Vent: suspended for not charting on time

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Ok I just got suspended because I didn't chart off on a med that I gave at 0745 last week. I didn't chart on it because the pt was on isolation so I couldn't take my computer in the room plus she was a tube feeder. I figured I would chart off on it when I got back at 0945 from a staff meeting we had at 0800. I needed to start my 1000 med pass anyhow. Well when I came back the nurse stated she gave this pt the 0800 med and I told her I already did it and she should have called me first or check the pyxus to see if I pulled it out already. Her response was "it wasn't charted in the computer". She knows that I like most of the other nursed I work with don't chart everything right away for whatever reason. I know we should but things happen and we get side tracked. Well my manager had me down in human resources for this and I was threatened to be turned in to the state and have my license suspended for this. I am really upset about this because I think that the other nurse should have asked me or check the pyxus before giving anything to someone else's pt. My manager told me this will probably be grounds for termination as well. What the hec? I think if I do, so should the other nurse who is the assistant manager for her!! Someone please give advice. I feel singled out and bullied. I get many compliments from other peers, pts and family members on how I care for my pts. I don't get it, I see so many crappy nursing habits and laziness and those people get away with it. I don't get it........

Specializes in CVOR.

This is a prime example of a failure in nurse to nurse communication. You are both at fault for not discussing the situation at hand off. Suspended? Reported to the state? Tell them to go pound sand for that one.

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Specializes in Gerontology.

I think you should have taken the minute to chart that you gave the med.Sinemet is not a drug to mess with. I've had pts that giving this even 15 mins late is enough to throw them off for the entire day. I can understand why the other nurse would give it right away if she thought it was missed.

That being said, suspending you is over kill. An incident report, yes. Suspension? A little too much.

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I'm so sorry that you're going through this. Going forward, I suggest that you always, always, chart meds as you go. A nurse can't be held responsible for looking back in Pyxis records before giving meds, that's what the MAR is for. I understand your extenuating circumstances though, and I do sympathize. Some sort of report should always be given to the nurse covering our patients, and this serves as a good reminder for myself. I suggest that you contact your or perhaps an attorney since your license was threatened. This should have been nothing more than a conference with your manager with an action plan to ensure it doesn't happen again, but it sounds like your manager plans to pursue this. I'd suggest you look for work elsewhere, and if you aren't terminated, you can liberate yourself from this manager under your own terms.

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Specializes in ICU.

This is why nurses should always get a copy of the yearly performance evals WITH the sig ature page. Very relevant info in an EEOC hearing.

This poster if terminated has a very strong case and will be awarded lost wages and benefits be reinstated and receive a cash award of several hundred thousand for emotional

distress.

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Specializes in ICU.

There was no hand off.

UOTE=maydayrn;7942591]This is a prime example of a failure in nurse to nurse communication. You are both at fault for not discussing the situation at hand off. Suspended? Reported to the state? Tell them to go pound sand for that one.

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Specializes in ICU.

Just wondering to myself if this outfit is starting their "magnet journey" by terminating all of their lpns and replacing them with bsns. I saw that happen in a hospital about five years ago

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Specializes in hospice.

This poster if terminated has a very strong case and will be awarded lost wages and benefits be reinstated and receive a cash award of several hundred thousand for emotional

distress.

I'm sorry but it's very clear you're naive about how litigation works. You make it sound as if this is quick, easy, and guaranteed, when it's none of the three. A jury hearing the case might just decide that while the discipline seems like overkill, they don't want to necessarily reward a nurse who lost her job for not charting meds appropriately, and award her nothing or very little.

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Your manager is an idiot if she thinks the board is going to take action on this BS.

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1) system problem- you should be able to chart all meds at the bedside isolation or not. Are you not bar code scanning yet? Aren't isolation patients allowed as many safeguards in place as non isolation.

2) nurse hand-off problem, there was none. Though if my number one was in the place there wouldn't have been a "medication error"

3) not sure it was an error if the med is due q2h and was given 30 minutes to the hour due. However on q2h meds giving closer to actual time due is more important.

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Specializes in ICU.
I'm sorry but it's very clear you're naive about how litigation works. You make it sound as if this is quick,

easy, and guaranteed, when it'

none of the three. A jury hearing

the case might just decide that while the discipline seems like

overkill, they don't want to necessarily reward a

nurse who lost her job for not charting meds appropriately, and

award her nothing or very little

[/QUOTe

Since when do they teach employment law in cna school?

In regard to the illegal harassment retaliation and

discrimination she has a very strong case. Binding arbitration is far more likely than a jury trial.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Computer scanning of meds is to be done on every patient. When you have an isolation patient you have to take the computer in and clean it afterward if they don't have computers in the patient rooms. If you had followed procedure this wouldn't have happened. It is a pet peeve of mine when nurses take their sweet time in charting. Chart your assessments and meds right away and this stuff won't happen. Chart first right away before you forget or get sidetracked so the next nurse doesn't have to guess what was done or waste time having to contact you!

Still the suspension seems over the top, hope things work out for you.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Computer scanning of meds is to be done on every patient. When you have an isolation patient you have to take the computer in and clean it afterward if they don't have computers in the patient rooms. If you had followed procedure this wouldn't have happened. It is a pet peeve of mine when nurses take their sweet time in charting. Chart your assessments and meds right away and this stuff won't happen. Chart first right away before you forget or get sidetracked so the next nurse doesn't have to guess what was done or waste time having to contact you!

Still the suspension seems over the top, hope things work out for you.

Not all places have computer scanning. They may just document in the MAR in the computer. remember not all places have the same advanced scanning capabilities

I think it's a petty means to an end. It is clear the manager is targeting this nurse to lose their LPN's. IMHO.

OP why was this nurse who you did not give report to looking at your MAR and giving meds?

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