I am curious the thoughts/advice of my fellow members.
During medication preparation, I was approached by a new surveyor whom interrupted me several times during med preparation. While trying to remain focused to prevent med error, I answered surveyors questions about another patients medications (what would I give him and what does he take?) naming the medication only.
The surveyor must have been offended that I didn't engage in dialogue mid med preparation but rather maintained a visual of the medications I was preparing so not to lose where I was on the med list and commit a med error. The surveyor told my employer that I was 'rude and curt', even admitting she shouldn't be interrupting me. I was punished severely, despite never receiving any warnings in 7yrs employed here. I received monetary damages by my employer and employer set me up for next step termination (overlooked disciplinary processes). My employers administration is toxic and creates hostile work environment for most all staff.
Included was not performing a fire drill outside of my shift (no policy but was told 'it's known' which I have yet to find a coworker that is aware of this).
I was planning g retirement from this employer but appears now destroyed and my employer is targeting me.
My reputation has been damaged by all of this. And the most insane is that the state surveyor is now stalking my Instagram and Facebook, 10mos later, as someone I may know.
I am appalled by all of this, I can't make this stuff up.
I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions or advice about this. I have been grieving the process. I have never had problems with other employers throughout my nursing career nor had the reputation that state surveyor and employer are painting of me. I know that I should have stopped and told surveyor I was in the middle of med preparation and would get to her questions when finished; hindsight is 20/20.
I would appreciate any advise. Thank you.
As a surveyor, they should most def not be asking things WHILE pouring/administering meds. That is basic common sense & you cannot be blamed for trying to remain focused on the task at hand. Yes, in hind sight you could've said "I'm not trying to be rude, but could you save your questions until I'm done with patient ABC's medications?"
Is your employer they were asking questions DURING med pass? not waiting for a moment in between patients?
the fact you said the surveyor is stalking social media pages is concerning and makes me wonder if somebody is out to get you, that just sounds REALLY odd. Are you sure they aren't just being populated automatically by FB, due to mutual friends? I know mine does this...
Sorry, no advice really, just ensure your employer is aware of the ENTIRE story... As long as their are no sentinel events or signifiant patient safety concerns, I don't see how employer can simply bypass the set disciplinary proess. However, if you ask HR about that, I'd worry they will somehow retaliate.... sorry for the crappy situation.
Thank you for offering a different perspective. My employer is aware of the situation that occurred, the surveyor admitted to her that she (surveyor) said that she wasn't supposed to interrupt during med preparation but is was "part of her investigation". She was investigating narcotics. I viewed that as covering her own actions as I would report what she had done during the interaction.
Withholding pay is against the law if you are doing the work you should get your pay and you have a right to protest this form of punishment or complaint. That being said, I hope you did not sign anything accepting this as your fault. I would definitely get an attorney ASAP and may have litigation though this may not help your job it will help your reputation and may actually sink theirs. This is yet another reason why it is a good reason to have independent insurance outside of your employer's. They can cover this and supply you with an attorney.
Wow really sorry you're going thru this. You've gotten plenty of great advice, so I won't add to it. But just wanted to share that something similar happened to me. A decade of great evals, then a new (under-qualified and insecure) manager got defensive when I questioned a new policy decision. Thankfully I was able to resign, but I did so because I was afraid it would end in a similar way. I won't get into the specifics but there were also specific actions taken that I believe were in violation of employment law. Like you, I'd planned to retire from that job. It was actually the only nursing job I'd ever had and it was a small facility where the entire staff throughout all departments felt like family. I grieved just like you did. My next job wasn't an ideal fit for my preferences but was a great work environment. It was only then that I realized just how toxic my old job was. And the job I got next was even better - great work environment, a job better suited to me, and significantly higher pay! With the opportunity to travel to some fun new places to boot! I honestly laugh when I look back at how sad I was to leave my prior job, because in hindsight it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I don't say this to make light of your situation but just to offer hope that life can be just as good (and likely even better!) somewhere else. You mentioned your workplace is toxic. I'm not sure if you meant in general the whole time you worked there, or specific to this situation. But quite frankly, even if this is an isolate incident it doesn't sound like a place you want to spend the rest of your career! But it's truly hard to see that in the moment. I hope you get a much better position in a much more pleasant work environment, and can one day be thankful for the change! Good luck and keep us posted!
