Too much pain and suffering to get screwed this close to getting my RN pin

Published

Well, I've done about everything I know to do and I need advise from anyone who can help. I was scheduled to be pinned, ADN RN, on Aug.2 and have finished all classes. I had 6 preceptor days and a couple of clinical days left. A few days ago, I reported to clinical on a floor at the hospital and was given 4 patients. I was only to have had 3 patients, but the "new" clinical instructor said I could take the fourth patient because she was going to be discharged that morning. It was 0630 and I checked the MAR on all patients and was to be responsible for IM, PO, SC, and non-IV push meds from 0800-1300. The extra patient I was given was to receive digoxin at 0730, and the RN did not give it to her. I asked the RN about it, and she said the lady was going home. I proceeded with the other patients and at 0900, the extra patient's MAR was not available. The patient was marked D/C on the nursing board and the chart was not in the file with the other patients. I made sure that the other patients had their 0900 meds, which I had to check off with the instructor. When I got through with the other patients, I asked the instructor about the woman who was being discharged. I knew that the RN had not given her the digoxin at 0730 and was trying to do the right thing. The RN and the instructor nurse looked at each other and the RN said, " Oh, well, go ahead and give her the meds." Now, the patient has already signed the discharge papers and was dressed, and her daughter told me she was going to get the car and they would go home. The RN had to go to the patient's room and get all but 2 medications which were home meds that were brought to the hospital with the patient. There was only Asacol, and Flagyl in the medicine drawer. To make this long story shorter, I was asked to give a discharged patient medication. The woman refused to take the Flagyl and another med, but I made sure she took the digoxin. The discharged patient said she would take the Flagyl when she got home, but she wouldn't take it then. I went back and forth with her, and finally she ended up taking the med home with her. She gave it to her daughter when they went to her car and the daughter came back up and asked if her mom should take the medicine now. I know I made a mistake and signed that the woman had taken the medication, but I have been given a failure for the entire Nur 221 class and will not be allowed to be pinned.

I need to say that the morning that all this happened, I passed a large kidney stone, and my garage was flooded by a broken water line. The next morning after all this happened I was hospitalized for 7 days. In the last 3 years, I have been through a divorce, a parent's death, the other parent's stroke and nursing home admission, I had Whipple surgery and spent 2 months in the hospital ( pancreatic blockage and divism), viral meningitis, raising a 6 and 3 year old, and going to school full time. It has not been nice.

I was in no shape to go in that morning, but I still say that I should not have been asked to give the medication to the patient if she has already been signed out and discharged. By the way, I had another patient who at 1300, was to receive meds. The RN for that patient signed the MAR that she had given the meds, and when I asked her about it, she volunteered that she had "not" given the patient rhe medication, she was going to. So, she signed that she gave it, before she did. Please give me something that may help. I am the only man in my class and I swear that it seems that several of the nursing department persons wanted me to fail, and its not just me saying that..other students said the same thing.

I had a nursing department person tell me that I would have been better not to have given anything to the patient. The only medication that was not the patient's home meds, and that was not taken in front of me was one Flagyl pill. If I had not been thinking about making sure the old lady got her digoxin, my world would not have come to pieces. I have passed OB/Peds, and psych. Some LPN transition students said I should be able to take the LPN boards. I think the instructor and RN know that they should not have told me to give the medications to the discharged patient and the nurse knew she had not given digoxin at 0730, not to mention the other nurse who signed the MAR and admitted she had not given the medication yet. Any suggestions for a guy in SC who is just about to loose my mind

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Wow. I just find it hard to swallow that is the ONLY reason they have let you go. They allowed you to get this far and now they throw you out over this? Believe me, much more serious errors occur every day that go unpunished and/or unnoticed.

I would definitely contact an attorney over this, and I would start calling them tomorrow.

