District46

Not a doctor, no - but still a lot more educated than a CNA! I have spent years trying to please CNA's by being the nurse that mucks in with them, so they wouldn't talk about me - only to be the nurse left finishing my own duties after all the others have gone home. We have our jobs, and you have yours - but they are not the same - and no amount of working as a CNA will help you in becoming a good RN except in the eyes of the CNAs!!

I have been in this position, and got really upset too, in your position. In the end it was obvious to me that there was a long line in people covering their own backs. In the end my case did not end up with disciplinary action as it had been shown that the mistake had been made numerous times and so the process was changed in passing that drug. Please don't get hysterical, they cannot just sack you. Get someone to represent you when they talk to you. Do you not have a union? Tell the truth. You are not a criminal, remember that. You are a human being who has made a mistake - that's all. Please let us know how this ends. I for one have an invested interest in finding out how you get on. Good Luck. I know you will be fine, and I am sorry it has to be you, but you know everyone else makes mistakes, they just cover them up and lie. You are the one I would rather employ.

I know how hard it is, when you own up to a mistake. The department are responsible for looking into these errors to identify the problem and find a solution. As you have said that other nurses have made mistakes around coumadin, then there is an obvious pattern here. Maybe you are the unlucky one, but what is their choice - wait for just one more nurse? then investigate? - I hope not because that means one more patient too!! There needs to be an investigation. They may find that the way the coumadin is written needs to change. This is a mitigating circumstance. I am certain that they will take this into account, as well as the fact that you are new, and any other factors. They will then either change the way the prescribing is done around coumadin, or not if they find it sufficient. They will certainly request that you do a medicine administration update in a clinical skills lab, which wouldn't be a bad thing. Then it would be over for you to continue, but you would now be that bit more competent and that much more experienced. Try not to take any of the process personally. It is just a process that the DON has to go through to ensure patients are not hurt and staff are competent. They won't want to lose you, because that means the hassle of beginning again.

I am really divided on this one. On one hand I do think that the OP could/should have either gone to library or googled, When I was training a large chunk of what we learnt was exactly how to research properly. Nursing is a never ending education, and if you cannot do your own research then you will really stuggle because even concepts that I was taught back then have totally changed. On the other hand, it could be that the OP prefers to ask experienced nurses who are on the job, rather than read a book or essay. In my opinion if I am researching a subject I would both google, and ask experienced nurses. I would probably have visited the local hospital though, having seen the responses the students do get on here when they ask. Isn't that what they are meant to do? I agree - a specific thread would be good.

That's a fair point. You certainly have got me thinking. I have in the past, when it was how the couple worked, provided a loving wife with all the requirements to enable her to do the care herself. WHat I meant though was in the instance where family have offered to toilet, change a family member because they can see I am busy (which happens a lot as I work in A&E) and I have sensed that they were being polite then I have said no, you be the daughter, wife, etc and I'll be the nurse! I'm not defending myself to the hilt though - I must admit I have not always given people a choice of male or female - that would be impossible! We just cannot work like that in our field as we have a small number of males in nursing generally. I am talking as an A&E nurse, it may be different on the wards. However, in the instance of catheterisation I have always offered a choice of male or female nurse. In that instance as it is so invasive I would grab a nurse from another department if I needed to!

Unfortunately I was taught to flick an erection when I was studying in 1990! I actually thought the trainer was joking and never took it on board. In response to a comment that some patients state their wives will take care of that part of things, I must admit whenever a family member, be it wife or daughter has offered to help me with hygiene care I have always steadfastly refused. In my opinion their place is as a wife and daughter, not a caregiver. That is my job. It is far less personal for a stranger such as myself, to do the care in a professional, no nonsense manner. I couldn't and refuse to imagine doing that sort of thing for my dad. I did offer to help my father-in-law when he was ill but he refused and I was glad he did!! My husband, that's different I guess. I would happily do all the care needed to make him comfortable. It's just a personal opinion, but at work, the point is that people do have their own personal opinions, and as such I respond individually, but always give them the choice. They are always the boss in my opinion!!!

Unfortunately, we humans are essentially animals, and as such, basically sniff out vulnerability such as yours. I sometimes think it frightens other humans who are living fragile lives and that triggers them to reject you. You will find that it is the most grounded people who will treat you properly. Those who don't, have their own problems. With all that you have been through, you are a lot stronger than most people, and as such, need to acknowledge that. Give yourself a huge pat on the back. If you are attractive then be glad, because that will get you a lot further in life than you know. You need to take a good look in the mirror and congratulate yourself on being who you are, and be glad that you are not one of these sheepish workers who huddle in packs because they are so weak. You don't need them, they haven't got you to where you are now, and they aren't necessary to get you anywhere else either. Become one of the people that you admire, who take everybody equally, and don't gossip or hide in cliques. Be a person that you can look up to, I think you probably already are that person, but you just need to acknowledge it. Once you have some self respect and are aware that with all you have been through in life, a bit of backstabbing is nothing to you, it will stop. Guaranteed. The minute you stop being bothered, it will stop. I really hope that you will be ok and your life gets better. Your husband sounds caring and you have children who are healthy and happy I presume? Count your blessings. You sound like a great person but unfortunately in this life it is the nice people who suffer the most in my experience.

