This is a partial vent but I need documentation to back me up as well. ( first let me say Hi, its my first post) I just didn't know where else to turn.
I work in an assisted living facility. I have been a nurse for 16 years, I've worked in hospitals, nursing homes and alf. My current boss has no nursing experience, however does have thier Med Tech license. I was lamblasted tonight for clarifying a doctors order. MD wrote order for ( increase N 10 am) now, I know the doc meant increase humulin N to 10u in am, however patient was not on humulin N. So, in case the doc meant to write that on another patients order, I called to clarify. I tried to explain to my boss that I cannot assume the doctor meant humalog or that it was for that patient. The boss then stated if the doc orders a med for Mrs. V and he actually meant to order it for Mrs. W then by law I have to give it to Mrs. V. I tried to explain that as a nurse, I cannot do that, if I suspect any discrepency ( my spelling is off tonight) that by law I must clarify an order, and if I didn't I would (could) lose my license. The boss said (loudly) "you will not lose your license, that's the doctor's problem"
Where can I find the documentation on the net to back myself up. My boss thinks she is right, we know she isn't, but unless I can produce proper documentation, I don't have a leg to stand on in her eyes.
I love my job, my patients, am a huge patient advocate, and obsessive compulsive with my meds. I check, double check and follow all the rules. I just can't seem to convince the boss that just because a doc orders something doesn't mean we should give it.
I have a feeling we have worked for the same EXACT facility. I respectfuly disagree with one of the suggestions that you tell her boss, telling this fake-nurse's boss what is going on is not going to do anything. Her boss gave her that position even though she is aware that this individual is not a nurse. I don't blame fellow nurses for not believing that this could be possible. These people are the epitomy of ignorance and greed. RUN DON'T WALK FROM THAT PLACE!!! Also, are you the only non-foreign nurse at this facility? If you want to tell me the name of this place, I will hold it in the strictest of confidence. If you would rather not, would you be comfortable telling me what section of the US you work in? Ex: Northeast, Northwest. PM me if you would rather not post your answers.
I think you should find another job--fast. You are a licensed nurse; she is a minimally educated, unlicensed person who has let her authority fill the vacant space where a brain is supposed to be.
You should not be subject to the supervision of someone who is undereducated, unlicensed, and has absolutely nothing to lose if something goes wrong. This facility is playing fast and loose with your license. Get out before something really bad happens.
respectfully, I am trying not to identify where I work as I never know who is lurking. I will say it is a privately owned facility and my boss is one of the owners, so basically, my hands are tied, as far as going to her boss..
I can usually keep things under control if I have written rules and regs set forth by the government to prove what I am saying and why, its like I have to prove my actions, why I clarify meds, why I write doc orders a certain way, etc,..She doesn't like it, but she backs off and moves on to something else. The other facility I worked for chose to hide things or rather reword things required by the state which caused undo harm to patients. I refused to do this, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck..its a duck, so I was rode pretty hard, demoted from a charge position to med position on two seperate occasions by two seperate DON's for the same exact reasons. I wouldn't conform to "their" way of doing things because it was illegal and I do not want to go to prison. I have never followed the crowd, I don't kiss someones butt, I don't suck up to the boss. I go in, do my job to the best of my ability, follow the rules and regs set forth by the state and federal government and the written policies of the facility.In 16 years, I have never had anything against my license, never been to court, and believe honesty is the best policy. It usually gets me into trouble with the bosses although I don't know why as by protecting my license I am also protecting their facility. I live in a small town, one hospital, 2 nursing homes, and several doctors. the hospital owns the nursing homes and the docs offices. So the ASL is my only option, unless I want to commute 1 1/2 hours to another town. The ASL is less stressful ( despite the boss) especially when you consider the atrocities I faced at the NH.
I am in the south, and am not a minority in this facility. All the staff are middle aged..35-50.
And youre right, I would rather be yelled at for something she can't understand than to conform to her beliefs and live everyday with the idea that I hurt someone from negligence.
respectfully, I am trying not to identify where I work as I never know who is lurking. I will say it is a privately owned facility and my boss is one of the owners, so basically, my hands are tied, as far as going to her boss..
I can usually keep things under control if I have written rules and regs set forth by the government to prove what I am saying and why, its like I have to prove my actions, why I clarify meds, why I write doc orders a certain way, etc,..
She should be thanking you on bended knee for being so conscientious. You are keeping someone from suing her for everything she owns, including your facility. It must be pretty difficult, though, constantly having to rehash Nursing 101 for an individual who doesn't seem bright enough to get it. Did she inherit her money?
I am a bit late posting this but have just joined. I am a nurse in England, adn although we have different bodies governing us, I feel the rules are still the same. I would not give any medication to any patient if I was unsure. It rests on the nurses shoulders when mistakes like this are made, and no one will back you up. "If in doubt dont dish it out".
I would (and have done) save my nursing registration above my job. I would also save my patients and report this to the necessary authorities.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
You can never go wrong if you place your residents' safety and your nursing license above all else.
That doesn't always equate with keeping one's job, or making the powers that be happy, or turning a profit for the company that owns the building. Somebody here already stated it perfectly in their signature line: "Being a good nurse is not always the same as being a good employee". If your job is at risk because you insist on safe nursing practice, then it is not the right job for you.
I have a copy of my state's Nurse Practice Act within arm's reach at all times when I'm in my office at work; I've also highlighted the divisions that deal specifically with community-based care settings, delegation, and safe medication practices so that I can refer to them whenever someone questions my decisions. I am fortunate in that I have an administrator who trusts my judgment and backs me up if I need help; otherwise, I wouldn't be where I am. I've worked in too many facilities like the one you're describing, and I won't do it again. I waited too long and worked too hard for my license to allow someone who doesn't even know what they're talking about to run my med room.
Of course, I'm talking tough now because I was very recently reminded of how vulnerable ALF nurses can be to outside influences where meds are concerned (you can refer to my thread, "Am I Wrong?" in General Nursing if you choose). Know that you are doing the right thing, and stand strong!
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
The original poster who started this thread apparently has not visited this site in four months, so I can safely conjecture that (s)he is no longer reading this aged thread. :)
You should simply just continue to verify orders whenever you need to. Your boss is not knowledgeable about this. She is dangerous! She should thank her lucky stars that you are a careful and conscientious nurse. Believe me, if you had not verified the order and gotten the doctor to correct his error, you sure would have been the one your boss jumped on. "You should have caught that mistake. You should have gotten it corrected. I'm reporting you to the Board. And, BTW, you're fired!"
Oh, yeah! Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
My only suggestion for the future is that you just do what you know is right and not involve your boss in it, if possible. Why was she involved in it?
God bless you. Your patients are lucky to have you.
Contact your Board of Nursing for information. Med Tech SHOULD NOT be the boss of an RN.
I think this boss happens to have a med tech background but she also has probably an MBA or other Health Care Administration degree or background. She is also, I think, part owner of the facility.
supernurse65
87 Posts
pig--keep doing what you are doing and you all will stay out of trouble and out from in front of an administrative law judge.