I was fairly recently fired for having my phone out at the wrong time. Per hospital policy, we aren't supposed to have our personal phones out except in the break room, but at night, it's not uncommon for nurses to have their phones out at the nurses' station, and I have seen several others scrolling social media while holding a sleeping baby. I wasn't touching my phone at the time in question, just listening to a podcast while feeding a baby, but since I had prior offenses, they called it "failure to follow directions". Just got a notice that it was reported to the state BON.
What do I do now? Is this the end of my nursing career? Because of a cell phone?!
Still I think the BON's have bigger fish to fry. Now if some kind of accident or sentinel event happened while nurse was using cel phone that's a different story
I agree, but we all know stranger things have happened. And there's always that bonehead that wants to be a jerk
I already have another job lined up, but getting that letter today has me a little rattled. I don't want them to screw up my new job before I can even start it
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Ah, thank several of you for completely missing my question and assuming that I haven't learned my lesson or suffered at all being without a job for 2 and a half months
It's lined up but it doesn't start until January 27. It's taken me almost a month to get all the paperwork done to even start because it's a through an employment agency.
The director of the ER I am currently out told me that I should use my cell phone to look up resources. We were discussing medication interactions of different meds through the same port. I stated that I preferred to call pharmacy to verify something like that and she discouraged me, telling me I should use my cell and type the two meds in and read the results.
Personally I’m not sure if I agree , just because if something does happen the first thing I will be asked is how did I verify things. I think by calling our pharmacy is a lot better than “I did a Google search” or “I checked Wikipedia”.
Medscape or a drug book app would Be a better choice to lookup medications. Does this sound like vindictive reporting? Sorry, you are having to go through it. Good luck.
So sorry to hear about your situation. No, it's not the end of the world and it's not the end of your nursing career...but. Here are just a few suggestions. If I were you I would write down everything that happened that day because if you have been reported to the BON they will eventually need for you to explain what happened. Now, it might take 2 years for the BON to get to your case. So, in the mean time shore up your strength. What I mean by that is to get mentally strong and get a lawyer when the BON sends you the official letter. So, continue to work and continue to live your life.
I also hate to tell you this but once the BON has investigated and once a decision has been made, you will forever have to answer, "yes", to the question of "Has your license ever been investigated, suspended, or had disciplinary action taken against it?"....
So, take a deep breath. If you have truly been reported to your BON, it may take a couple years before they get to your case. Keep working. You're not a bad nurse. It can happen to the best of us. Remember to get a lawyer. Don't tell anyone at your new job anything. Once you get the "official" letter from the BON then tell your boss. Again, until then continue to work and live your life.
I rather think the hospital might want to be careful about filing frivolous and malicious reports. ??♀️
Sadly it’s fairly clear the hospitals can treat nurses in any unfair fashion they like and there is zero nurses have been able to do about it. Being reported to the BON or listed as not for rehire for ridiculous or worse retaliatory reasons seems to come up on here with a depressing frequency.
Just got a notice that it was reported to the state BON
I can report you all I want, doesnt mean I have ground to do so and imo, it is super petty. I wouldnt worry about it. If you are that worried, consult a lawyer, but Id wait see if anything at all happens. Also, what kind of crappy person reports something like that LOL in my hospital we use an app to contact physicians. Only way I could get in trouble is if I was watching netflix or something like that.
This is very unfortunate and I am sorry this happened. As a travel nurse I'd like to ask you, which petty *** hole hospital was this? I'd like to avoid at all costs. Thanks !!
Still I think the BON's have bigger fish to fry. Now if some kind of accident or sentinel event happened while nurse was using cel phone that's a different story
I hadn't logged in to check this for a while and only recently had an update. The BON absolutely has decided to pursue it and made 3 years probation their opening offer. ?
Hoosier_RN, MSN
3,968 Posts
I agree, but we all know stranger things have happened. And there's always that bonehead that wants to be a jerk