Should I leave nursing and move on?

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I'm a fairly new nurse. May 2004 graduate. Top of my class. School was so easy for me I totally assumed the job would be do-able for me.

I took my first and only nursing job on a floor that I wasn't suited for. I tried so hard to make it work though.

Anyway, the stress was too much. I had what lay people like to call a nervous breakdown. Stupidly enough, I continued to work in spite of my doctor's advice to take a leave of absense.

My manager found a medication error that I had made then audited some of my charts. Mainly meds not charted at all or meds charted in nursing notes instead of on MAR. Since some of the meds were controlled substances, she terminated me immediately. No one ever accused me of using, diverting, stealing or any of that business.

I've tried to find other jobs but hospitals won't even interview me when the recruiter finds out I was terminated. I got one interview but they never called back after the reference check.

Is it over for me professionally? I feel like the last 7 years I spent in college were a complete waste and the thought of starting over again and moving into another career seems overwhelming at this point.

I'd appreciate any advice someone might have. I need to get on with my life one way or the other.

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Specializes in Transplant, homecare, hospice.
Is it over for me professionally? I feel like the last 7 years I spent in college were a complete waste and the thought of starting over again and moving into another career seems overwhelming at this point.

I'd appreciate any advice someone might have. I need to get on with my life one way or the other.

I think you need a lawyer. For a couple of reasons. One: If you didn't take the meds, you need to be cleared of that so that it can't be used against you.

Two: If you DID take the meds, then this hospital you were at has the legal obligation to seek help for you at their expense. I believe it is some sort of drug counseling.

You really need a lawyer.

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No one accused me of taking the drugs. I do not have any substance abuse issues whatsoever.

My manager fired me strictly for "poor performance" and "violation of company policy regarding medication administration". She said that my failure to chart a given medication could result in the medication being given by another nurse and a patient could receive an overdose of medication. I'm not disputing that point.

I have bipolar disorder. My supervisor was aware of the fact. A few months ago, my doc made a change in my meds because they were not working well and I was having uncomfortable side-effects. Things went from bad to worse. I made some charting errors, particularly not charting meds that were given.

I had never had any problems at work before. I was never made aware of any charting problems. Apparently, they only pull Omnicell reports once a month. She noticed a discrepancy on the monthly report, audited my charts, suspended me for 2 days, then fired me the following Monday.

I'm guessing my goose is cooked. I'm terribly sad and disappointed. :crying2:

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You have a right to persue your career. If this was not a situation that can be reported to the BON, then the issues surrounding your termination should not be discussed. I believe this is a form of "black balling" someone.

When your previous employer is contacted, the only info they should be able to give out is your start/end date of employment. Definitely do not use this supervisor as a personal/professional reference. I would chose someone you went to school with, your past professors or someone from that unit that saw you work well and not aware of reason for your termination.

Also, when a potential employer calls, they should be automatically redirected to Human Resources and not to your supervisor/unit. I'd seriously consider finding out what info has been given out. It may not be legal.

Also, call your BON or check on line for any info they may be getting there. I doubt you'll find anything since there were never any accusations.

Best of luck to you.

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This seems so unfair. 7 years of college and lots of money spent to be reduced to this? Why didn't they try to work with you? If they fired everybody that's made med errors or screwed up somehow our facility would be empty: Nurses, Qs, CNAs. Everybody would be gone and there would be nobody to take care of the residents because even if they hired more staff they would have to turn around and fire them too because sooner or later they will screw up. Unless of course you don't have any redeeming qualities. And I doubt that.:o

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The hospital is trying to gain magnet status and the manager is under tremendous pressure to run a tight ship.

That's the only thing that I can think of, short of the fact that she thought that med charting errors, especially where a narcotic med was involved, were serious enough to warrent immediate termination.

Honestly, I'm still floored by the whole thing.

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Is it possible that they (your ex-employers) were not leveling you? Maybe they didn't want to outright accuse you of stealing or abusing but secretly believed it?

Something is not adding up. All I can say is you run too tight a ship you end up with nothing. What would have it hurt to take you aside and at least warning you that if things didn't get better that there would be consequences. That would have been fair. Working with narcotics is very serious business. It can land you in jail. But seems to me they didn't give you a chance to improve.

It is my belief that med errors should be discussed in meetings with a large group of your co-workers with everyone giving their input and then set a goal to reduce the errors collectively.:)

The hospital is trying to gain magnet status and the manager is under tremendous pressure to run a tight ship.

That's the only thing that I can think of, short of the fact that she thought that med charting errors, especially where a narcotic med was involved, were serious enough to warrent immediate termination.

Honestly, I'm still floored by the whole thing.

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Specializes in Transplant, homecare, hospice.
I have bipolar disorder. My supervisor was aware of the fact. A few months ago, my doc made a change in my meds because they were not working well and I was having uncomfortable side-effects. Things went from bad to worse. I made some charting errors, particularly not charting meds that were given.

I had never had any problems at work before. I was never made aware of any charting problems. Apparently, they only pull Omnicell reports once a month. She noticed a discrepancy on the monthly report, audited my charts, suspended me for 2 days, then fired me the following Monday.

I'm guessing my goose is cooked. I'm terribly sad and disappointed. :crying2:

Well then, you still should have a lawyer then, especially if they are preventing you from getting a job. i'm not sure if you qualify, but you might fall under the American Disability Act (ADA). I would find out what they're telling potential employers.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

wow, how unfair. Hope this gets resolved soon. Good luck.

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I'm a fairly new nurse. May 2004 graduate. Top of my class. School was so easy for me I totally assumed the job would be do-able for me.

I took my first and only nursing job on a floor that I wasn't suited for. I tried so hard to make it work though.

Anyway, the stress was too much. I had what lay people like to call a nervous breakdown. Stupidly enough, I continued to work in spite of my doctor's advice to take a leave of absense.

My manager found a medication error that I had made then audited some of my charts. Mainly meds not charted at all or meds charted in nursing notes instead of on MAR. Since some of the meds were controlled substances, she terminated me immediately. No one ever accused me of using, diverting, stealing or any of that business.

I've tried to find other jobs but hospitals won't even interview me when the recruiter finds out I was terminated. I got one interview but they never called back after the reference check.

Is it over for me professionally? I feel like the last 7 years I spent in college were a complete waste and the thought of starting over again and moving into another career seems overwhelming at this point.

I'd appreciate any advice someone might have. I need to get on with my life one way or the other.

First thing you need to do is to start praying and ask God to intervene on your behalf. All things are possible to those who believe. John 16:23-24, Jesus said, "In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I will tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. All things are possible to those who believe, including you getting healing with Bipolar.

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mainly meds not charted at all or meds charted in nursing notes instead of on mar.

you people have got to be kidding ~ a lawyer???

original poster: no offense but didn't you know you had to chart a med when you gave it?

honestly, i've never heard of anybody going through nursing school and not knowing they had to record giving a med.

there are a lot of things people learn after nursing school; but to not know you had to record a med? that just doesn't make any sense to me at all...when i was in school we learned all about the "five rights" and all of that and how vitally important correct charting was.

if you were giving meds and not even recording it, then i hate to tell you they certainly had a right to fire you. i just can't imagine somebody not realizing they had to chart giving a med!

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