I really need some opinions and advice. Last Thursday (7/28/16), I was escorted to HR, in which they showed me a print out report of my transactions from the Pyxis the day before. It showed I had removed a narcotic on a patient that wasn't my patient and not even in my dept(PACU), but in pre-admission tesing I found out. I never go to that dept I said, and this was not my patient, and I didn't perform this transaction. They informed me I had to submit my fingerprint for this transaction. I continued to tell them I never made that transaction.I also provided them with as much details of that day. Long story short: I was suspended w/o pay, submitted to a drug test, which was negative and had to be driven home from work in my car by someone else with the director of security following behind. This has left me devastated, horrified, scared to death, mentally and physically stressed. I am not a druggie nor a drug thief!!! I've been a nurse 41 yrs! Why on earth would I do this now?? I know they have policies, but they still damaged my integrity, character and reputation as my coworkers knew something was up before me! I can't eat or sleep. I have prayed and prayed. I'm truly scared I'm going to lose my livelihood, go to jail, God knows what else. I called this past Monday and left a message for the HR director to call me back. Never got a call. I heard today she is on vacation. I tried to get hold of the person covering for her, but could not get thru to HR or even leave a message. I finally called another dept director for help, and she took a message to that person..never got a call back today. Tried to call again before they closed. No answer and not able to leave a message. I have consulted with one attorney, who basically took my money and didn't give me any encouragement, only that he could send them a letter for $1000. Needless to say, I'm looking for someone else, but I can't afford an attorney and make too much money for a pro bono attorney. Tomorrow is my last paycheck. What then?
I truly believe this is based on human error in the Pyxis, but how can I prove it?? Please send me your opinion and advice on this mishap. Any article links would be greatly appreciated as I need all the info I can to prove my case.
Thank you so much in advance. I trust going to my colleagues because I believe we take care of each other!
Things definitely dont don't add up here. legal representation is a must I think. A previous poster said that the employer didn't have the right to seize your driving privileges, esp. if this was a single, isolated event.
Call your union. My Union has been very supportive and if nothing else, they can point you to some resources. Good luck and hang in there!
While I'm not sure where the OP is located many of us who are bedside nurses work in areas that are "right to work" states and unions are persona non grata. Especially in the South, hospitals will go to great extents to keep unions out.
Or better yet push for the National Nurses United to come in. Once a place is Unionized things improve. I could not have worked at my last place if it were not Unionized there were so many abuses by management.
In all honesty and I say this because I know the beast called Nursing Administration and those that feed the beast (compliant to beast RN's-I'm a new RN, BSN but this is 2nd career for me in different part of health care beginning around age 30 something). I suspect it was a set-up due to your age. 41 years means that your experience requires a higher salary then any new grad. I hope in all this time you created some financial cushion, and hope you can get a decent attorney able to have a summons of that Pyxis system pulled for real proof. If this occurred more then once yes fire you but never in your whole career at this hospital is suspect.
Radiant Lynne, keep on trucking'. You figured it out, as you command a higher salary you become a target. That way they can hire another RN at a cheaper cost to them. Quality does not matter to management only the money. It happened to me, I was in a system for a long time, commanded a higher salary when and always got my performance raises. I was over 100K and so they tried to get rid of me. I persevered and stayed another 6 years. I think I became a rallying point for a lot of nurses. A lot joined the Union after I was cleared. Had it not been for the NNU though I'm not sure I would have won. They probably brought in 3 RNs for what I was making. But I gave my life to that work, I rarely called out, was like a dog on a bone for patient problems, I had the experience base and skills needed for a lot of jobs. The night supervisors used to call me and ask me questions they needed help with. I'm not bragging, I don't mean to anyway. I just worked so many places and had such broad experience I knew a lot of "stuff". I loved it, anytime there was a chance to learn something new, try some new specialty, work with a difficult patient I was there. I still love it, just can't do it anymore, body breakdown. Hope your Nursing career is long and happy.
Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.
there are many states that are non-union states. NC is one of them (where I live) no teacher's union, no nursing union, etc). Some of us don't have that remedy.
I understand that NC is a non-Union state as I live there. That's why I worked at a Federal facility to take advantage of the benefit. There are Federal facilities in NC that are not Unionized and I find that troubling. It is an option, however that can be addressed at the voting booth. Wish you could take advantage of it for me it was life altering. I came away a much smarter, savvy RN. I know that when I mention the NNU to people outside of the Federal system they look at me like I am crazy. For all of us it was a great benefit, I never regretted it.
"Radiant Lynne, keep on trucking'. You figured it out, as you command a higher salary you become a target. That way they can hire another RN at a cheaper cost to them. Quality does not matter to management only the money. It happened to me, I was in a system for a long time, commanded a higher salary when and always got my performance raises. I was over 100K and so they tried to get rid of me. I persevered and stayed another 6 years. I think I became a rallying point for a lot of nurses. A lot joined the Union after I was cleared. Had it not been for the NNU though I'm not sure I would have won. They probably brought in 3 RNs for what I was making. But I gave my life to that work, I rarely called out, was like a dog on a bone for patient problems, I had the experience base and skills needed for a lot of jobs. The night supervisors used to call me and ask me questions they needed help with. I'm not bragging, I don't mean to anyway. I just worked so many places and had such broad experience I knew a lot of "stuff". I loved it, anytime there was a chance to learn something new, try some new specialty, work with a difficult patient I was there. I still love it, just can't do it anymore, body breakdown. Hope your Nursing career is long and happy."
