Safety & Practice Intimidation in Ohio

[Catedi]

Not sure if this is the correct forum, but I need advice.

I'm an RN who's been working in a state run prison for 11 years. I recently found myself in a situation where an inmate presented to the Med-call window with an ID that was so worn out, it could no longer attach to the inmate's wrist, had most of the face torn off of the 1/2" sq photo, the full name was no longer visable, and the inmate ID number was no longer on it. I told him I could not accept the ID, but his staff may print out a face-sheet and I will accept that. The inmate tore up his housing unit and the Corrections Captain (CC)- an unlicensed person - demanded I give the inmate medication. I explained that I couldn't do that without ID. Ultimately, the CC returned with a face-sheet and the inmate who received his medication. The state agency investigated the matter and found ME guilty of not providing medication to an inmate who presented "a legible id". The investigator (another non-licensed person) determined that the partial name and the photo that showed the inmates eyes and top of head was adequate. The Ohio Nurse Practice Act provides for autonomy and that only an RN can evaluate a nurse on whether a practice violation was committed.  My disciplinary hearing with the employer is next month and I'm at a loss on what to do.  The nursing board only provides oversite of nurses, not agencies that disregard a nurses protected duties to practice nursing. Any help on where to turn would be greatly appreciated. 

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

"The state agency investigated the matter and found ME guilty of not providing medication to an inmate who presented "a legible id".   

Must wonder WHO is in jail here. You are the professional. You decide how to administer meds according to the facilities protocol. If you felt the ID wasn't legible, it was your call.  I know it's not  easy , but it's time to move on. 

[Catedi]

Unfortunately for me, I'm considered 'intitutionalized', when it comes to working in a hospital setting. I'm also 61 years old. So, there's that. I have it on good authority, getting another job after working in corrections for so long would be unbelievably difficult in the Cleveland market. I was hoping someone could steer me towards the correct agency to report my employer for 'practice intimidation'. If not, I'll file a grievance with the union. 

Been there,done that said:

"The state agency investigated the matter and found ME guilty of not providing medication to an inmate who presented "a legible id".   

Must wonder WHO is in jail here. You are the professional. You decide how to administer meds according to the facilities protocol. If you felt the ID wasn't legible, it was your call.  I know it's not  easy , but it's time to move on. 

 

[JKL33]

Catedi said:

Unfortunately for me, I'm considered 'intitutionalized', when it comes to working in a hospital setting.

There are many other options and hospitals are not the be all end all anyway.

Are you being bullied in this situation (aka pushed out)? I am not at all familiar with corrections nursing but isn't there some kind of process by which a new/reprint ID can be granted when they become this worn, rather than doing these kinds of shenanigans to an employee? And what's so difficult about them printing a face sheet? Seems easy enough. So I ask if there is more to their actions.

Catedi said:

I was hoping someone could steer me towards the correct agency to report my employer for 'practice intimidation

Again, not familiar but it doesn't seem like there is a regulatory body that is going to prioritize this.

If there were, hospitals, nursing homes and frankly most employers of nurses would be out of business.

Catedi said:

If not, I'll file a grievance with the union. 

Sounds like possibly your best option in addition to thinking outside the box and planning something that you can do for employment if this continues to go sideways.

Good luck ~

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

That CC has no idea what can happen if you give the incorrect medication to the incorrect patient. If you cannot see the entire face, you do not have a valid proper ID. You have nothing to compare the inmates face with. It's so hard when you are managed by non-medical managers. They have no understanding of the consequences that we may face if we make an error. Does the person who investigated have a supervisor that you can appeal to? Or is there an appeal process that you can utilize? 

[TriciaJ, RN]

Catedi said:

Unfortunately for me, I'm considered 'intitutionalized', when it comes to working in a hospital setting. I'm also 61 years old. So, there's that. I have it on good authority, getting another job after working in corrections for so long would be unbelievably difficult in the Cleveland market. I was hoping someone could steer me towards the correct agency to report my employer for 'practice intimidation'. If not, I'll file a grievance with the union. 

 

Absolutely you need to file a grievance with the union.  That should have been your starting point, especially if any kind of hearing or disciplinary meeting is to take place.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

My question for the investigator would be "If this inmate was to be paroled and the only way to identify that this is the correct inmate was that ID band, could you with 100% certainty know you were paroling the right inmate?"