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Specializes in Geriatric/LTC, Rehab, Home Hhealth.
Well, I've done about everything I know to do and I need advise from anyone who can help. I was scheduled to be pinned, ADN RN, on Aug.2 and have finished all classes. I had 6 preceptor days and a couple of clinical days left. A few days ago, I reported to clinical on a floor at the hospital and was given 4 patients. I was only to have had 3 patients, but the "new" clinical instructor said I could take the fourth patient because she was going to be discharged that morning. It was 0630 and I checked the MAR on all patients and was to be responsible for IM, PO, SC, and non-IV push meds from 0800-1300. The extra patient I was given was to receive digoxin at 0730, and the RN did not give it to her. I asked the RN about it, and she said the lady was going home. I proceeded with the other patients and at 0900, the extra patient's MAR was not available. The patient was marked D/C on the nursing board and the chart was not in the file with the other patients. I made sure that the other patients had their 0900 meds, which I had to check off with the instructor. When I got through with the other patients, I asked the instructor about the woman who was being discharged. I knew that the RN had not given her the digoxin at 0730 and was trying to do the right thing. The RN and the instructor nurse looked at each other and the RN said, " Oh, well, go ahead and give her the meds." Now, the patient has already signed the discharge papers and was dressed, and her daughter told me she was going to get the car and they would go home. The RN had to go to the patient's room and get all but 2 medications which were home meds that were brought to the hospital with the patient. There was only Asacol, and Flagyl in the medicine drawer. To make this long story shorter, I was asked to give a discharged patient medication. The woman refused to take the Flagyl and another med, but I made sure she took the digoxin. The discharged patient said she would take the Flagyl when she got home, but she wouldn't take it then. I went back and forth with her, and finally she ended up taking the med home with her. She gave it to her daughter when they went to her car and the daughter came back up and asked if her mom should take the medicine now. I know I made a mistake and signed that the woman had taken the medication, but I have been given a failure for the entire Nur 221 class and will not be allowed to be pinned.

I need to say that the morning that all this happened, I passed a large kidney stone, and my garage was flooded by a broken water line. The next morning after all this happened I was hospitalized for 7 days. In the last 3 years, I have been through a divorce, a parent's death, the other parent's stroke and nursing home admission, I had Whipple surgery and spent 2 months in the hospital ( pancreatic blockage and divism), viral meningitis, raising a 6 and 3 year old, and going to school full time. It has not been nice.

I was in no shape to go in that morning, but I still say that I should not have been asked to give the medication to the patient if she has already been signed out and discharged. By the way, I had another patient who at 1300, was to receive meds. The RN for that patient signed the MAR that she had given the meds, and when I asked her about it, she volunteered that she had "not" given the patient rhe medication, she was going to. So, she signed that she gave it, before she did. Please give me something that may help. I am the only man in my class and I swear that it seems that several of the nursing department persons wanted me to fail, and its not just me saying that..other students said the same thing.

I had a nursing department person tell me that I would have been better not to have given anything to the patient. The only medication that was not the patient's home meds, and that was not taken in front of me was one Flagyl pill. If I had not been thinking about making sure the old lady got her digoxin, my world would not have come to pieces. I have passed OB/Peds, and psych. Some LPN transition students said I should be able to take the LPN boards. I think the instructor and RN know that they should not have told me to give the medications to the discharged patient and the nurse knew she had not given digoxin at 0730, not to mention the other nurse who signed the MAR and admitted she had not given the medication yet. Any suggestions for a guy in SC who is just about to loose my mind

Can you speak to the department head about this? If your other performance grades are sound maybe the decision can be reversed? Is there another instructor that can speak on your behalf? I went through nursing school in SC and I know its a hard program (not to mention everything you've been through). Even though the other nurse signed before giving the meds, two wrongs don't make a right. I would at least have a written statement of protest admitting your mistake but also make a point to outline the circumstances that lad up to it. Even though you are almost through school, you are still a student and it sounds like the instructor let you go in way over your head without any guidance as well as allowing you to administer medications to a discharged patient. Also, he/she is in error to allow you to give that digoxin late...the MD should have been notified that the med was not given as ordered and an order should have been obtained to give it late. I hope you are able to get this worked out. You've been through too much to give up, so don't!

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I do agree with nursewendy on this matter. I would def. speak to head of the program about this situation. Because what the RN did and the instructor is wrong, again as nursewendy stated. When you sent the pt. home with the flagyl did you document in the mar next to your initials that you sent it home? Remember that will cover your butt, also did you or did you not circle that the med was not officially given?

I respect the fact that you realize your mistake in signing it when not given, however much less of a mistake than saying you gave a heart med(dig) when it wasn't given.

If push comes to shove, I would def. report the RN and the nursing instructor to the nursing board of that state...because as a student you should have been supported by both of them. The RN made a huge error with that dig...I am extremely uncomfortable with that person taking care of pt. The instructor made a huge error by knowing of the mistake and not taking the proper channels. Your error is something that I do not for see the nursing board feeling justified to prosecute for...

Again follow what Nursewendy stated go to the head of the program...sounds a bit on the sexual discrimination side to me...I am sorry you are going through everything...Please know I welcome male nurses...I like their perspectives and ability with patients. Be strong, pray and stand your ground...you deserve to be allowed to complete the course...worse cause scenerio drop me a line I will give a name to a school that will accept all your classes.

Be strong, annette

PS on a side note...my best recommendations to any nurse is know your Policy's and Procedures...always document EVERYTHING...therefore you cover your butt!

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

The decision that was made is ridiculous! This makes me so angry! :angryfire

I'm confused? Was the flagyl a med that the patient brought with her from home and the nurses were documenting that she was taking it while in the hospital? Was the med that you talk about documenting as taken, but wasn't taken in front of you, the flagyl? Did you document it as taken because the daughter came back and asked if her mother should take it now and you told her yes, so then you documented it?

Can you clear these questions up?

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Well, I've done about everything I know to do and I need advise from anyone who can help. I was scheduled to be pinned, ADN RN, on Aug.2 and have finished all classes. I had 6 preceptor days and a couple of clinical days left. A few days ago, I reported to clinical on a floor at the hospital and was given 4 patients. I was only to have had 3 patients, but the "new" clinical instructor said I could take the fourth patient because she was going to be discharged that morning. It was 0630 and I checked the MAR on all patients and was to be responsible for IM, PO, SC, and non-IV push meds from 0800-1300. The extra patient I was given was to receive digoxin at 0730, and the RN did not give it to her. I asked the RN about it, and she said the lady was going home. I proceeded with the other patients and at 0900, the extra patient's MAR was not available. The patient was marked D/C on the nursing board and the chart was not in the file with the other patients. I made sure that the other patients had their 0900 meds, which I had to check off with the instructor. When I got through with the other patients, I asked the instructor about the woman who was being discharged. I knew that the RN had not given her the digoxin at 0730 and was trying to do the right thing. The RN and the instructor nurse looked at each other and the RN said, " Oh, well, go ahead and give her the meds." Now, the patient has already signed the discharge papers and was dressed, and her daughter told me she was going to get the car and they would go home. The RN had to go to the patient's room and get all but 2 medications which were home meds that were brought to the hospital with the patient. There was only Asacol, and Flagyl in the medicine drawer. To make this long story shorter, I was asked to give a discharged patient medication. The woman refused to take the Flagyl and another med, but I made sure she took the digoxin. The discharged patient said she would take the Flagyl when she got home, but she wouldn't take it then. I went back and forth with her, and finally she ended up taking the med home with her. She gave it to her daughter when they went to her car and the daughter came back up and asked if her mom should take the medicine now. I know I made a mistake and signed that the woman had taken the medication, but I have been given a failure for the entire Nur 221 class and will not be allowed to be pinned.

I need to say that the morning that all this happened, I passed a large kidney stone, and my garage was flooded by a broken water line. The next morning after all this happened I was hospitalized for 7 days. In the last 3 years, I have been through a divorce, a parent's death, the other parent's stroke and nursing home admission, I had Whipple surgery and spent 2 months in the hospital ( pancreatic blockage and divism), viral meningitis, raising a 6 and 3 year old, and going to school full time. It has not been nice.

I was in no shape to go in that morning, but I still say that I should not have been asked to give the medication to the patient if she has already been signed out and discharged. By the way, I had another patient who at 1300, was to receive meds. The RN for that patient signed the MAR that she had given the meds, and when I asked her about it, she volunteered that she had "not" given the patient rhe medication, she was going to. So, she signed that she gave it, before she did. Please give me something that may help. I am the only man in my class and I swear that it seems that several of the nursing department persons wanted me to fail, and its not just me saying that..other students said the same thing.

