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!
Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
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.
Not universally true.
Union nurses here make less money per hour and don't have any better benefits compared to non-union nurses. Plus the union hospital's nurse:patient ratios are higher than at the non-union hospital.
Not all unions are the same, and not all employers are the same.
Wish you were near me I need a dog walker. But if what you are is a nurse you should be able to practice. I think you said it all when you related that the Hospital you worked for was losing it Medicare/Medicaid cert. There may be the problem. Take a few deep breaths, talk to friends, family maybe a clergy person to help you think it through. You may find more support than you think. If they start to judge you in any way, thank them and leave, move on. A friend of mine just said to me "when does "I'll call you back" become a lie. I think we know that one. Does Texas have a state nurse's association? They might be some help. Knowing a few nurses fired without cause who pursued help with an attorney the initial outlay of funds was nothing compared to what they got in awards. You do not have to go back to that hospital if you win against them But you could, work one day and quit. Say you changed your mind. I wish I could help you more even if just to hold you hand and listen. Look into working as a vet tech or at a teaching vet school. The one here hires RNs to work in its ICUs. I always thought it would be fascinating. Prayers with you..
No place is perfect or without problems. Unions offer at least some protection against unreasonable actions taken by management. If you have a good Union, which I did, it made all the difference in the world. It is a decision each individual has to make, I am in a right-to-work state so the Union represents every staff RN, not just members. Nonmembers came to us more than members. We worked just as hard for the non members. Again, the place would have been intolerable without the Union.
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.
I would take ALL the advice given here. Hair samples, polygraph, lawyer, State association etc... Unless you really want to surrender your license. Think about that. If you really want to do that, then fine. If not, beg, borrow the money for these services in your defense. This is why...
If they report to the BRN and if the BRN decides to prosecute, you will need to have everything you can to defend yourself. There is also the posibility that they won't report this. Their case sounds shaky to begin with and they have no proof. So unless there is more to the story (no offense), chances are this will just go away.
On the other hand, the BRN can take years to settle your case. You are not obligated to tell a prospective employer about this unless and until you are under investigation and a decision is made. Get another job with a union if possible as others have stated they can make a huge difference in your defense. Get malpractice insurance if you can. As long as you are not formally charged, I think you may qualify still. The amount of money you will put out now, is nothing compared to what you will loose in the long run if your case is prosecuted.
Good luck to you. Thank you for updating us. Serious posts such as yours has us sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear what happened.
I would take ALL the advice given here. Hair samples, polygraph, lawyer, State association etc... Unless you really want to surrender your license. Think about that. If you really want to do that, then fine. If not, beg, borrow the money for these services in your defense. This is why...
If they report to the BRN and if the BRN decides to prosecute, you will need to have everything you can to defend yourself. There is also the posibility that they won't report this. Their case sounds shaky to begin with and they have no proof. So unless there is more to the story (no offense), chances are this will just go away.
On the other hand, the BRN can take years to settle your case. You are not obligated to tell a prospective employer about this unless and until you are under investigation and a decision is made. Get another job with a union if possible as others have stated they can make a huge difference in your defense. Get Malpractice insurance if you can. As long as you are not formally charged, I think you may qualify still. The amount of money you will put out now, is nothing compared to what you will loose in the long run if your case is prosecuted.
Good luck to you. Thank you for updating us. Serious posts such as yours has us sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear what happened.
And one more thing...I see no reason you need to tell new employers about this. Assuming you did nothing wrong, this would just open up a whole can of worms you do not need. As long as they are treating you this way, you owe them nothing, and it's too complicated to explain to a lay person, and brings up suspicion (wrongfully) to another healthcare organization. If you did nothing wrong, then I see no reason to disclose this.
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.
I agree with not disclosing this to new employers for several reasons. Especially since it is unfounded.
Too complicated to explain to Lay people, and may sound suspicious to healthcare facilities.
What is even more scarier is there is a nurse out there who used your name and stealing drugs, I bet this will happen again and thankfully you will not be there.
Hi Guys! Thank you so much for all your input! You have no idea how much this means to me! Their mysterious way of treating me is suspicious. I could never get hold of anyone in HR. No one else would talk to me. I still don't know if I will get a class reimbursement check I requested because no one will respond to me. I was never allowed to respond after the initial meeting. I have no idea if the truly performed an investigation. They never approached me with questions about the incident. I was never told if there was a video. I want to know your opinions about hiring an atty to file suit for wrongful termination and for the pain and suffering they have caused me. Or just let it go and get another job. They should not get away with this. They have caused me so much heartache. It's likely I will have to move out of my place because of this. When I apply for another job, should I say I quit? This hospital is not doing well. They have messed me up so much I don't want to do nursing anymore. I'm so sad. It's like PTSD. I'm still trying to just get a non-nursing job and so far no results.Thanks for your support!
PS. I have already applied to a few non-nursing jobs revealing the truth. I guess now the damage is done huh? Guys, please help me figure this out. I have never gone thru this before. Should I still report my issue plus my hair test and polygraph results to the BON? You know the real sad thing is none of my colleagues stood up for me and that really hurt. I would have for them.
Have you contacted your BON? It may be a while before anything shows up on your record. Has it been a month? It would not hurt to call the BON and check for yourself. According to some of your postings, I do not agree on how they behave. It sort of boils my blood that there are some spineless lifeforms out there. Good luck.
If you can find an attorney, a good one, sue for information. Then go from there. They should have to tell you about any investigation. You may find out they did not do one. If this hospital is in trouble you might just uncover a real can of worms and be able to clear your name. I know things are different in your state but what they have done is just trashy and it would seem to me they might be covering up a "systems problem" and blaming it on employees. Since I am not close geographically and wish I could help you somehow all I can think of is to pray for you and encourage you. It was not "Nursing" that did this, it was a failing institution. I think I might seek help from the BON, see if they have someone who covers this type of issue, go and talk to them face to face. I know that some BONs are government agencies and they tend to be more in favor of the "political" side of things. I am fortunate in NC that the BON is elected by nurses. It takes some of the politics out of the mix and I think they operate more independently. In one particular job I had, I had discussions with some of the folks at my BON and always felt supported. Try anything, my prayers are with you.
brillohead, ADN, RN
1,781 Posts
Not universally true.
Union nurses here make less money per hour and don't have any better benefits compared to non-union nurses. Plus the union hospital's nurse:patient ratios are higher than at the non-union hospital.
Not all unions are the same, and not all employers are the same.