carolLeeAnn

@CSARmedic: I don't know how the OP knew there was a med error but, while working in LTC I discovered a med error. I worked 4 days on, 2 off schedule. Two of those days I was on one side and the other two days I worked on the other side. The first side was an ambulatory, locked Alzheimer's unit. While I was there, I received an antibiotic order for a diabetic women with a small infection on her lower shin. The order was for ten days. After I did my two days on that unit, I had four days off. When I was scheduled back to that unit six days had gone by. The report I got was we were charting on this lady for S/P Antibiotic Treatment. While I was passing meds I realized in the MARS, the nurses were signing that they were still giving the antibiotic. There was only one other nurse when I was not there that worked full-time on that unit. That same nurse also did not change dressings that I had changed on other occasions. The reason I knew this was because every time I would rotate to that unit again four days later, the same dressing would be on the residents with my date and initials on it. I had reported this several times to our unit manager but, it continued. So, when I saw the med error I notified the DON. That nurse was fired. I was bullied for months by her friends and ended up leaving because it became unbearable. I still believe I did the right thing and always put patient safety and well being first.

Congratulations NurseNanci1 !! I graduated as an RN at the age of 45 and I too wanted to be an RN forever but, life happened. I was an LVN at the age of 25 and I am so happy that I finally got to be an RN. I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. I wish you the best in your career. :)

I'm sorry to say that I have been having the same problem. I live in a small town and usually work 30-40 miles away in the city. After I was let go from a trainee DON position, (the DON wanted to retire, changed her mind after a few weeks then kept me there another few weeks until days before my 90 days was up). I was an LVN for 20 yrs and finally became an RN. The only job I could get was in LTC on the night shift. I continued to apply for acute care positions for over a year. Then, my old boss from the same facility(now in another) called me to take the DON position. He knew I had no experience. Once I realized the retiring DON wanted her job back, I asked him point blank if he was unhappy with my performance. He assured me I was doing a great job and had nothing to worry about. But, a few weeks later her attitude towards me changed. She started getting rude, yelling at me in front of our staff, made me cry a few times in front of them. Then she told him she wants her job back, so he let me go. He said I did nothing wrong. I've been applying to all positions I feel I am qualified for. I worked in acute care for thirteen years, and long term care for ten years. I haven't had any luck. I feel it is due to age. I just turned 51 this month... the scarry thing is, I remember my first year as an LVN, I worked in step-down Telemetry and floated to CCU all the time. I didn't know what I know now. I feel I am a very good nurse with a variety of experiences over the years and I would make a great nurse at any hospital. If only I could catch a break like I did as a new grad LVN. You are not alone. Good Luck to you in your job search. I read the other comments and will try some of the advice they left you.

Hello All, I am so relieved that I am not the only one. I always thought it was me because I was very shy. I started out as an LVN over twenty years ago. I landed the perfect job on a Telemetry Unit on the day shift. I was so excited! Unfortunately, I was going through the end of an abusive marriage and ended up in the shelter the very week I was to start orientation. I was so upset. I had to call my manager and let her know that I could not start until the following week until I obtained an emergency order of protection. She was nice enough to let me start the following week. So, on my first day of hospital orientation, they gave us a tour of the hospital. When we arrived on my unit, I was introduced by my manager to the other nurses. To my horror she said "This is Carol, the one I was telling you about." The nurses looked at me and said "Oh, that one" and then looked at me as if I crawled out of the dumster. I was so humiliated. I quickly figured out that two of the older nurses were close friends with the manager. I was a newly licensed nurse. Instead of helping me understand things, they would go to the balcony to smoke frequently with the manager and talk negatively about me. Luckily there was one good experienced RN I worked with. She was very helpful. We always worked as a team. We did a lot of double shifts together. It was a completely different atmosphere when the others went home for the day. My friende finally transferred to the ER on the NOC shift. So, I was all alone again. Then, we ended up with a new unit clerk, about my age. They loved her. After almost four years the last straw was when the unit clerk ordered up another LVN's medical records so she could see how much she weighed. The LVN was over 300lbs. The unit clerk was laughing and making fun of her weight. She was showing the older RN's her medical records. I could not believe it!! I mentioned to my manager that I would like to transfer to another unit but, she discouraged me by telling me I was not good enough and no one would take me. I stayed on another year before I quit. I was working for a registry at the time anyway. I was sent to some of the top hospitals in the S.F. Bay Area and everywhere I was sent I was treated with dignity and respect. I am a very good nurse and was told so by the other hospitals. When I left my main job, I felt as if a load of bricks had been lifted off my shoulders. I relocated to the central valley in 2000 and started working in skilled nursing. I went back to school and passed my R.N. boards in 2007. Now, I'm having a hard time getting back into acute care. I really miss it. Not the mean nurses. Also, I am not mean to new nurses. I am as helpful and respectful as I can be. I love showing new nurses how to do things and explain the how's and why's we do them. Thank you all for sharing your stories. I really enjoy reading them and I appreciate them as well. Carol LeeAnn

I really appreciate Allnurses and all of your hard work you put into it. It is the greatest. I spend hours reading all the stories posted. I have been able to relate to alot of them. I wish you continued success. Thank you all.

I have also had this problem in acute care as well as long term care. I encourage my patients to do as much as they can for themselves in order to get better so they can go home. I show them where they can get snacks, ice, and water. I don't mind helping those that are unable to help themselves. And as far as their visitors go, I direct them to the cafeteria and vending machines.