I had a nursing department person tell me that I would have been better not to have given anything to the patient. The only medication that was not the patient's home meds, and that was not taken in front of me was one Flagyl pill. If I had not been thinking about making sure the old lady got her digoxin, my world would not have come to pieces. I have passed OB/Peds, and psych. Some LPN transition students said I should be able to take the LPN boards. I think the instructor and RN know that they should not have told me to give the medications to the discharged patient and the nurse knew she had not given digoxin at 0730, not to mention the other nurse who signed the MAR and admitted she had not given the medication yet. Any suggestions for a guy in SC who is just about to loose my mind

First of all, you NEVER give a med to a patient to take home. That is dispensing medication without a license. Second, you never sign that a person took a med if they did not (which is what it sounds as if you did with the Flagyl). if you gave her the Digoxin and she took that, then you sign that she took it.

I feel that you made a lot of mistakes. I am sorry to say that but by now, you shuld have learned that. I am sorry for all your medical and emotional troubles but they don't really give you an excuse in this instance. You did not use good judgement. Nursing and medicine are all about good judgements and critical thinking skills, neither of which you used.

You will need to learn that you have to leave home troubles at home when you come to do patient care. You have to separate home from work before you can be an effective and safe nurse. If you need help, there is always EAP (Employee Assistance programs). These are designed to help people when they are hurting.

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BETSRN,

He admitted his mistakes, realizes what he did was wrong...however don't you feel he was left out to hang but the RN and Instructor. A thought to consider...you send a student to clean up a licensed prof. mess? To me I feel what he did was wrong, however kicking him out of the program is inappropriate, esp. considering the previous mistakes made by the RN and Instructor.

I feel he should be counseled on his poor choice, purhaps do a paper or required to x amt. of additional clinic hours...however he should not be kicked out of the program.

I think what you said was a bit harsh and unrealistic esp. when considering the whole story.

Obvious this man is someone who cares about patients...after all he went to clean up after the RN who didn't give dig...

Annette

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

My suggestion would be to go to the head of the program and petition to be given another med check off. You may have to pay the instructor/professor's fee to have them do it.

I missed one ICU clinical right before graduation and had to make it up on a Saturday the weekend before graduation. It cost me a lot of money I didn't have, but the RN was worth it.

I would also suggest that perhaps you be allowed to access the chart and make a "late entry" on the MAR. Not to conceal, but to accurately chart what was done.

If this doesn't pan out, only then would I call LLR and see if the LPN option is open, and also if they have any suggestions for you in regard to the situation.

It may come to having to repeat the clinical another semester befor you can finish.

Hopefully you can resolve this whole thing by touching base with the program head.

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See an attorney specializing in administrative law.

This just seems like weeding out, and really, weeding out should not be happening the 2nd or 3rd to the last day of your whole entire program.

yes, you should not have signed that you gave someone a med when you didn't/they refused it. You should have gone back to the chart and corrected that, by charting what happened. It's not your fault if a patient refuses a med, they are entitled to do that. But your instructor and the RN should really not have asked you/instructed to do something that was guaranteed to get you into hot water.

I'd talk to the head of the nursing program pronto. This person may or may not help you, but they may help.

I am so sorry that this has happened to you. :o

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Specializes in home health, LTC, assisted living.

I agree with those who think the instructor and the RN were wrong to tell you to "go ahead and give it anyway." What was that teacher thinking? Please let us know what happens!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

You kind of lost me with what exactly happened. I'm sorry it happened, it's no wonder you've been sick, but all the excuses in the world about being sick, busy, "it wasn't my fault", etc. isn't going to impress anyone. When licensed people go before the state boards, they will turn it right back on you "why did you come in sick", "did you ask for help", "what's your part?", "did you follow the chain of command and utilize your resources".

The best you can do is take an honest hard look at yourself, own up to your mistake and your part in it, be honest about other people's involvement. Don't believe the persecution theory. Follow the chain of command at your school to have it reconsidered.

Best of luck to you. It must be awful to have gone through so much and be so close. I'm sorry.

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Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

:yeahthat:

You are expected to be able to practice on your own in a few short weeks and instead fall to pieces with a 3-4 patient assignment. You should have addressed the dig not being given and what to do about immediatelywith your instructor, not nearly two hours later. You also submitted false documentation. By all means, cover your a%$, but do it truthfully! State that meds were not given and the reason why. This is basic Nursing 101. Perhaps the fact that these lessons have not sunken in and you are about to graduate is cause for concern. Just my :twocents: . Your best chance of saving your neck is owning up to what you did wrong, how you would have corrected it, and how you will ensure it will not happen in the future.

I also feel for you. I would be devastated to be almost done and have this monkey on my back. Best of luck to you . . . .

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