Suspended

GLORIAmunchkin72 · Sep 17, 2008

To me you sound very smart and very competent. I feel the problem started when you allowed yourself to be a 'doormat'. They thanked you with a swift kick on the behind. And that is just not right.

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2008

From your account it sounds like a gross injustice was done and you were a victim of lateral violence of the worst sort!

exnavygirl-RN · Sep 17, 2008

Did you consult an attorney? This is so wrong. I'm sorry you went through this. I hope you are able to get back into Nursing.

lindarn · Sep 17, 2008

I was a practicing RN for 17 years. I have experience in Neonatal Intensive Care, Progressive Care, Home Health and Nursing Homes. I loved being a nurse...it is all I ever wanted to do. I am the one in my family who always took care of everyone. As a neonatal nurse I felt there was nothing better than caring for babies. When I began caring for adult and elderly people I realized they are all as wonderful to care for as babies!
Almost 3 years ago after I had many health issues and chronic pain, of which I only took Tylenol, ( my own choice ), I was working 12 and 16 hr days due to the short staffing issues our major hospital of the area had. We worked with limited auxilliary staff. One Respiratory Therapist covered our monitored unit along with either the ER or ICU. There were times I had Vent pts needing treatments I had to wait on because the RT was in a code on another floor. Phlebotomists were short too and it was difficult to have timed labs drawn...such as PT/INR's. We no longer had the ability to draw labs ourselves.
I was called in on all of my days off and went because I felt a responsibility to care for patients. I'll admit I was extemely exhausted..although I did not even realize it at the time.
I began to be written up for things such as complaining there was not enough staff. My co-workers said it brought down the unit morale. Eventually I was written up for excessive overtime. I stated they called me in every day and they stated "I should have known to say NO". It got worse. Our unit was small (a 12 bed unit) and the nurses had gathered in a circle to talk...I went over to join and was told I needed to stop doing that! They stated I was nosy ( I probably am - I like to be in the middle of the group!). I thought we were all friends. It was very stressful in the next weeks. I was unable to get help from my co-workers. It got worse and worse.
Finally, 2 incidents within a month of each other happened.
#1) A terminal pt with end-stage cardiac and renal disease was admitted with Calciphylaxis and associated problems..Her legs were black from the knees down. She was barely conscious and would not eat or drink. We could not give IVF because she was on dialysis. The Doctor discussed a feeding tube, but, they never did it. A renal Doctor told me he had done all he could for her.
The day I had her she had been in for 2-3 wks and had a fem-pop that day. She came to me alert but BP started crashing. I called the surgeon who was in the OR and got STAT IVF hung. I then got orders to tx to ICU..I could not get to standing order IVF because it had potassium which had not been put in by pharmacy yet. It was taking them up to 3 hrs post-op to get our meds at that time. I called ICU to give report and was put on hold. Co-workers...some of whom were still avoiding me ran to take pt to ICU. When I got ICU I told them her BP was 60/40 and was on her way to them. The nurse from ICU was angry she was on her way.
Later a statement in legal papers said I could not have been on hold because the nurse receiving the pt was floating to another unit. I was accused of "laughing and chatting" on the phone for an hr and neglecting my pt. I tx her 1hr and 20 min after I got her on PCU. Within 2 wks I was accused of another incident and suspended then terminated from my position.
I worked 8 more months as a nurse for another company before my license was suspended for at least a year. My year was up in May 2008.
I took a Nurse Refresher course and CE's totalling 115. I obtained counseling. I took a Real Estate course and passed my exam for REALTOR.
I am a Mary Kay Consultant (they encourage a positive outlook). But as far as a job all I can find are minimum wage jobs. I have no other real experience..I have to build up to make money in Real Estate...which I'm working on. Buy the way...I was also accused of being "lazy".
I know I am smart enough and hard-working enough to do something else, but, I know I will never feel complete again without being able to be a nurse.
I just turned in my reinstatement application to the investigator. I won't know anything until at least December 2008. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.:heartbeat

At any time in this entire mess, did you have the common sense to contact an Employment Attorney? I would think at some point in time, that is should have occured to you that what was being done was illegal. I am still not sure why you license was suspended in the first place. Did you not challenge what you were being accused of?

I am at a loss as to what you should do from here. Your name has already been smeared. Again, I wouold contact an employment attorney asap, and see what you can salvage out of your nursing career.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

aca4 · Sep 17, 2008

my prayers is with you:icon_hug:

lunden · Sep 17, 2008

I would look for a lawyer

MB37 · Sep 17, 2008

I suppose the lesson to be learned is...never bend over backwards for your facility again. Work your scheduled shifts, and only pick up occasional overtime if YOU need the cash. It seems like they encouraged you to burn yourself out, then thanked you by turning you into a scapegoat when something went wrong. I wish you the best in your bid for reinstatement, and better luck in your next nursing job.

DusktilDawn · Sep 17, 2008

I was a practicing RN for 17 years. I have experience in Neonatal Intensive Care, Progressive Care, Home Health and Nursing Homes. I loved being a nurse...it is all I ever wanted to do. I am the one in my family who always took care of everyone. As a neonatal nurse I felt there was nothing better than caring for babies. When I began caring for adult and elderly people I realized they are all as wonderful to care for as babies!
Almost 3 years ago after I had many health issues and chronic pain, of which I only took Tylenol, ( my own choice ), I was working 12 and 16 hr days due to the short staffing issues our major hospital of the area had. We worked with limited auxilliary staff. One Respiratory Therapist covered our monitored unit along with either the ER or ICU. There were times I had Vent pts needing treatments I had to wait on because the RT was in a code on another floor. Phlebotomists were short too and it was difficult to have timed labs drawn...such as PT/INR's. We no longer had the ability to draw labs ourselves.
I was called in on all of my days off and went because I felt a responsibility to care for patients. I'll admit I was extemely exhausted..although I did not even realize it at the time.
I began to be written up for things such as complaining there was not enough staff. My co-workers said it brought down the unit morale. Eventually I was written up for excessive overtime. I stated they called me in every day and they stated "I should have known to say NO". It got worse. Our unit was small (a 12 bed unit) and the nurses had gathered in a circle to talk...I went over to join and was told I needed to stop doing that! They stated I was nosy ( I probably am - I like to be in the middle of the group!). I thought we were all friends. It was very stressful in the next weeks. I was unable to get help from my co-workers. It got worse and worse.
Finally, 2 incidents within a month of each other happened.
#1) A terminal pt with end-stage cardiac and renal disease was admitted with Calciphylaxis and associated problems..Her legs were black from the knees down. She was barely conscious and would not eat or drink. We could not give IVF because she was on dialysis. The Doctor discussed a feeding tube, but, they never did it. A renal Doctor told me he had done all he could for her.
The day I had her she had been in for 2-3 wks and had a fem-pop that day. She came to me alert but BP started crashing. I called the surgeon who was in the OR and got STAT IVF hung. I then got orders to tx to ICU..I could not get to standing order IVF because it had potassium which had not been put in by pharmacy yet. It was taking them up to 3 hrs post-op to get our meds at that time. I called ICU to give report and was put on hold. Co-workers...some of whom were still avoiding me ran to take pt to ICU. When I got ICU I told them her BP was 60/40 and was on her way to them. The nurse from ICU was angry she was on her way.
Later a statement in legal papers said I could not have been on hold because the nurse receiving the pt was floating to another unit. I was accused of "laughing and chatting" on the phone for an hr and neglecting my pt. I tx her 1hr and 20 min after I got her on PCU. Within 2 wks I was accused of another incident and suspended then terminated from my position.
I worked 8 more months as a nurse for another company before my license was suspended for at least a year. My year was up in May 2008.
I took a Nurse Refresher course and CE's totalling 115. I obtained counseling. I took a Real Estate course and passed my exam for REALTOR.
I am a Mary Kay Consultant (they encourage a positive outlook). But as far as a job all I can find are minimum wage jobs. I have no other real experience..I have to build up to make money in Real Estate...which I'm working on. Buy the way...I was also accused of being "lazy".
I know I am smart enough and hard-working enough to do something else, but, I know I will never feel complete again without being able to be a nurse.
I just turned in my reinstatement application to the investigator. I won't know anything until at least December 2008. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.:heartbeat

I wish you all the best and hope the reinstatement application is approved. What happened to you was deplorable.

I think when we all look back on things in hindsight, such as your situation, and I think you can see where you were systematically set up. It tends to start with bull crap stuff such as "everybody" complains about you because you complain about short staffing. Please, like you would be the only one who had a problem with it or complained about it. Or being written up for excessive OT when they constantly called you to come in for OT on your days off. When other staff start freezing you out and than complaining that you are the problem, staff that you had previously considered to be on friendly terms with, when in truth I really wonder what was being said to them about you to cause their change in attitude. I think in general we as nurses, tend not to really see what is going on in these situations, or we want to believe that it will blow over.

It wasn't enough that you were forced to work in such a toxic environment. They had to decimate your career.

I do wonder if you sought any legal recourse, such as consulting an attorney, while you were going through all of this especially once your employer involved the SBON. I don't think it's too late now to do so, and it could still be of benefit in reinstating your license.

Again, I do wish you all the best and hope you are reinstated.

litbitblack, ASN, RN · Sep 17, 2008

WOW sounds horrible. I would definately contact an attorney and Why was your license suspended if you don't mind us asking. Did you have an attorney to represent you with the board? Sounds like a really toxic environment. They set you up and let you sink. I worked at a place like that once. Ended up terminated and losing 170 paid time off hours...hmmm how did i get so many hours....coming in when they needed me....i agree with the post that stated to only work your scheduled and don't go out of your way cause all they do is burn u

oslogirl · Sep 17, 2008

Why was your license suspended?

dragonurse08 · Sep 17, 2008

I just graduated and do not yet have my first job. Dear God in heaven I am appalled to hear such a chain of events. I know I tend toward being pathologically giving and will need to be hypervigilant in monitoring my personal needs and balancing my life. My heart goes out to you, our profession needs diligent and heartful angels, but the nature of the system seems to chew them up and spit them out. I did not know there was a such thing as an employment attorney. The systematic failure in this situation is something that will not be addressed until you get an attorney. Because they are happy to go on about their business as usual without you, this means someone else will be in the same position as you were. For yourself to become restored to good standing and to work in the capacity for which you were educated is a top priority with the added possibility to cause the system to re-evaluate their practices and staffing issues. My prayers are with you and I hope to have the insight to see situations and be helpful in such situations if I have any power, but if not, I hope I have the presence of mind to get the hell out of dodge before me and my kids wind up living on welfare. Please be well dear. :saint: