ForeverMoving

I’ve been a nurse for 20 years & had many different jobs thanks to my ex-husband’s multiple moves around the country but never had the perception that I was being bullied until now, my 20th year as a Registered Nurse. It’s not a “perception,” it’s just an absolute fact when you walk into orientation and your so-called preceptor chooses to nitpick you over nonexistent rules and announce to the nursing team that you have no idea what you’re doing 6 weeks into the job. And I don’t give a rip what’s going on for her at home or how she must’ve been treated as a child, she knows better than to treat a new hire this way. The entire team has struggled recently because of understaffing & it’s in her best interest to get me & other new folks well-trained & happily settled in our roles.

I already have a compact state license for SC, TN, and all other states involved in that compact. I have no idea where I'll go next so I won't run out and get any other licenses! Won't my hair screen show pos from Lomotil that I take for my IBS?

The med was picked up on 6/29. So it certainly would've had time to get out of my system by now had I taken it. I've looked at the nurse recovery program for our state and it's a 3 year deal. I don't think it's fair to have to go through a recovery program when I'm not an addict!

Hi! I'm brand new to the boards but have lurked for years. Forgive me if I say or do the wrong thing here. I've been an RN for 11+ yrs and have 5 yrs inpatient hospice experience. I started home hospice 8 months ago and found it VERY different. Emotionally I had a difficult time. I was stressed to the point that it was affecting my health, I couldn't eat, my IBS was consistently flaring up and I'd lost 40+ lbs in the past year. To make a long story short, I took a much needed vacation in early July and when my family saw me they were startled and very worried. Several people talked to me about the stress that I've been under and if I should consider another field for now. I finally agreed and called my boss. She was okay with it. I'd recently decreased my patient load, our census was down, so another nurse was able to pick up my case load and I didn't have to work out a notice. Perfect, right? I stayed home with family for 3 more weeks and rested and can already tell it was the stress that was doing me in. When I returned to the town I live in, I had to go to the hospice office and turn in all of their equipment, patient supplies I had in my car, and so on. That's when I find out that a bottle of Lortab was missing from one of my patient's home. The DON said she was waiting for me to return it. Now, my last day before leaving for vacation was very busy as I was trying to get my patients all set for my 10 day absence (I very much baby-ed them) and it was a crazy day but I'm sure I took that Rx to the patient. BUT, the nurse that followed me says the Rx is not there. Now, in this home are two patients we see...one with CA with mets to the brain and the other with Alzheimer's. There are other workers from our agency in the home: the social worker, CNA, chaplain, this new nurse. But my DON says since I was the one to pick up the med from the pharm and deliver and now it is missing, she has to report it to the state BON!!! I have NEVER in my life diverted a single pill. Now I have no idea what to do. Does anyone have any idea what my punishment might be? What should I be doing to prepare? Should I get a lawyer?? Any advice would be much appreciated. Part of me isn't afraid because I know I'm not at fault but another part of me worries that the BON will tear me apart. I worked hard for that license and this is my livelihood we're talking about! I have no intentions to return to work in our current state...it's time for a break and to focus on my family...but I don't want this to affect me when I am ready to work again!