Dismissed from work today - I don't know what to do

[Strawberriess]

I made such a huge error at work and it cost me my job.
I accept liability and made a massive mistake. I work at a drs and a patient had low iron levels and I said I wasn't clinically trained but maybe it might be worth going to the supermarket to buy something fortified with iron so they didn't drop any further - I didn't know I wasn't allowed to suggest something you could buy off the shelf. I would never advise something if I thought I was causing harm. I had the best intentions.
On top of this I've been having trouble with a colleague who is so rude, condescending and snappy. Yesterday I asked a question and she was rude and I said there was no need for it. She has accused me of bullying to the manager.
I went in today and was pulled in to the office and told because I was still on probation my contract was terminated and there was nothing I could do. I've been crying for about 7 hours.
I dont know how this will have an impact moving forward. Putting a patient at risk and bullying sounds awful but not who I am at all. I don't know what to do 😭
I'd been a SAHM for 7 years and this was the first job I applied for and was successful. I've only been there 3 months. I feel like my future is ruined. How can I apply for another job when my reference is going to paint me out to be a monster.

Sorry to hear this OP. Did they not want to hear your side of the story at all about your co-worker? With your CV, I suppose you wouldn't put down that you worked there at all?

Sorry to hear this, it sounds like it was a genuine mistake. You’re not in a clinical role and the bullying is just an allegation - I could be wrong but I would be surprised if any reference they gave would allude to what happened as it’s not substantiated (the bullying anyway). The bit about the medication you could always explain to any prospect employer if it were to come up. Things must feel terrible right now, but I think you’ll find in time it won’t be that big an issue- plus you were in your probationary period, so not technically sacked?

Three months? Just don't mention it on the cv. It sounds like you weren't given good training and worked with some real characters. We've all been there

Let yourself cry for a bit and then pick yourself up. Your future's not ruined by any stretch of the imagination.

They can’t give you a bad reference

@Truestorypeeps no, they didn't. Other colleagues had commented on the way she spoke to me too but they said as it was a secondary matter it made no difference.
I thought that but spoke to ACAS today and they said if I don't declare it in employment history and I get found out it will go against me. I just don't know what to do

Your future is not ruined.

@pilates they have to give a truthful reference which doesn't look promising

Oh im so sorry. Do you have a HR person can contact?
It's not like you gave unsafe advice. Im a nurse myself albeit in secondary care. But seriously this all sounds unfair and over the top.
It is only 3 month though. Sounds like you are better away from there

Get yourself a very quick temp/short-term job via an agency which will mean your P45 from the doctor's gets 'used' there, then you'll get a new P45 and don't even have to mention the doctor's on your CV ever.

It only happened today, you are allowed to take a day to be upset when something like this happens.

Then dust yourself off, be clear on what you would do differently in future, and start looking for another role. That's all you can do.

That's a really big mistake and I'm sorry it cost you but you know now that you can't give medical advice. To be honest, it doesn't sound like a particularly nice place anyway. I would start applying for receptionist jobs in a different field. Now you have a little experience you can say to future employers that you enjoyed the work but the environment wasn't for you. They can't say the reason why you stopped working there - just the dates.

Just say it was a temporary contract.
I understand how upset you must feel with all the happened. One of my first jobs was telesales for a newspaper. I was rubbish at it! Definitely not a sales person. I got on well with the team though. I had my 6 month probation and they told me they wouldn’t keep me on. I was so upset. Cried all the way home and that evening even though I didn’t like telesales.
I got over it, got a new job and didn’t look back. I always put that as a temporary contract on my cv, never been questioned.

As far as your mistake goes, the important part in terms of potential future employers is to be able to talk about how you’ve learned from it. So while “putting a patient at risk” sounds a bit heavy, it’s a bit of a catchall phrase and you can explain that you made a stupid mistake in your overeagerness to help (I’m talking in general terms, not suggesting this is what you should say!). You can then talk about what you learned from this experience and why you would never make it again in the future.

@fuckip is right, your future isn’t ruined 💐

This again. They can give her a bad reference. It just needs to be truthful.

You take a deep breath, and you go and sit outside for the evening, or for a walk if you can.

It will be fine, I promise. I work in a different area now but my background is employment law, and it will be fine.

Acas have to tell you to list the job because they can't be responsible for telling you not to, but in your position you absolutely write it off. I'd put it down as a three-month temping post but use your previous references personally.

The tablets thing is a reasonable error which they could have decided to train for. The other woman sounds completely over the top. It sounds like they didn't want to be bothered to try and work with you. Queen Bee syndrome can be real.

If you find that you keep clashing with colleagues then you can start to think about roles where you work independently, but for now put this down to experience. You have that tricky first-post SAHM role behind you. The rest will come.

You can ask for a factual reference (ie dates of employment and job role, no further details). That's what I'd do if I were you.

Very sorry your first job after returning to work has turned out so badly. It sounds to me as if you didn't have enough training and guidance (surely they should have told you the remit / boundaries of your role ie not giving any medical advice whatsoever). If employees can get away with being unpleasant and making false accusations, it sounds like a toxic culture. And your manager should have followed the correct procedure for disciplinary action which includes giving you the opportunity to defend yourself. (Ask for a copy of their disciplinary procedure - also look at the Acas best practice guidelines on disciplinary action.) Unfortunately as you hadn't worked there very long, you're not in a position to challenge any of it (eg at an employment tribunal). However, if it's any consolation, it does sound like a bad employer and you may well have had a lucky escape, although I'm sure it doesn't feel like it

Give yourself a bit of time to lick your wounds, but not too long, then update your CV and get back out there. You'll find something better.

Sounds like the training was inadequate. Not the OPs fault of the training was not up to standard. Maybe worth a discussion with the GP practice???

There’s a good chance the only reference they will give is to confirm your dates.

References are usually taken when you are offered a job. If you want, you could raise this in the interview if they ask reasons for leaving - “unfortunately, I made an error in advising a patient on a minor matter when I should have referred them directly to a nurse.”

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/dismissal/check-your-rights-if-youre-dismissed/dismissal/after-youve-been-dismissed/#h-getting-a-reference

Inadequate training really

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/after-leaving-your-job/getting-a-job-reference/

You can't take iron supplements if you have a history of liver disease, alcoholism or kidney infections. I think it causes iron toxicity. It's possibly about knowing the patient history and understanding drug interactions which is information OP may not have had access to.

Cry then Dust yourself and start over. The bullying issue is separate issue to the misconduct issue.
In any medical/healthcare office, non healthcare staff cannot overstep boundaries or scope of practice. As non medical staff in this workplace setting, you can't make any well meaning suggestions around any health related stuff. Even discussing patient/clients health concerns with that person is legal ground for instant dismissal (gross misconduct)
My advice would be look at applying your skills in a different industry.

Appalling induction period to the role and a toxic work culture. I'm just so sorry you had to experience this especially when you're a wee bit vulnerable with it being your first job. Echo what others have said about the reference, these days they're usually dates, and sickness. However, I'd be tempted to put it down as a 3 month contract and not use them as references based on the fact you've not been there long enough to warrant a reference being valid. You will be absolutely fine going forward and you're clearly a caring person who simply wanted to go above and beyond and be helpful. No shame in that. You take care 🙂

It could be very dangerous depending on the person, what they are prescribed and a whole host of other factors that neither you nor the op would be party to.

@Strawberriess learn from this experience.