Qing

You are not in a great environment. We are human and you need someone to say hey you should have done this or that... instead of why didn't you do etc. so you can learn. Your manager is not really helping so as others have voiced, get out while you can. There will be other places that will support you or colleagues that will take you under their wings to make you stronger and better prepared, as well feel confident in yourself. I worked in a place I did not feel supported before and in the end, I left so I would not lose myself. Protect yourself and go somewhere else before you snap.

Congratulations!!! Don't doubt yourself and sell yourself short. Believe in yourself and do your best. You will learn along the way and become more confident in yourself as you get more experience. There will be different personalities to deal with and have a thick skin. You can do it and congratulations again!!!

As TruvyNurse said, take it with a grain of salt. Some people are just going to be nasty and you will learn how to deal with different personalities. There was this fellow nurse I worked with and it was never pleasant to deal with person. Always putting you down and not willing to help anybody at all. This nurse when you ask if you could help or anything needed to be done... well you got excuses. I later found out from another nurse that the person lied and always tried to make it look like they were super nurse. The reality was this nurse went back after and did whatever you just asked if they needed help with. At the same time, this nurse was always critical of little things not done. You are not going to be perfect and we all make mistakes. Your best defense with this nurse is to provide her with the essential information for report and leave it at that. Also, build a thick face and stay calm under their critique of things you did. Do not respond to the critical comments and just provide information that is related to the patient care. You will get better and more confident in yourself as you get more experience. Guess what? I am sure that nurse has days/nights that they cannot keep up and are behind the whole time.... so don't be so hard on yourself.

You posted in a lot of detail and the environment you are in is putting your license and life at risk. You are working for free and there is a big labor issue here, so take a big step and quit. No need for notice and the last thing you want is for you to lose your license. It is better you walk away now then face a nightmare of something happening and being seen at the one at fault by the state boards. Please do not feel guilty and take care of yourself physically and mentally. This job is not worth losing your license over at all. You will find another position elsewhere and research the facility before you accept the offer.

I don't know where this qualifies, but when I was a student there was an elderly who kept asking for help. There was a foreign device in her pelvic area and could not recall how it got there. Now apart from the confusion this patient had and calling for help in a bird like voice... laboratory values were not abnormal either or outrageous. Initial treatment was for possible UTI and further exploration led to a big surprise. Here is the kicker... you know what was the " irregular shaped foreign body"? It was a vibrator that somehow got stuck up there and how long it was there... no idea.It was surgically removed and I have no idea if the family was fully aware what brought their loved one to the hospital.

Okay as others have said... get your union involved ASAP. I had a bad experience several years ago when I first graduated nursing and passed the exams. DO NOT meet management or answer any questions without your union representative present. The union representative will help you with those questions about cameras, the process and next steps. HR will be involved and the last thing you need to do inadvertently say something they can use against you. There will be a difference when you involve the union, and management will be a lot more cautious in how they present themselves. You were surprised by this news and you need all the advice you can get to deal with this. Let the union help you because your emotions may get the best of you and leave you vulnerable to not act with a clear mind.

His behavior can be considered harassment and can escalate. He knows where you work and its his way to try to reach you. He has crossed the line and his behavior is not appropriate. I have a story about someone I worked with. Very nice person and someone would always call asking for this person. I think the caller was a former patient from several years ago (more than 5 years plus- not exactly sure). This person I worked with never wanted to talk to this person and always avoided talking to the caller. For those who knew, we would not reveal the information if so and so was here or working. Now not everyone knew that so sometimes someone would tell that the person was not there. So if you think the calling is not creepy, what I am telling you happened. DON'T even consider dating this person and be firm with the boundaries. The last thing you want is to lose your sense of security.