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
To OP: You should report the wage withholding to your state labor board, as it is likely against the law. Check the labor laws in your state first, but I doubt this is legal in any state.
This is horrifying. After reading this I would never work in the State of Washington. The Surveyor should not have been talking to you at all while you were passing medications and if she didn't know this, she shouldn't be a surveyor. Sounds like your supervisor is a person pleaser, not a person to supervise nurses. She should have told the nurse surveyor that she was sure you did not mean to seem rude, but you were probably nervous with a surveyor hanging over her while passing medications and could she talk to you after passing medication here on in. That probably would have been it. Usually a person like a surveyor is looking for backing when they talk the way they talked to your supervisor. Like their on the same team, when their not, your supervisor left you hanging.
See if you can find a RN , JD they are the best in supporting nurses in these areas. They're RNs and lawyers and they know their business. Unfriend that surveyor or block them from all your social media. If you have to, change your media to another name and stop using the other. Tell your friends to keep it on the low and anyone who would tell your supervisor should not be privy to the change. She has no reason to be on your sites except to intimidate or harass you just by being there. I would not be surprised if your supervisor and her are still talking. Very unprofessional.
Make no mistake they can make your life a living hell. In NYS all firings are supposed to be reported to The State Board of Nursing. I don't know about The State of Washington Board. I don't think they would find against you, but just the price of a lawyer over a hearing can be a lot and in NY it is the nurse's responsibility to hire their own lawyer. I suppose you could sue for unlawful fire and get your money back and then some for harassment. I know I would. I really wish you best of luck on this and I'm really sorry this happened to you. In a profession that is so demanding you would think nurses would be kinder to each other, instead of trying so hard to put you down after 7 successful years.
This is horrifying. After reading this I would never work in the State of Washington. The Surveyor should not have been talking to you at all while you were passing medications and if she didn't know this, she shouldn't be a surveyor. Sounds like your supervisor is a person pleaser, not a person to supervise nurses. She should have told the nurse surveyor that she was sure you did not mean to seem rude, but you were probably nervous with a surveyor hanging over her while passing medications and could she talk to you after passing medication here on in. That probably would have been it. Usually a person like a surveyor is looking for backing when they talk the way they talked to your supervisor. Like their on the same team, when their not, your supervisor left you hanging.
See if you can find a RN , JD they are the best in supporting nurses in these areas. They're RNs and lawyers and they know their business. Unfriend that surveyor or block them from all your social media. If you have to, change your media to another name and stop using the other. Tell your friends to keep it on the low and anyone who would tell your supervisor should not be privy to the change. She has no reason to be on your sites except to intimidate or harass you just by being there. I would not be surprised if your supervisor and her are still talking. Very unprofessional.
Make no mistake they can make your life a living hell. In NYS all firings are supposed to be reported to The State Board of Nursing. I don't know about The State of Washington Board. I don't think they would find against you, but just the price of a lawyer over a hearing can be a lot and in NY it is the nurse's responsibility to hire their own lawyer. I suppose you could sue for unlawful fire and get your money back and then some for harassment. I know I would. I really wish you best of luck on this and I'm really sorry this happened to you. In a profession that is so demanding you would think nurses would be kinder to each other, instead of trying so hard to put you down after 7 successful years.
Thank you for your advice. I really appreciate your support. I am having trouble finding attorney willing to go against state. I have always had professional surveyors until this one.
1 tired nurse
9 Posts
Thank you for offering a different perspective. My employer is aware of the situation that occurred, the surveyor admitted to her that she (surveyor) said that she wasn't supposed to interrupt during med preparation but is was "part of her investigation". She was investigating narcotics. I viewed that as covering her own actions as I would report what she had done during the interaction.