frayed_knot
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Michigan
I am an R.N. who was recently terminated for errors in charting medications. I have never had any performance issues in the 17 months that I worked at this hospital and receive a favorable performance report approximately 3 mos ago. I was a full time employee.
Last week, my manager confronted me about the medication charting errors. I explained to her that I am currently being treated for psychiatric illness, have been for several years, and I believed that recent exacerbation in the illness was the most likely explanation for the discrepancies. I offered to work in a limited capacity so that I can continue my treatment and return to regular duties once my health improved. I explained that my physician suggested taking time off of work two months ago, but that I felt staying at home might make me feel unproductive and worsen the depression. I also expressed concerns about the stigma attached to health care workers with mental illness.
Keep in mind that up until this time, no one had suggested that my work performance was in any way substandard. I had told my manager in the preceeding weeks that the 12-hour shifts she recently began assigning to me were very stressful and exhausting and I doubted that I would be able to do my best work under those circumstance. Nevertheless, she continued to assign many 12-hour shifts. Even my clinical coordinator/charge nurse collaborated with me when I explained to the manager the difficulties I was experiencing working the longer shifts.
On Monday morning, my manager called to say that I was being terminated since my charting errors may potentially compromise patient safety.
I spoke with my physician regarding the situation, and he said that the medications he prescribed over the past two months to treat the increasing depression and anxiety I was experiencing are notorious for causing short-term memory loss. He also said that the most appropriate action for the hospital to take would have been to place me on medical leave until I returned to a state of health conducive to safe patient care. My physician suggested filing a grievance or consulting an attorney. At this point, I have contacted a few law firms but have not yet met with any representatives. I would prefer to wait for legal advice before going ahead with any action in case I say or do something inappropriate that might lessen the possibility that I can return to my job or any nursing job for that matter.
Thank you in advance for any guidance you may be able to offer and my apologies for the lengthy post.
I am an R.N. who was recently terminated for errors in charting medications. I have never had any performance issues in the 17 months that I worked at this hospital and receive a favorable performance report approximately 3 mos ago. I was a full time employee.
Last week, my manager confronted me about the medication charting errors. I explained to her that I am currently being treated for psychiatric illness, have been for several years, and I believed that recent exacerbation in the illness was the most likely explanation for the discrepancies. I offered to work in a limited capacity so that I can continue my treatment and return to regular duties once my health improved. I explained that my physician suggested taking time off of work two months ago, but that I felt staying at home might make me feel unproductive and worsen the depression. I also expressed concerns about the stigma attached to health care workers with mental illness.
Keep in mind that up until this time, no one had suggested that my work performance was in any way substandard. I had told my manager in the preceeding weeks that the 12-hour shifts she recently began assigning to me were very stressful and exhausting and I doubted that I would be able to do my best work under those circumstance. Nevertheless, she continued to assign many 12-hour shifts. Even my clinical coordinator/charge nurse collaborated with me when I explained to the manager the difficulties I was experiencing working the longer shifts.
On Monday morning, my manager called to say that I was being terminated since my charting errors may potentially compromise patient safety.
I spoke with my physician regarding the situation, and he said that the medications he prescribed over the past two months to treat the increasing depression and anxiety I was experiencing are notorious for causing short-term memory loss. He also said that the most appropriate action for the hospital to take would have been to place me on medical leave until I returned to a state of health conducive to safe patient care. My physician suggested filing a grievance or consulting an attorney. At this point, I have contacted a few law firms but have not yet met with any representatives. I would prefer to wait for legal advice before going ahead with any action in case I say or do something inappropriate that might lessen the possibility that I can return to my job or any nursing job for that matter.
Thank you in advance for any guidance you may be able to offer and my apologies for the lengthy post.