Sorry to hear this but it does seem typical. I have worked for an agency and now on the hospital bank of nurses. I work mainly in the A&E Departments. A drug error was made by six staff before it was noticed. We were following the wrong pathway for librium detox - no harm done but it has kicked off a huge investigation. As I was on the bank I have been told not to return, but the permanent staff who work there, who make same mistake are all still working and administering meds! The situation is so unfair. I have decided to leave nursing now and go back to teaching and assessing because I am so upset by this situation. I am fed up with nursing, and the way you have to watch your back every step of the way. I mean, it's not as if I have done anything really bad - I didn't steal or abuse anyone! But the investigation process makes you feel like a criminal. Also, I have seen so many mistakes made, that are covered up, but I just seem to be unlucky in that I make an error and get hung up for it. On the actual day I did report it and ask about incident forms, etc, but was told not to worry. The permanent staff nurse asked a doctor about it and was told no harm done, just carry on. It would have been fine, but the following staff made the same mistake so it has become huge!! I just think you are too vulnerable in agency or bank nursing positions. If you make an error it is so easy to just get rid of you but if you were one of the permanent staff I feel you would be supported and helped to make necessary changes to your practice. Hope you finally find something that you are happy in, and feel supported and safe in your job!

Ha ha, just finished my 14 hours on A&E and know exactly what you are talking about! Nice to see someone from UK posting too as some things are a little different to the USA, but most are the same!

Ha ha, when I think about why I became a nurse all those years ago!! My boyfriend was always eyeing nurses up, one reason. I wanted him to notice me. Thankfully I am not with him now. The other reason being that I had a job as a waitress and decided that I loved working with people - Of course people in restaurants, having a nice night out are a lot different to people ill, on the worst day of their lives. Nursing school was tough - but I got through. I am definately unsure of what the 'right' reasons are to be a nurse. People who are in it because they care, soon become dissillusioned and either burn out or fall out. As for the rest of us, well I think being human brings a certain amount of empathy and love for our fellow humans - it's what stops us from killing each other - well most of us anyway!

Thank you so much for the supportive replies. I have learnt so much from this experience. At the moment I am just happy to have moved on, and start a permanent position at a more local hospital in two weeks time. In the meantime I am working as an agency nurse. I have refused to go back to the A&E Dept, but they have also asked the agency not to place me there and that is what smarts - how they can do that when I was not in the wrong. My ten year old daughter comes home from school with her playground problems and I have had to tell her that she needs to develop skills to overcome these people because she will encounter this type of problem even when she becomes an adult and goes out to work!! Maybe one day I can make use of the experience and use it to help in some way - teaching or counselling other nurses, or even helping to make policies for this type of problem. It is interesting in that it does affect patient safety. Nurses who are under this type of attack don't tend to have their minds fully on the job. This is where managers should be concerned if there is a difficulty in proving an episode of bullying, which is often the case. Please understand my use of the word "bullying". It makes people feel ashamed, and that is why so many people fail to report it and keep quiet. Although I was being made to feel uncomfortable, I am not a weak person, and these people did not ............ok here I am now, trying to justify myself and how others see me. It is a complex problem. Im my case it would be difficult to prove that their intentions were anything other than concern. And that is why I was left without a leg to stand on in terms of retaliation. It still makes me angry just thinking about it. On the good side though, there are also a lot of really lovely nurses, who abhor this type of behaviour, and have redeemed my own faith in human nature. For as much bad, there is good, in the world.

Not sticks related, but related all the same. I had a phobia about lifts prior to nursing school. I couldn't go in one, chose stairs every time but once I realised that I would have to transfer patients around in lifts would be involved and just got over it. Seems we aren't always as phobic as we think we are!

There does seem to be an inconsistency between agencies and how professionally they are run. I joined my agency 13 years ago as a newly qualified RN. I have occasionally worked full time with them, or when permanently employed, stayed on the books until I needed agency work again. However, when I first joined them they have plush city centre offices, great management and were really on the ball. Now, after several management changes they have lost the plush offices and have moved to a grotty place in an outskirt high street. The management lose paperwork, cannot spell anything medical, I am always arriving for work to find that I am not on their schedule, the manager is rude (other nurses have said this too), if you have a problem she is never available to contact! even though you know she is there, I have walked into the offices once for a meeting with her and she was sat at her desk with her shoes off and made me wait while she finished eating her sandwich!! - the problem is it takes so long to register with another agency or job and we have to pay for Criminal Record Clearance with each application, which I cannot afford. I am waiting to start my new permanent position in July though and this time, I will be waving goodbye to my old agency permanently too!! At times I have felt like writing to the Directors to say that I could run the place with much more professionalism and ask for the job!! Your agency staff member sounds petty and rude OP. I would run now while you can, and join a more professional company to avoid tears in the future. If a complaint came in about you that was unfounded you can bet she won't have your back!! You don't need it, you are a professional person and should be treated like one.

Actually, everything happens for a reason as they say! It has spurred me forwards in applying for some permanent positions, and enrolling for my teaching qualification. These things I always said I was going to do, but for some reason wasn't getting round to it! So it has pushed me forward. I have a new job - permanent, starting at a hospital much closer to me, but I also have an interview on Tuesday for an occupational health position, which I am really interested in. I have done years of emergency nursing, but want to get a more sedate position now I am in my 40's. THanks for the replys. Mainly, I get asked to go back time and again in my agency jobs, so this was unusual, but I am not giving any more thought - life is too short for haters as you Americans say!!:rcgtku:

Wow! I have learnt two new things just reading this thread! The spacer information was new to me, and also the elevated vital signs can be enough to keep the O2 saturation at 100%. This place is great!!! By the way, I agree with others, having worked in the ER, we, as nurses get blamed a lot by people who are just anxious for their relatives. As long as you can document and rationalise your actions, you are fine.