Terminated

[An0nNurse, LPN]

I worked at my first facility for 3 - 4 years with no issue. I was seen as one of the stronger nurses in the facility. Covid took a toll. I left and went to home health. I was getting begged to come back. Home health was too slow pace for me. I returned to my original facility. A nurse that was full-time day shift went to PRN so I got her day shift schedule which I was excited about. Prior, I had days and evenings mixed together there. Then, she decided to come back full time but got stuck with days and evenings and often complained about not seeing her fiancé ever because he worked certain shifts.

About 2 months of working there, I was called into the DON'S office. I was accused of not getting bp and hr prior to medication administration. I was also accused Of not giving vitamins but there was no proof? I got a verbal.

Mind you, I kept my cart as the nurses station a lot to watch the residents. I worked on the dementia unit, but all had severe behaviors and I stopped many resident to residents being there vs the nurse who went down the hall. My hall was very heavy with meds. So when that nurse was done her med pass in a magical 1/2 hr to an hour, I was still going. I suppose she was watching me give meds to a resident who came up to my cart. I had gotten vitals shortly prior, a few mins prior, out of her view a week or so after is when I was call e into the office.

I asked that nurse point blank if she said something, she said no. So this past week, I got called into the office and was terminated. I admit, I made a med error. No harm was caused after. I was rushing and didn't give a med. Apparently, the nurse has been counting the medications. She was on the cart The day prior. The ADON came down and did inventory; an hour after, I was terminated for "not following doctors orders and falsifying medical records". It was a med error. I admit I messed up but isn't this a bit excessive?

The way they worded it. As I was being escorted out, my DON mentioned she thought I was going to work harder on giving all meds. THERE WAS NO PROOF I DIDN'T GIVE ANY. I never had a problem ever until I came back. Now I'm worried about my license. My fiance said not to worry because they recently had a med error with another nurse and the family are lawyers, they are. Coming after that nurse and the facility. We were almost shut down because of it. If you read this, thank you because it's so long. 

[londonflo]

2 minutes ago, An0nNurse said:

. I was getting begged to come back.

I have never known healthcare to beg... except for someone to do an extra 8 hour shift (old days when we had 3 shifts over 24 hours) or someone to ride with an ambulance to deliver a patient to a better skilled facility (for ex..Chicago Rehab) 

3 minutes ago, An0nNurse said:

. I was accused of not getting bp and hr prior to medication administration. I was also accused Of not giving vitamins but there was no proof? I got a verbal. Mind you, I kept my cart as the nurses station a lot to watch the residents.

Not always?

[An0nNurse, LPN]

Begged to come back to the facility to work, Bc I was seen as a good nurse. my unit was 8 hr shifts. I spent 99% of the time running down the hall passing meds to keep an eye out on the residents in the common area. yes, I didn't always bring my cart to each door. 

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I wouldn't worry about your license. Unless some harm came to the patient there's nothing to take action on in this scenario, the falsifying records could be a problem, but not a deal breaker since as you said, no harm came to the patient. 

That stinks that you went through that. I've been fired and it's a hit to your self-esteem no matter what. I'd never been anything other than a respected employee up until that experience. I try to be an "everything happens for a reason" person, and for me it turned out a better opportunity was right around the corner. I hope you find the same, good luck. 

[HiddenAngels]

I read this twice, I still don't understand.  I got the first part about not accessing the HR BP before the med.  I'm confused about what happened at the next event and what med.  Just to clarify, are you saying you took vitals, patient came up to your cart, you gave the med, the nurse might have been peeking around at you and what?  Did she say you didn't take vitals again?  They counted the meds for what? What meds? 

Also, it seems that when someone is out to get you, they watch everything you do, wait for you to mess up and then bam!  You probably could have left a colace pill on the counter and they would have fired you.

[LovingLife123]

Did you document your BP and passing of meds?  If you documented everything there should be no question.

If you didn’t document it, it didn’t happen. It’s that simple.  Learn from this experience and move on.