Suspended from work for an investigation,can i resign and take another, will i look guilty

Published

OK so to keep it short but it isn't, I've been suspended from work due to a med error. Basically I was going to waste meds with my coworker who vouched for me but someone found the meds and turned them in, so I got suspended that day took a drug test the following and now it's been a whole week with no response from current job. I got a new job offer esp since at this point I'm probably fired and because I can't not work, so what should I do? I even called them and left two messages wondering if I can either come back to work and no response. Should I write and send a letter of resignation now so that I can work else where or does that make me look guilty? I'm so stressed mad and sad about everything. Never been in this mess before. Any advice?

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Obviously I don't know, but I'm 100% willing to believe it if OP says that's not true. Sounds to me like more of this recent trend of calling everything under the sun "diversion". For instance, is any one going to check that vial to see if its contents are really the labeled product and not saline? I bet not - even though that would be a logical part of the investigation if diversion is truly suspected. Either way, it won't be information the OP is privy to. These processes seem like they contain a good hefty dose of scare tactics and outright bullying, based on reading people's accounts here and workplace observations. Sure, they want her to resign...it'll scare everybody else. But it's not an ethical process. Cases like this deserve a rabid, pro-bono lawyer. I know it's not likely, but one can dream.

Or a good union rep. The union reps are skilled at sorting through the entire situation and negotiating on the employee's behalf.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
What is a cactus?

It's a prickly plant that lives in the desert. I think that was a tongue-in-cheek reference to squirting the excess narcotic into the plant rather than down the sink where it can get into our water supply and make us all loopy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
It's a prickly plant that lives in the desert. I think that was a tongue-in-cheek reference to squirting the excess narcotic into the plant rather than down the sink where it can get into our water supply and make us all loopy.

Sometimes I can't tell if it's autocorrect or a real thing. lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Union reps, they are good at collecting money. I'd skip that step and go to an attorney, not over this as there is no ongoing harassment indicated although it is getting harder to tell with such a punitive work environment.

And they think 'near misses' are going to be reported when they treat staff like this? Excuse me why I fall out of the chair laughing on that one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a bit confused. You were terminated because of ONE medication error and a negative drug screen? I think you said you took a drug test but did not see the results.

BON will typically not care if you were terminated for 'diversion' with the lack of proof here to make that claim AND your screen was negative. If your screen was positive for the missing drugs category, even if you had a prescription, there is a potential for the employer to notify the BON that you were working "under the influence".

If your screen was positive and / or you could have been considered to be working under the influence, the BON in my state prefers to hear from the RN as a self-report rather than from an employer. Yes, you will probably be on probation (lawyer up with a lawyer who has experience with the BON) if positive etc. I have been a manager under similar circumstances. It was always a positive drug screen (along with odd behavior that drove a drug screen) and have offered my office and the BRN phone number for the employee to immediately self report. On occasion, the employer [usually through HR] would make the call. In some places, no one called and the issue was never reported.

Bottom line, if you were terminated, without explanation, and had a negative drug screen, then your employer has issues and it is good to move on. Until you are being investigated by the BRN and you have no drug use / diversion going on, I would not report it to my next employer. If you have issues with drug use/diversion, recurrent behaviors will probably kick in and they will figure it out and initiate disciplinary / termination actions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Should I have told the new job the truth? I was afraid it would hurt me

Yes, you should have told the truth. The fact that you're stressed out about whether or not the new job will find out about what happened at your current/old job should tell you that you should have been up front.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Lying onapplication will guarantee you getting fired by the new job. Until the BON rules, you don't even know if you still havea valid license. If you work, you can be penalyzed for practicing without a license. I really think you need a lawyer

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

There is nothing to report to the BRN. She did not take the narcotics. She was just careless with them and they were recovered. Go to some BRN websites and read some of the cases that really get nurses in trouble.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'd say move on immediately. IT IS NOT OK for employers to "ignore" your inquiries. Have they given you mandated verbal warnings and/or written per the company's p&p manual? I'd say move on and possibly think about a lawsuit. Way too many nurses are taken advantage of and if they can't even give an employee a common courtesy response...a mere basic of business, move on!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

1. Stop calling and start sending email. You need a paper trail of your communications with HR. You can copy the nurse manager and the head of HR if you aren't getting an answer.

2. Next time you need to waste medication, take the whole thing with you and find a co-worker to witness your waste. Then follow up to make sure it got signed off.

3. You need to contact your recruiter at the new job immediately and tell them what happened. Believe me, an organization's rep will pull you out of orientation and show you the door if they are blind-sided by the information - and you can be guaranteed it will come out. Your new organization can terminate you at any point if you were deceptive in the hiring process.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in medical surgical.

I would take the new job immediately. If something big comes from this, hire yourself an attorney. I, for one, could not sit around for weeks/months while they try to figure this out. Plus if you passed the drug test they should know you did not take it. Not legal advice just my own opinion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Accept the new offer and turn in your resignation

if you have not heard from your current job it's not a good sign

I would say move on from it before the drama gets worse where they report your license to the board of nursing for a med error or threaten to do so

I would not tell the new employer of this incident I would say it's just time to move on

just be very careful who you waste with and make sure they verify your waste at the time you are doing so and you immediately throw away your vial

you learn from your mistakes and be very careful cuz it can truly put your license in jeopardy -- at the new job you begin fresh cross every T dot every I make sure every waste signed whatever needs to b verified is done don't second guess yourself

and always take a deep breath

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion