To ask if any other HCPs get anxious about NMC

[Differentcorner]

I have been qualified for 19 years with no hiccups one minor drug error when I first qualified but I live in fear of being reported to the NMC. I look at the reasons that people are investigated and some seem like personal vendettas... or perhaps it just looks that way as it’s all they actually have evidence for? It’s really eating me up as if you wanted to throw someone under he bus we’ve all probably done something wrong or broken the code unintentionally at some time

I have just been complained about for the first time in 34 years as a nurse , not to the nmc but my trust. I know the complaint is ridiculous and others involved back me up but the whole circus must now be gone through with an investigation. The time and money spent on this is ridiculous. I am glad to be able to retire in 3 years. Whilst poor practice /care needs addressing genuine complaints have to be treated in the same way as ridiculous moans.

I am a neonatal nurse, and honestly some of the parents are so demanding. They must think it is a 5 star hotel or something. I got complained about because a Dad asked me for 4 chairs for their visitors, I got one and showed him where the rest were, he complained because I didn't carry all 4 chairs for him (I'm disabled but I didn't want to disclose my private info and we are v understaffed, all cots have 2 chairs by them) and my colleague had someone complain about them because they worked out her drink in her translucent pink water bottle was too dark to be water. Turned out she had squash as hates water. Nothing has happened with either of these complaints except a stern word from management but I hate knowing patients actually try and get us in trouble.

I agree with the OP and all the other HCPs. The public and government wonders why there is a recruitment and retention crisis. The thing is when someone makes a malicious complaint and it’s found to be untrue nothing actually happens to the complainant but staff are dragged through the investigation process with the accompanying stress this induces.

I met a senior nurse with many years unblemished experience who made a drug error whilst working in an extremely understaffed and stressful ward. He immediately admitted his mistake and was honest with the patient. No long term harm resulted.

Management suspended him immediately and banned other staff from contacting him. There was no support or understanding at all about the possible reasons for making the mistake. He said the upset and stress left him depressed and anxious for nearly a year.
He ended up leaving the NHS and nursing altogether.

Andromeda Absolutely. There are no sanctions against the complainant.

2 years ago, 2 of my 100% trustworthy colleagues were working (on coerced overtime) on a Sunday. Patients are told not to bring valuables with them. This patient arrives with a huge handbag that won't fit in the locker, she says she has too much stuff in it to go through it to lock the valuables away, but the staff assure her that her bag will be safe as it would be in eyeline of my colleagues in a very secure, swipe locked area.

Pt has procedure, leaves quite happily.

10 days later, she complains that £15 went missing from her purse during the time of her procedure. Both colleagues had to write statements (and bear in mind, they were earning £27ph on that day...). The Band 8 manager thanked them, said it was 'their word against the patient's'... and told them she was sending a £15 Costa voucher to the patient by way of apology.

Two further outcomes- this transpires to have been the third time the patient has pulled this stunt; 'there is no money' for bigger lockers, so now when we make patients take their too-big bags back to their relative in the waiting room, or make them sign a waiver if the can't (great for patient/staff inter-relationships, before you've even begun).

Hedgehog - and people wonder why honest mistakes which everyone could learn by are hushed up in the NHS.

Duty of Candour, my arse.

This arse covering culture is causing suffering. I work in the private sector as a nurse and the arse covering behaviour by GPs is leading to inappropriate and harmful care of vulnerable people. I've raised the issue with management, but the general consensus is that it's reasonable to cover your arse and that the arse coverer's needs come first. The patient just has to take their lumps. There is no common sense anymore and I didn't go into nursing to cause suffering. I'm out in a year with a bit of luck.

No, no one became a HCP to cause suffering.

Yes, the current culture certainly has the potential to cause harm to patients.

Sometimes you absolutely know that what you're doing isn't necessarily in the patient's best interests, but you also know that unless you can be 100% certain that you can without a shadow of doubt both justify, and be supported in taking that off-piste decision, should it not go according to plan, you will be chucked under the bus.

Also, Health Care managers decided to respond the the perceived increase in 'mistakes being covered up' by introducing anonymous 'whistle-blower' availability, and by demanding a 'duty of candour'. Then they sat back and congratulated themselves as to how responsive to the public's concerns they could show they were.

Except what they want is for the HCP to say 'I'm sorry, I messed up, but..'....' thank you, thank you, you can stop there, here's your suspension'.

'...but, if I hadn't been so rushed off my feet in an understaffed and under-skilled department, this may not have happened'...

'Ah, so you admit that you knew you were working unsafely yet carried on? Hmm'

The blame has to be individualised as it’s easier to scapegoat staff than acknowledge the structural failings contributing to unsafe workloads.

The RCN is a weak organisation and the NMC supports and endorses apportioning blame to nurses.
As a nurse, if something happens, you will be alone. Don’t expect to get support.

I was reported, and suspended for 4 months, before having restrictions and finally being rid of it 3 years after the incident. I was pressured into signing something, and then got reported. The whole situation was a nightmare, I've never been so low with it all. It took 2 years to go to nmc, with changed statements, a real set up. I dont envy anyone going through the process, it's the worst experience I've ever had. Its horrendous life never known anything like it, you get treated like you're on trial for murder.

Fortunately it didn't affect my employment potential and I have been a charge nurse for 6 months now.

Yes. I'm had terrible anxiety (mostly due to my job).

I ended up quitting about 5 years ago. Much less money now, but so much happier!