My friend was fired - Was she wrong?

1 I am a friend of a really intelligent and caring respiratory therapist who was recently fired from XXXXX Hospital in YYYYYY because she handed cough medicine to a patient when the attending RN handed it to her and asked her to do so.

Should my friend have told the RN, no? Is this a fireable offense? It makes me upset as she has twin boys to raise and works her tail off for something a layman like myself would consider petty and vindictive.

I want to help her, but because we live in hyper-conservative Texas, workers have no rights. Last edit by ravenshroud on Jun 15, '11
Technically only the RN is supposed to handle medication administration to a patient no matter what type of medication it is--- (obviously the patient's rights followed)and the Respiratory Tech is supposed to give medications in regards to their practice....In my opinion, that is really strict that someone would fire the respiratory tech for that. I would of probably just have given a warning or a write up. But the RN who handed the medication to the RT should be reprimanded for that as well since he/she is not supposed to hand meds to an RT to give----Definitely the RT should have said "no" to the RN. Fireable offense? well-- depends on the facility. Her facility obviously has a very strict policy on med administration.I remember once I walked into a room doing vital signs as a student and the RN told me to give a pill to a patient. and I said "oh, I am not supposed to give medications that I don't look up or I am not supposed to give that without my teacher's approval"I think that when you follow the rules you won't be in trouble.I am sorry that something like that had to happen to your RT friend. It is sad when things like that happen. Hopefully a lesson was learned from this.

From what I've learned in school, technically, yes, it would be against the law for your friend to do this even if the RN told her to. This was relating to being a CNA, not an RT, but I would not be surprised if the law was very similar.So, very sadly, I don't think your friend can argue that any legal wrongdoing was committed by the facility.To editorialize - in this context, I do think it's extremely unfair. I can understand why people need to be strict about this policy to dissuade folks from letting things happen that shouldn't, but you would think they'd have the decency to give her just one written warning or something before firing her. My position is based mostly on the idea that if you trust your coworkers at all, especially those with more/different responsibilities than you, you are extremely vulnerable to following bad advice without knowing it. Particularly when it involves a medication that you would legally be allowed to administer to yourself or your family at home.But unfortunately, that's the rule.

Thank you for the response. It seems so harsh to me, but I would think if such a clear policy was needed and thus implemented, employees would know about it.If she was indeed supposed to say no, then as a professional she should have known. I could definitely see the RN being reprimanded, but the foot soldier in this case should have been educated not executed.

It is possible that she learned the law somewhere along the line and then forgot, or didn't think it would be so strict. Or she may also have buckled under pressure - if she felt or just plain imagined some sort of social pressure to give the medicine ("I'll seem like a stickler if I say no"), she may have done it despite her education. Unfortunately you have to be able to stubbornly refuse to do things you know are against policy even if it's tough to tell others.Regardless, I hope she finds future employment sooner than later. EDIT: I realized it sounds like I don't support the law. I do. It's important to keep unqualified employees from administering medicine, even over-the-counter, because only certain staff know all the necessary information to assess whether or not the medicine is safe for the patient. I'm just saying I feel bad that the facility didn't give her any chances.

I think firing her was little much. A write-up or warning could have been effective. However, I do think that she should have said "NO" to the RN who asked her to give the meds.I hope your friend can find a new job soon.

I'm not going to comment on whether it was wrong or not, but I would be interested in knowing the sequence of events that led to it being reported.I'm picturing an RN, an RT, and a patient in a room. The RN asks, the RT does it--so why would either of them report it?--and the patient receives his/her medication. So....the patient reported it? And why?There's something more to this than just an RT handing over a medication from the RN to the patient.

Quote from dudette10I'm not going to comment on whether it was wrong or not, but I would be interested in knowing the sequence of events that led to it being reported.I'm picturing an RN, an RT, and a patient in a room. The RN asks, the RT does it--so why would either of them report it?--and the patient receives his/her medication. So....the patient reported it? And why?There's something more to this than just an RT handing over a medication from the RN to the patient.

Like others have said there seems to be more to this that is missing. I think termination is a bit severe, but for all you know she could have several disciplines in her file for other things and this could just be the straw that broke the camels back.

If the patient did not have the medication ordered. Your friend technically gave the medication, therefore she is liable. If the medication was not ordered, or patient had an allergy, or it was wrong dose, wrong medication whatever, then possibly have some consequences. Being fired? i think its a little harsh....unless harm was done to the patient.But yes, it was wrong.and she is not an RN and its the RN responsibility to give the medication. Your friend should have told the RN that is out of her scope of practice and cannot do that. But would be happy to administer a respiratory treatment if the patient needs that for coughing. (i.e. if patient had an albuterol or something else similar ordered that RT can give)

Quote from sissiesmamaI live in Louisiana, and I have been told in report from the nurse I was relieving that a patient woul take meds when the aide gives them to him/her in ice cream, ect.Just my .02Anne, RNC

Quote from leslie :-Dexcellent point.still, we know darned well if any of those aides were caught, they'd be up the creek w/o a paddle...or a job.there would be an investigation, to find out who delegated this to the aides.this happens all the time.leslie

Meds are a very touchy issue. But every healthcare professional should know their own scope of practice, and what is allowed.Maybe both should have been fired. ((Sigh))