What would you do if....

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2015

Were you the one who received a written warning for not filing a medication error report? If so, this would be unfair because a medication error cannot be proven by the presence of one loose pill. What if an extra pill fell out of a client's pill bottle during med prep?

I know the self-righteous folks out there might shout me down, but this is the very reason I simply discard pills I find on the floor or in unusual places. I'd be steaming angry if I were punished for doing the right thing and attempting to follow up.

JuliaRNMSN · Jun 2, 2015

Yes I was the one written up. It did not match any "medications" in the cassettes or prn bottles. I was very disappointed in the organizations approach. Thanks for the feedback. I have wanted to see what other RN's thought. I ended up voting with my feet and paid the price (no income). I got through it thank God. I asked myself where an RN can go to resolve these issues? State nursing association did not respond, couldn't afford a lawyer.

SarahMaria, MSN, RN · Jun 2, 2015

Could it have been another staff member's personal med?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2015

I ended up voting with my feet and paid the price (no income).

Although I cannot blame you for resigning from a workplace whose managers would jump the gun and issue a written warning for a trivial matter, I'd be leery about voting with my feet if I had no other job waiting in the wings.

I asked myself where an RN can go to resolve these issues? State nursing association did not respond, couldn't afford a lawyer.

The state nursing association probably didn't respond because you still had a job. In addition, since litigation is very costly, most attorneys are unwilling to get involved with new clients unless the potential for a large settlement is guaranteed. A nurse who resigns because she was written up is not worth most lawyers' time.

Good luck to you, keep your chin up, dust yourself off, and try again.

JuliaRNMSN · Jun 2, 2015

Unlicensed personnel at this organization would have never admitted to this because of fear of "being yelled at" sadly. No one came forward to say it was theirs to my knowledge. RN's were kept out of the loop for the most part on many matters. Thank-you for the great question!

JuliaRNMSN · Jun 2, 2015

Yes, two write ups and you are on probation. I have not in my 30 yrs as an RN been "written up." I have been given constructive feedback or thoughtful coaching to improve. The write up process was conducted by Human Resources who are not RN's. I think that piece created a gap of misunderstanding.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Jun 2, 2015

A writeup is just a piece of paper. It happens and you move on. If it's valid, you do better from then on. If it's not valid...you still move on. I have trouble understanding huge anxiety over writeups.

JuliaRNMSN · Jun 2, 2015

In retrospect, I believe it was a good decision to leave. That scenario and other actions by non licensed upper management I observed was enough to face reality quickly.

JuliaRNMSN · Jun 2, 2015

True that it is a piece of paper. Write-ups at that organization were put in one's personnel file. I wanted to protect my license which is and has been throughout my career unencumbered. Hope I don't sound defensive. I felt that one black mark in this job market was career destructive.

Thanks for commenting!

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2015

A loose pill in the med room that was not identifiable? I'm with TheCommuter, I'd throw it away. There's no evidence that any sort of error occurred.

canigraduate · Jun 2, 2015

This happens frequently in the hospitals I've worked as agency.

I just dump it in the med disposal unless I know it's a narc. Then I find someone to dump it with and document it.