Moderately long story. I quit my job today.
Now long ago I was written up and given a "final warning" (for doing something one time), so if I did anything else wrong, I would be terminated.
Last week, I did something wrong. I actually emailed my supervisor about it. So, of more than 300 cases I get per week, they picked that one specific case to audit. They gave me a zero on my audit, which comes down to me being fired.
Here is the kicker. In each case, I did what was in the best interest of the patient. In each case the person I spoke with was a provider, one doctor and one nurse practitioner. In each case, what I did wrong was actually discuss the patient's medical condition.
The first one was a woman with a spinal fracture, in a wheelchair. I discussed the clinical information with the doctor to figure out which direction the case should go. I put forward the idea that she may have a spinal tumor. I was correct. The doctors responded and told me there was a lesion on xray. Potential for harm? That the patient could be paralyzed from the waist down for life.
The second one the patient was bitten by an animal, then got a rabies vaccine. Then she developed neurological symptoms. The office ordered full spinal imaging but no brain scan. I asked if they wanted to add a brain scan. That was what I did wrong. They said no, I went no further. Though I will say here it haunted me. If the patient has rabies, she is dead by now. If they did not do brain imaging, she would have become disoriented so she would not recognize her family. My ethics go by the idea that she at least had the right to know before that point so she had the chance to say goodbye.
That's it. I was in trouble for being competent and for looking out for the best interests of the patients. Oh, well. Not the first time I got in trouble for doing what is right.
The company placed me on all written cases. I knew what would be coming next. I worked half the day and asked for information from my supervisor. No word by lunchtime. So, I made the decision and resigned. Better to have a resignation on my resume than a termination.
Just as well. I had been considering looking for another job since last year. Things kept getting worse and worse.
Any way, I have some money set aside. Far from rich but enough to take a couple months off with no suffering. I am hoping that I get my PTO, so that will extend that time by at least three weeks.
If I get my tax refund soon, I will have enough money to finish the wood shop. Maybe even if I don't get the tax refund soon. Have to pull money from the retirement account in any case. Do that tomorrow. Not sure how long it will take. Probably mean I will owe on taxes next year but I'll deal with that when the time comes.
For now, I will be researching options, finishing the wood shop, working on the house and garden and taking time off with my daughter.
I still tend to think things happen for a reason. Not sure what direction I am being led now. Just call it a new adventure.
Now long ago I was written up and given a "final warning" (for doing something one time), so if I did anything else wrong, I would be terminated.
Last week, I did something wrong. I actually emailed my supervisor about it. So, of more than 300 cases I get per week, they picked that one specific case to audit. They gave me a zero on my audit, which comes down to me being fired.
Here is the kicker. In each case, I did what was in the best interest of the patient. In each case the person I spoke with was a provider, one doctor and one nurse practitioner. In each case, what I did wrong was actually discuss the patient's medical condition.
The first one was a woman with a spinal fracture, in a wheelchair. I discussed the clinical information with the doctor to figure out which direction the case should go. I put forward the idea that she may have a spinal tumor. I was correct. The doctors responded and told me there was a lesion on xray. Potential for harm? That the patient could be paralyzed from the waist down for life.
The second one the patient was bitten by an animal, then got a rabies vaccine. Then she developed neurological symptoms. The office ordered full spinal imaging but no brain scan. I asked if they wanted to add a brain scan. That was what I did wrong. They said no, I went no further. Though I will say here it haunted me. If the patient has rabies, she is dead by now. If they did not do brain imaging, she would have become disoriented so she would not recognize her family. My ethics go by the idea that she at least had the right to know before that point so she had the chance to say goodbye.
That's it. I was in trouble for being competent and for looking out for the best interests of the patients. Oh, well. Not the first time I got in trouble for doing what is right.
The company placed me on all written cases. I knew what would be coming next. I worked half the day and asked for information from my supervisor. No word by lunchtime. So, I made the decision and resigned. Better to have a resignation on my resume than a termination.
Just as well. I had been considering looking for another job since last year. Things kept getting worse and worse.
Any way, I have some money set aside. Far from rich but enough to take a couple months off with no suffering. I am hoping that I get my PTO, so that will extend that time by at least three weeks.
If I get my tax refund soon, I will have enough money to finish the wood shop. Maybe even if I don't get the tax refund soon. Have to pull money from the retirement account in any case. Do that tomorrow. Not sure how long it will take. Probably mean I will owe on taxes next year but I'll deal with that when the time comes.
For now, I will be researching options, finishing the wood shop, working on the house and garden and taking time off with my daughter.
I still tend to think things happen for a reason. Not sure what direction I am being led now. Just call it a new adventure.
No comments:
Post a Comment