Okay... you shouldn't be sleeping when you're supposed to be alert. This is separate from taking a break where you can do whatever you please, including a power nap, etc. Someone I worked with was famous for sleeping for a long period of time and I wonder how this person never got in trouble. But there are people who have got caught and terminated on the spot. So tired yes we all are during night shift, but still be aware and alert. You never know when management decides to make a surprise visit in the wee hours to check on you. Since we knew and had a warning whenever someone was in house... we turned back the lights that were dimmed to make it darker and cleaned up the unit to make it look fresh.

Hospitals do not hire based on looks and someone who has skills to take care of the sick is their main concern. Who cares if you are not that tall and it should not be a factor in you deciding to apply to healthcare. I have known a couple of not so tall nurses that had no issues with doing their work. As someone else has mentioned in other replies, its your skill that really counts. And getting skin care that works will make you feel better. I have an issue with oily skin and scars too, so finding skincare that works for you will make a big difference. Go for it and apply! Don't let anything stop you and believe in yourself. Give yourself a fair chance at everything and don't be so hard on yourself.

I think this nurse was upset you didn't write the adjusted times for her. And yes, as others have said she is trying to throw you under the bus. You didn't cause the error so brush it off. Just be wary of people like that and always cover your butt. It doesn't matter how nice or great the person you are working with... just cover yourself from things like this. Not everyone is going to be accommodating in writing new times for the medication, but greatly appreciated if you do. You will get more confident and stronger from experiences like this. Take it as a learning experience that some expect more from you, but you are not obligated to put in the new times for her. She should have picked that up and realized the timing would not match... then reschedule the next dose.

Ned RN has really good advice. I tried travel nursing and you know what? He is on point about the termination point. Someone or the place can say things that are not true and it gets you terminated. Been There Done That also gave me good insight about the microscope you are under when you do travel nursing. Because of the experience I had with travel nursing, it makes me wary about it. The hours are not guaranteed and the scheduling of shifts when you travel are ridiculous at times. The facility can change your schedule and try to take advantage of you being there for a short period of time. Not all places are like that, but there are some like that. You have to think about your license too, because there is that possibility of someone lying out of spite or just because they don't like you. So before you go travel nursing, just think it through and decide if its really worth it.

They want a manager.... the place I worked in was a small place and I do own my part for not being as aware of the politics. As an outsider I was always treated differently and I worked a lot harder to earn any respect from them. So when I left, it wasn't a good experience and the person I asked if they could be a reference did not want to do it. Since I moved on from that place, I never looked back and have learned a lot. There were a couple charge nurses that I knew there, but I don't trust them at all. So if I could, I would but I have doubts about getting someone who I can trust there to give a reference. They only asked for 2 that they would contact, so I hope that will be enough. As for getting a copy of the personnel file, I don't know how long that will take at all.

Thanks KelRN215 and Sour Lemon, I think I understand it better and see what you both are saying. I don't expect to get a reference from the first job as it wasn't the best experience. I have the other option of requesting a copy of personnel file, which should not say much in there.

Okay, I get the feeling that you are in an environment that really doesn't support team work or working together for the greater good. There are those people who hold things against you just because you are different (whether justified or not). Jealousy is a big problem, where people don't realize that just because you have a title or appear like everything is good... it could be far from it. How you present yourself could make a difference too, as they may not see you as how you think you present yourself. The way you are describing things, I think it is better you get another position somewhere else, its not worth your health and mind to suffer like this. You are miserable and it is better you are happy. Not every place is like this, but its not worth it for you to stay there and be miserable. If people could be more mature and work together for the greater good, there wouldn't be so many problems.

Thanks Sour Lemon, I really hope I get the job. I doubt I can get a reference from that place, but I can request a copy of my file there.

I have to say that my first job was not the best experience but I don't believe it should be seen as a problem. I have changed and become a lot better since that experience. It was so long ago, and I really feel that the most recent jobs should be more than qualified as enough references. The person I spoke to did say that if I didn't have a reference from the first job, they still have the other references I provided to them.

I agree with the others. You need clarification from the doctor about what the plan is exactly and why. The orders will make sense and will be clear on what should be happening then.

