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!
Hi there, I did contact the BON in Texas and ask them about this, but I think it was premature because they had nothing. I was suspended July 27, 2016 and terminated August 5th. The thing is, I feel I have a good case, but can't afford a good atty. I am not working, trying to survive. Looking for work.
Is pharmacy not available 24/7 at your hospital? Pharmacy profiles everything for us and if we need a med in the middle of the night we can have it tubed to us or send someone down to get it.
Not addressed to me, but - pharmacy is available 24/7 at my hospital, but since the "cost saving initiative" where they fired a whole bunch of pharmacists and pharmacy techs last year to save money, it can sometimes take hours to get medications from pharmacy, especially if it's low priority like something like a statin or protonix. It's faster to just go somewhere else and find what I need. Pharmacy is pretty dang far away from my unit (a floor down and through four other units to get there) whereas I can just pop to the unit downstairs in 30 seconds and pull what I need.
The only time I go down to pharmacy is when I need a controlled IV med that is not stored in the Pyxis like a ketamine drip, dilaudid drip, or versed/fentanyl drips at nonstandard concentrations, or if someone brought home meds that have to be counted and labeled - in other words, only if I absolutely have to. There's no guarantee anyone's going to be available to help me in any sort of timely manner if I do go down there.
You guys rock! My coworkers never backed me up...never contacted me to say, "Hey! You didn't do this! I will speak on your behalf!" Never did they do this. It really upset me, because I thought I had some kind of relationship with them, just to find out I didn't. I see this as a major problem amongst nursing. We are not a strong force because of this. Either people don't care, or they are scared. If the shoe were on the other foot, I would have fought for my colleague. I would have gone to that person and asked questions. No one cares anymore. They are self centered. Scared for themselves.
You guys rock! My coworkers never backed me up...never contacted me to say, "Hey! You didn't do this! I will speak on your behalf!" Never did they do this. It really upset me, because I thought I had some kind of relationship with them, just to find out I didn't. I see this as a major problem amongst nursing. We are not a strong force because of this. Either people don't care, or they are scared. If the shoe were on the other foot, I would have fought for my colleague. I would have gone to that person and asked questions. No one cares anymore. They are self centered. Scared for themselves.
Unfortunately, I agree with this. Happened to me.
I would still get the hair test etc. IN CASE they do report this to the BRN. Get a new job, and don't tell about this right away. Save your money for an attorney and try to find a cheaper place to live in the mean time. Don't give up on nursing. As others said, it's not nursing that did this to you, it's that crappy hospital.
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.
OP...this is exactly what to do. Get the information first. IF an attorney feels you have a.good case and likely can win, they may take your case on contingency. Pay a percentage to the attorney if you win....nothing if you don't.
I have always said that if the attorney isn't willing to take the case on contingency, the case isn't winnable. He's not willing to bet his income against the result. That tells you all you need to know.
If he's willing, he thinks he can win and since he typically gets 1/4 of the proceeds if he settles and 1/3 of the proceeds if he actually goes to trial, his motivation is strong to win as he will get nothing if he loses. And the more you win, the more his shares ends up being. Everybody's happy, except that crappy hospital which canned you.
I have been a PACU RN for years. Most places I have worked allow PACU RNs to withdraw a drug against any patient in the hospital as any pt could potentially be our pt. At my last hospital we had so many mistakes on our machine we had to run a diagnostic count at the end of every shift and resolve mistakes. It sometimes took me 30 minutes to work out why the count was wrong. But when I really looked at every transaction for the entire shift and matched them against the charts it really was easy to find and correct the mistake.
At the hospital before that the pharmacy tech did it, and she started every check trying to find and error, not just jumping to accusing someone.
Im sorry your management was more interested in damage control than putting in the work to find the mistake. I would get legal advise if I were you.
Ty for your comment. I am trying to get legal help, but they want money and I don't have it. My brother-in-law is paying me some money to care for his dad right now. I need to get a polygraph to prove I wasn't diverting any meds. Slow going but hopefully I'll get an atty to help me.
Way too high. It's a shame you don't have malpractice insurance but that's water under the bridge now. If it makes you feel any better, I never carried it either. So I offered the advice since I'm obviously not using it.
Ask around. Somebody in your area has had to defend themselves before. Who did they use?
I think most of us can identify with your problem. Some of us from real experience being targeted. Others from what they have witnessed. Just remember Nursing did not do this. When my supervisor targeted me I had great support but felt like the lowest thing on earth. To have practiced with a totally clean record for 41 years and be hit with unfounded and downright concocted accusations just about killed me. I cried for a long time. Had to eat lunch in the Union office where I felt accepted, when I could get food down. Without the Union I would have gone under. I found incredible support but nurses who knew what was going on watched very closely and when I was restored they knew for certain the Union worked and that I persevered. It was a hard time. I won a Worker's comp Stress claim due to the effects of what she did to me. I was not after money I wanted to make sure it was on the books that she DID this to me and it was wrong. I got a change of shift, a promotion and walked back to my job with my head up. The nurses and CNAs around me really held me up as they knew it could happen to them. I worked with another RN (we were the day RNs) and she held me up like I never thought possible. We are still fast friends. I became the Union's go-to person when this happened to others. Let me say too that not only did I have the local people behind me but also the full force of the National Union. When I was introduced to some of the National people when they came for a visit they knew who I was and could talk about what I had been through like they had been there. So that tells you the whole story went far and wide. I still say these things could be addressed in the voting booth. That is where your power is. Nurses are now in a position more than ever to make a difference in how we are treated. You go girl. I might suggest you contact the NNU about your situation. Even though you are not Unionized they might be able to steer you to an attorney or other resources to help yourself. I have no idea how involved the Union is in your state. But I do know that certain Hospital Corporations have records of how they treat RNs and you night get info on this happening to others. You have a real climb, put on your working shoes and go. Prayers.
decarla
15 Posts
Hi there, I did contact the BON in Texas and ask them about this, but I think it was premature because they had nothing. I was suspended July 27, 2016 and terminated August 5th. The thing is, I feel I have a good case, but can't afford a good atty. I am not working, trying to survive. Looking for work.