ON PROBATION

I am a nurse of 20+ years and half of that was spent in anLTAC. I decided to go to school full time.
With two weeks to go I was teminated and charged with diversion. I should have seen it coming, and perhaps I did. I was constantly being written up for small mistakes, one not signing the first name to the MAR, speaking to family members, giving advice, another nurse took a fent patch off a client less then 12hours after I placed it on....The last straw was a drug seeking client asked for pain meds and I offered him tylenol. He through the tylenol at me as I was leaving the room and began to curse at me. The nurse in the room ask that I not go back because the man was very angry. I then call to tell this to the supervisor who did not address the issue. She later told a nurse manager. The manager came to the floor and investigated the incedent. Long story short...I was ask to leave that day. Two days later I was terminated. I was reported to the BON for diversion. I never was asked to drug test, I never diverted, ever...The board of course investigated and found discrepencies in my documentation. I wanted to fight with an attorney but could not afford one. I accepted to go on probation because I was told that I would be allowed to practice as a NP. I signed the consent agreement and mailed it back. Now they tell me I can not practice until I have had a drug test and be seen by an addictionologist. My question...did I sign my rights away? Can I get an attorney at this point?
Did your acceptance of probation say for how long or why? What other paper trail was there? Are you a NP? I don't see how you could practice as a NP but not as a nurse, whether you're a NP or not, if you're on probation. Tell us more....

It's never too late to get an attorney--if you can, get one ASAP. If you have malpractice insurance, you should be able to get one through them.Remember that the BON is NOT your friend. They're not looking out for your best interests--they're looking out for the safety of the patients first and foremost.Good luck getting through this.

I am a NP-C, just days after being acused I took the test and past. They lied to me. The only reason I signed the papers was so I could move on with my life. Nothing else mattered at the time. Now I am on probation for one year which would be another year with a certification and no job or experience. I've been lied to. And as far as protecting the public...I am a good nurse. Never were there any patient complaints. Even the drug seeking patient the climaxed my employment did not complain. The man slept the entire shift because other nurses had medicated him with dilaudid every 3-4 hours. Never did he rang his call-bell that day, but that is not what was reported to the BON. I had knives in my back and was too preoccupied with school to feel how deep they were shoving the knives. Unfortunately, I have learned a great deal why not to trust a co-worker. I will never trust again...I forgot the saying cover your own A/S.Thanks for the advice. I am not cover with malpractice insuracne. However, a few overtime days will be well worth the cost. This will stay on my record for ever if I don't take action.

It sounds as though you may have been too busy with your education to document the negativity around you.If you can prove that you were singled out (hard to do without the documentation to back it up) and were the victim of "mobbing" (bullying in the workplace by co-workers and management), then you may have some grounds to file a counter-claim. "Constantly being written up for small mistakes" sounds as though someone had an axe to grind against you, and enlisted the aid of others in documenting the small mistakes.Let's face it - honest mistakes happen to everyone. I wonder if one of your colleagues was the ringleader in this process; someone who may have been jealous of your efforts to advance your career, and wanted to "put you in your place". You should have the right to view all the complaints and incident reports in your file. They would have to be anonymized (dontcha love how complainants are protected by the system and aren't required to look you in the eye while they stab you in the back?) and you should have had a fair opportunity to respond to the allegations against you.Get an attorney. This sort of thing stays on your professional record. Nobody should be allowed to slander you, and if you don't dispute it, it may end up "appearing" that you agreed with the charges against you.

I'm sorry, I'm just starting nursing in August. What is "diversion"? I heard this word mentioned in reference to our local hospital and I've been wondering about it. As for the rest of your post, it sounds as if you could have been working at that same local hospital, as they are famous for things like you describe. The other night a friend of mine was commanded to work off the clock. When she mentioned she was off the clock, the charge nurse basically said that was irrelevant and she my friend would either do as she was told or be fired immediately.

Quote from crazierthanyoui'm sorry, i'm just starting nursing in august. what is "diversion"? i heard this word mentioned in reference to our local hospital and i've been wondering about it. as for the rest of your post, it sounds as if you could have been working at that same local hospital, as they are famous for things like you describe. the other night a friend of mine was commanded to work off the clock. when she mentioned she was off the clock, the charge nurse basically said that was irrelevant and she my friend would either do as she was told or be fired immediately.

I now know that many of my co-workers wondered about why, as well as how I was able to do what I did. You see I have 9 children 8 lives with me with 1 grandchild, married, going to school full-time and working full-time. Wow!! I was happy as a log. I had no idea how mean and evil (nurses) people could be. I should have never told a soul of my goals. I do have an idea who wanted to kill my spirits. I need an attorney, NOW..

Quote from CrazierThanYouI'm sorry, I'm just starting nursing in August. What is "diversion"? I heard this word mentioned in reference to our local hospital and I've been wondering about it. As for the rest of your post, it sounds as if you could have been working at that same local hospital, as they are famous for things like you describe. The other night a friend of mine was commanded to work off the clock. When she mentioned she was off the clock, the charge nurse basically said that was irrelevant and she my friend would either do as she was told or be fired immediately.

It's illegal to work off the clock as you wouldn't be covered by your employer's malpractice insurance if something were to happen.

Check out www.onlinelawyersource.com and keep the spirits up, don't lose courage. I feel your pain. I understand that you have chosen to stay positive inspite of the warning signs. Whenever frequent write ups are done for minor mistakes, you know, where the minor mistakes are usually blown out to gigantic proportions, turned into big deal issues, time to run and flee as fast as you can. A person can always find mistakes if they look for them because the system in any nursing floor is not error proof. Diversion goes both ways. I believe that no diversion can take place if management has systems in place which provide traceability and accountability for discrepancies. No nurse can stand alone by herself to protect her license against the prevailing system. The only way to change this outdated system is for nurses to unite, and this is the most difficult. For as long as nurses remain divided as a professional group nurse abuse will continue to become rampant. You need a lawyer who can put together into writing the events that culminated to what it is now. Try to gather evidences you can supply your lawyer the best that you can e.g. photocopies, dates and time, obtain written statements from witnesses.

Sorry that happened to you-- but thank you for sharing your experience. I could see myself being so preoccupied with school and not noticing the long knives, either. I don't understand people who seek to destroy others, so I don't pick up the warning signs as quickly as I should.I agree, whatever mis-steps may have occurred in your handling of this issue in the past, professional legal advice is an absolute must right now. Good luck to you.

Let this be an example. Have a lawyer look over things before you sign.. Also document, document, document. I am sorry that the OP is going through this. Best of luck!