Congratulations!!!

While I agree it is very important to double triple check orders, falsifying documents is against the law. It feels like they are more than willing to throw nurses under the bus, so it may be best to look for other employment. There should be a better system in checking the orders, not falsify the records to make a point.

I just like to ask for opinions and any information to get insight. I had an interview and they asked for two references. I had two but apparently they wanted references from two different employers. I got a hold of an old manager in the other previous position I held and she said yes. This is what I am not understanding. Why on earth do they want another reference from my very first position was so long ago, when they already have two references from the most recent jobs? Is this even normal? I just need some insight in this, because from the other jobs I have applied to they have taken the two references I provided and not ask for more.

Congratulations!!!

I don't think talking to the director will make anything better. If anything, a lot worse for you and your colleagues will not see you in the same view. Patients will complain if they want to about your colleagues. Rather than setting yourself up as a target with your colleagues, it might be better to do the best you can for the patients you are assigned to and not get involved with their political discussions. Its not right, but almost anything is made so political or twisted. All you have to say is the wrong thing or someone to not like what you said. You don't have to say anything at all, because big mouths will get themselves into trouble one way or another.

Take being fired from a difficult patient/family members as a gift. Don't take it personally because it has happened to me as well. Its not usually you, but if someone was being prejudice... then its their problem. I remember a patient who fired everyone who didn't do what they wanted so it got to a point that the manager said they cannot fire anyone else. I should add that this patient took so much of your time and it didn't matter how long or whoever else you had to take care of. So go figure why I was happy to be not involved with the care of this patient. Don't be so hard on yourself because not everyone will like you. You cannot please everyone and what each person is happy with depends on their needs. Some people are really demanding and yet others really appreciate what you can do. As long as you are doing what you are supposed to do, you will be fine.

You did not do anything wrong, but if you did override the Pyxis to get morphine out...it could be a problem. This is going to get flagged by pharmacy and could be seen as drug diversion or suspicious activity. The place I used to work at ... nurses could take verbal orders, but it was not seen as a reliable one. So normally the doctors would chart the orders into computer too, after giving a verbal order on the phone. Then you wait for the order to show up in the computer and then pull it from the Pyxis to give to the patient. If this was an emergency, then it would different where there would be verbal orders and you would over ride the Pyxis to get the medication. Plus, there would be a person designated for documenting in that situation. Sometimes, I would write a verbal order that the doctor gave me and fax it to the pharmacy. It would take about 5 minutes for the pharmacy to enter it into the computer and then I would pull the medication then. So if I had to do something and needed another fellow nurse to help, they would see the order if they were covering for you during a break. They would know exactly what to get and how much. If they wanted to clarify the order with the doctor, they could if they wanted to. You need to follow up and make sure that float nurse entered the verbal order and scanned the medication for the patient. Did you witness her giving it? What did the other nurse say who was receiving report from that nurse? Be careful and be a little more cautious before going to the Pyxis. If you are on orientation still, then bring it up to your preceptor. You need to protect yourself and just because you login, doesn't mean they don't track what comes in and out. She used you to pull out the medication, and all that matters is that the pharmacy sees your name for pulling it out when there was no order at the time. Yes it can be rectified with her putting in the verbal order and scanning the medication, but it doesn't change that you took the medication out for her without an order. If the order was already entered and pharmacy verified it... you pulling out the medication wouldn't look so suspicious then. Sorry for the detail and none of this is meant to offend you. Okay, I answered too late, but good that it worked out for you. God job!

Get a lawyer and document everything you said about the DON refusing to give you a double shift. You were never informed that she changed her mind and as others have said, she probably ended up with not enough staff. The DON is trying to cover his or her butt, and putting you as blame. Whoever your HR is, involve your lawyer to help you. You did not abandon anybody period... You were not told about her mind changing about the double shift. Get ahead of the DON as others have mentioned to protect yourself and license. I am sorry you have to deal with this and be strong through this.