Good for you! When I hear them drill Nursing as a Profession and realized early on this a field where you get no respect from the very people you employ all under our Govs aware eyes, it baffles my mind why esp. young nurses are by the droves seeking it without demanding change in the form of a Union at the very least. I'm glad it worked out for you. I know it's cutthroat. Have a plan and cushion and other degree or license to make a living. It's sadly the way we have allowed the USA to change into. Sooner then later; we will I guess become a 2nd world nation.
Hi Everyone, I just now read all your comments. Thank you for that. Unfortunately, I was terminated on August 5 via a conference call while the HR director was on vacation! During this entire time, I too, went thru mental torture. I could not get thru to HR. the CNO would not take my call. I just wanted to know what was going to happen next after I was terminated. Were they going to report this to the board? What? Could never get thru. Even when the director came back to work on August 9, I could never get thru to her. I waited for 3 days but she never called. I went to turn in my badge and get my things, dreading it. I felt like a criminal. I had asked to speak to her then, but they sent someone else to talk to me who could not answer my question. I have called twice this week to see when I can expect a reimbursement check and no response. Never heard from my coworkers, except yesterday one sent me a text with prayers. So, I doubt anyone is going to defend my character. There was no mention of a video. I only saw one record they showed me with my name next to this person from pre assessment testing. I was never informed of anything else, never called in to discuss, so I don't know what they did during their "investigation." Or even if they did one. That day, one of my coworkers did check out that pt's name and there was no chart-looked like maybe he just came in for labs or something. The charge nurse did an audit on my pts' charts that day and all was ok. I have only worked at this place 16 mo. I did find an atty who deals with medical license issues as this. He was able to give me some pointers. He told me I needed to get some objective info and send it to the board----1) a hair test and 2) a polygraph, preferably by an ex-FBI. My sister knows someone in the FBI, so I am waiting for that. But it's like $800! I know someone who cut the cost to $500, but still spendy!!! I am in Houston, TX. I was told it's a no fault state..hope I said that right..they can fire you and never tell you why. I have no! I do if I have money, which I don't. Plus there's no union. Plus this hospital is on the verge of losing its Medicare/Medicaid support and is on probation so to speak to get things right with the help of a 3rd party. I would love to keep this atty, but he told me he didn't think I needed an atty more than I needed to settle this with the board and and another association..Texas Ass Peers something. Besides, this atty costs several hundred per hour. I can't even afford my rent! This has totally screwed me up mentally. They have humiliated me, degraded me, accused me of something I didn't do, tainted my reputation. I can't even work as a nurse til this is cleared up. How long will that take???? I'm so upset with this, I don't even want to do nursing anymore. I think of all I went thru getting my license. I must clear this up if it's just to clear my name so I can work as a nurse if I want to. Right now, I'm just trying to find a job, but they even screwed me there, because I must put on the application I was terminated. So, it may be hard for me to get a job anywhere. I am trying to start my own dog sitting/walking biz. I can't think of working with people like that again. Makes me sick. I will keep ya informed on the outcome. Hopefully, I can ask some more questions to this atty if I need to. I prefer working with animals anyway! They are more loyal and committed to you.
PS. There is nothing I can do now because as far as they are concerned, my issue is done, over. Unless I find an atty on contingency or pro bono, I have to fight this alone...
Why tell them you were terminated? Go to your board of nursing's website and verify your license. You will see what any prospective employer will see. I can't imagine your old hospital will tell them they fired you as it opens them up to lawsuit. Come up with some other plausible reason for leaving: you couldn't get the shift you *had* to have because of family obligations, you wanted a shorter commute, you moved to be closer to your boyfriend, something. Maybe you had to quit because of a sudden severe illness in your family that required your professional skills and you weren't able to give notice, hence your "no rehire" status. What's the worst that could happen? You don't get the job?
References will be more of a problem but it isn't insurmountable. I got fired once back in the last century and told the new hospital I was applying there because they offered the Baylor plan and my hospital didn't. I ended up working there for the next 12 years. It's probably the worst kept secret in nursing that in towns with more than one hospital just swap around fired ex-employees.
This may offend some as it isn't ethical. OTOH, how ethically do you feel like you've been treated? Look at the bright side of this: you learned and made your mistakes on their dime. Now you get to shed your history and present a wiser, more experienced nurse to a new employer. Assuming you are as innocent as you have presented yourself here, this is an opportunity to remake yourself into a better product. Think back to the things you wished you hadn't done and make it a point not to do them again.
I know as many wrongfully fired nurses as I know nurses who were legitimately fired. Don't let this destroy you. And I would definitely find a way to get that polygraph. Every prisoner in jail is innocent but not every jailbird has passed a polygraph, have they? Good luck to you. You have my sympathy.
BeenThere2012, ASN, RN
863 Posts
Yes, good point. It seemed it was right away by her post, but maybe not.