Scandal...I may have my license revoked? help

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Specializes in med-surg/pedi, tele, er, rehab.

Okay hypothetically,

I am a nurse of 2+years at a hospital. I relieved a nurse who told me that a pt needed dressing changes frequently and the day shift nurse previous had given her a similar report. 0800 I assessed the pt to have a dry and intact dressing-documented. (when questioned on this later, I told my director the pt may have had bleeding underneath circumfrential wound, but I didn't see any. I told the pt I would do a better assessment upon dressing change later that same morning) 1045-1100 physical therapy notified me that the dressing was bloody underneath. 1045-1100 dressing was changed by me. The dressing was bloody and soaked through to the pillow directly underneath, clots were formed on the kerlix, and when the dressing was removed the wound dripped blood. 1100 I immediately notified the surgeon, who was upset that lovenox had been given that morning, by night shift, and that it took so long for the nursing staff to report the condition of the incision. I reported to him the information I had been given in report and the condition of the pt and he told me that he wanted the incident written up. I arrive @ work, start care of 6 pts, and get called out for a peer review.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Deep breath. Do you have a mentor you can go to? Someone who could advocate for you? someone in HR?

Find someone who can guide you. This is a big deal, but I've seen worse and these nurses that I've seen do worse things have not lost their license.

It is a PROCESS issue that they need to look at..i.e. what is it that prevented you from doing the proper nursing care? Hopefully you have non-punitive people who will oversee. If not, find someone who can help you.

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Specializes in dialysis (mostly) some L&D, Rehab/LTC.

Some damn days you just can't catch a break if you had the biggest glove in the world.......:redbeathe

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

Hypothetically....nurse, meet bus.

Sorry, I wish I could say something helpful...but I've seen it too many times when something goes wrong, they throw the newest employee under the bus to save the boss's buddy, or the boss's brown noser. And that's not just in nursing.

Makes you want to volunteer for the next Mars mission to get away from idiots, doesn't it....

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Specializes in med-surg/pedi, tele, er, rehab.

they had ppl come back in and document late entry notes that describe the dressing as not needing changing, the surgeon said he would help me if he could

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

That's awesome that you have the surgeon on your side. =)

My opinion? Not NEARLY enough to have your license revoked. Not NEARLY. Relax.

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I agree, not enough, first of all you did report it, second did anything major happen to the patient ( like a blood transfusion from your delay?)

Best advice is to have an advocate, if union, the union rep, if not your preceptor, a supervisor, someone you trust.

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i cant see you getting your license revoked for that.

i think you should be ok.. it sounded like a chain of events and not just one person who messed up.i would point that out

and also point out that your coworker on the peer review group is a conflict of interest in this case and should not be involved in the process

and what alexk49 said...that was helpful advice

may i ask if your unit is short staffed?

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I agree with the others- probably not enough to get your license suspended but enough to feel the hot water.

It always feels so much worse when multiple incidents get lumped together.

Best advice is to keep your head up, be willing to learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others, and hang in there.

Sending hugs...

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Who cares what your director said... your documentation is your proof.

Also if you ever walk into a room to be reviewed for an incedent and a person involved in the incident is reviewing you immediately stop the meeting and notify the others that the person is involved in the issue and request they be dismissed from the meeting or that a replacement be found. It is a blatant conflict of interest for her to sit in judgement of you since she will likely jump to condemn you to cover her own ass!

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Who cares what your director said... your documentation is your proof.

Also if you ever walk into a room to be reviewed for an incedent and a person involved in the incident is reviewing you immediately stop the meeting and notify the others that the person is involved in the issue and request they be dismissed from the meeting or that a replacement be found. It is a blatant conflict of interest for her to sit in judgement of you since she will likely jump to condemn you to cover her own ass!

I agree. The person directly involved in this situation is in no position to be one of the people judging you. It's a huge conflict of interest. Asking them to be removed is good advice so pls take it.

You won't lose your license for this. Keep a log of every convo you have in regards to this with date, time, person. etc. for your own records should you need it.

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Specializes in Cardiac care/Ortho/LTC/Education/Psych.

HI, I am sorry for your situation. I wish if I can help you somehow. I really do not think that your license can be revoked but here are my thoughts:

First, is there more behind this incident( s ) that is going on your floor where you could be the one targeted?

Did you manager ever tell you about that letter written by other nurse? If not , and if it is not written as the incident report and timely discussed with you making you sign it as acknowledgment .... they can eat it.. It is pure set up... If however, you had these discussions before then I can see them firing you , and if they do not fire you , then by all mean as soon as this drama is over - RUN!!!!

It is just too much ado about things that can and did happen on every unit I would say once a month?!! This is the nursing .. you did what you could .. you reported .. you documented ,... you discussed with doc.. and if they do not like it, is it more because they do not like you ,.. maybe???

Anyway, I would go to employee representatives and talk with them to see what they can offer me as their help.. Do not talk with people about this AT ALL. Every thing you say it will be held against you .. my God I sound as police but it WILL. Write every little detail that happened for the first time you laid your eye on that patient and everything after that .. we tend to forget especially if we do not like what we need to remember, make time line, organize chart with all people involved , their relationships, their comments etc. Maybe it will give you AHA moment who was behind all of this even if it is actually you. Knowing it will help you deal with it.

I wish you all luck in the world. I know it is not easy and I pray to God to help you .. Be strong. :pumpiron:

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