and going elsewhere or just not working as a nurse at all. If I had been allowed to go back in and talk to her I think that none of this would have happened.

Well, I have to answer in writing to the Director. And, I never knew of her past history until 'after' the incident when I was charting. I actually feel sorry for her. She is so young and to be caught up in that kind of lifestyle, it's hearbreaking. And I know that what they percieve as pain or needing pain meds, actually to them is real. I just pray that she gets the help that she needs. And I understand what you mean about body language and tone of voice. A lot of times that is a dead give away of our true feelings. I was just so hurt that she would think that of me. Mind you...not mad but hurt. I cried all the way home and then had a good cry last night too. In the meantime, I have been put on 'investigational leave'. Ah...it has to get better!! The Charge didn't notify the Manager until a day later, so this is now happening 'after' the fact. Yes, it should have been done while she was sitll a patient.

Sorry, guess I should expand on that. When I first walked into the room during after walking rounds, she and a visitor were in a heated argument. From there, no matter what I asked her, said, did, nothing was right and she whined! Yes, actualy whined! She wanted to go back to bed, so while transferrig her from the chair to the bed, she went limp in the knees. (I actually kind of think she did this on purpose) Kept repeating that she could not do this. And...all the while this visitor is yelling at her that she needs to do for herself, she's done with her and her drama, no more, this was it. Thankfully I didn't drop her but got her back to a sitting position. Then she wants her dr's phone number, wants to call him and fire him. Then she wants the charge nurse to fire me. OH...it was horrible! All the time, all these people yelling at each other. So the charge had another nurse and I switch patients. Of course the visitors leave for the day and the other nurse stated that she slept most of the day other than asking for her pain meds (and the request was 'right on time'). Next thing I know, I'm being called into the office because she filed a complaint against me! She didn't feel safe with me being her nurse! Not once did I ever raise my voice, berate her, and always treated her with compassion. I'm wondering if she's confusing the fiasco with the friend and my being present at that time as the threat?

I have a question for all of you nurses out there, how do you handle an investigation of a complaint by a patient about you?? I had a complaint against me by a patient that was drug seeking, (noted in her previous records and multiple visits to ER), and the list for her goes on and on!! I am terrified of loosing my job due to this 'person'!! I have been an RN now for 7 years and have never had a patient complain about my care. :crying2:Right now I'm so upset and sickened I can't even think straight!! HELP!!!