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Discussion

Written up

Hi guys,

Recently I was in a situation in which the night shift supervisor wanted to write me up for something in which i was following hospital policy, she ended up just giving me a warning saying i'd get written up if it happens again after my coworkers stepped up for me.

However, later on she asked me to fax her some documentation and the next day i find out my nurse manager knew about the incident, so i'm assuming there was a discussion about the incident somewhere, maybe she did write me up?

I am just wondering how would i know if i did in fact get written up? i am in an union. should i keep records of the incident and submit it to my union rep or don't do anything unless i get a notification somewhere?

just a little background for why i almost got written up: i work in a critical care area with a high patient turnover rate, as per policy in our hospital we do not have to give verbal/telephone report for patients who are being transferred to a "lower level of acuity unit-this decreases delays in patients transfer therefore allowing for faster admissions from the ED), we can just write a note in the patient's EMR and that counts as report, however if the receiving nurses prefer, they can call us for report or sometimes we call them to give report when we are not too busy.

the unit clerk or charge nurse from the receiving unit carry a pager in which they get a notification when a pt is assigned to their unit/and when a pt is waiting for transport to pick them up to get them to their unit.

i was very busy that day, and my unit was short-staffed, so i did not call to give verbal report and neither did the receiving nurse call me to get report. i only wrote a note in the EMR.

after i transferred my pt, i get a call from my supervisor telling me she was going to write me up because the nurse for one of the patients i transferred complained to her because i did not call her for report so she didn't know anything about the patient, as per my supervisor's point of view, even though i'm following hospital policy, what i did was not ideal (which is true, i do prefer to call but i don't think it should be a reason for me to be written up since i am still following hospital policy and just as i am responsible to write the transfer note, the other nurse should also be held accountable to read the note to know about the patient. if i wasn't drowning with the workload that day, i would have called). on that day, on top of being short staffed, i had a couple of patients on 1:1 and three downgrades and two patients already on the list waiting for the beds to be transferred to me (therefore patient placement was also on my back rushing me to transfer my patients so i could get my admissions).

fortunately for me, i have a wonderful and supportive NM

sorry long post. also just wanted to vent. thanks for reading

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    • Featured Replies

    Ok, the way I approach a write up, or verbal correction,

    I've learned to make it a positive " teaching experience"

    My best learning has been from an error, or perceived corrective communication....

    It can be an asset....

    Best wishes

    Sally

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    I would arrange a meeting with your manager in order to discuss the status of this situation. I would take a business-like approach and frame it as a need to clarify policy in order to make sure you're giving excellent care within facility guidelines.

    Within that discussion you can inquire about what it means for you. If necessary, be politely pointed about whether your personnel file is going to reflect this complaint - and if necessary ask for clarification of whether you are being disciplined despite the fact that policy was followed. If the receiving nurse didn't know about the patient, that was a failure within the receiving unit and the policies that are in place. I would avoid talking about how busy you were; I wouldn't even mention it. The point, and the only relevant point, is that you performed according to policy, and you did so because you knew that was the policy.

    Talk to your union rep first if that's the way things usually roll.

    Good luck.

  • Quote
    • Experts

    How can you be written up for following policy? It makes no sense. You are not required to give a verbal report. You wrote report in the EMR per policy. The receiving nurse did not call for further information. She got her panties in a twist. What exactly are you in trouble for? Not calling report which you are not required to do?

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    • Author

    thank you. that is a great advise. I've spoken to my manager. she assured me i won't be written up.

  • Quote
    • Author
    How can you be written up for following policy? It makes no sense. You are not required to give a verbal report. You wrote report in the EMR per policy. The receiving nurse did not call for further information. She got her panties in a twist. What exactly are you in trouble for? Not calling report which you are not required to do?

    exactly, that is what bothers me the most. if they feel the hospital policy is not good, then maybe they should advocate to change that policy.

  • Quote
    • Author
    I would arrange a meeting with your manager in order to discuss the status of this situation. I would take a business-like approach and frame it as a need to clarify policy in order to make sure you're giving excellent care within facility guidelines.

    Within that discussion you can inquire about what it means for you. If necessary, be politely pointed about whether your personnel file is going to reflect this complaint - and if necessary ask for clarification of whether you are being disciplined despite the fact that policy was followed. If the receiving nurse didn't know about the patient, that was a failure within the receiving unit and the policies that are in place. I would avoid talking about how busy you were; I wouldn't even mention it. The point, and the only relevant point, is that you performed according to policy, and you did so because you knew that was the policy.

    Talk to your union rep first if that's the way things usually roll.

    Good luck.

    thank you. that is a great advise. I've spoken to my manager. she assured me i won't be written up.

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    Excellent!

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    Meh, Im a jerk who has no problem with confrontation when needed in order to defend myself from supervisors with Napoleon syndrome.

    I learned in the military that if you dont defend yourself from toxic leadership, no one else will.

    I would have flat out told the supervisor they themselves needed to review the hospital's written policy on the matter and if needed to we could discuss it with the manager.....and walked away.

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    I am just wondering how would i know if i did in fact get written up? i am in an union. should i keep records of the incident and submit it to my union rep or don't do anything unless i get a notification somewhere?

    At my facility, you couldn't be "written up" without your knowledge, because you were required to sign that you had been informed about and had read the incident report.

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    You've received excellent advice. The only thing I can add is.. watch your back with that supervisor. S/he is now loaded for bear.

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