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.

It depends where you apply though, some jobs check your work history against HRMC- they do say they're doing this and it's obviously government jobs mainly. It's also a small world often in healthcare, better to be honest then be dismissed for dishonesty. If its a job in the private sector thats unrelated then probably not an issue.

I think it's an NHS contract within a private practice. I've never been told about HR, the managers have always dealt with everything.

It sounds silly but I didn't realise it was medical advise. I'd never tell them to go an buy prescription iron tablets or anything like that. I genuinely had no idea of the potential consequences. I had to tell the patient they were a little anaemic. They asked me what to do and I said you've not been prescribed anything, said about buying something and sent a message to the dr telling them what I've said, stupidly thinking I'd done the right thing.

teach English to foreign students online. Easy to get and well paid

OP try to move on from this, it was three months, so I would forget about it, not include it on your CV and start afresh. I'm guessing the patient in question probed you for further information/advice, and then when you gave it has submitted a complaint about you. Receptionists/admin/support workers tend to be treated like dirt in the NHS/GP surgeries and are often scapegoated. Have you thought about studying instead if you can afford to forgo work for a bit longer?

No she messaged the doctor herself to dob herself in

The training was completely inadequate. They should've covered all that sort of thing and reminded you throughout your probationary period.

@openstop if I thought I'd done wrong or did so intentionally I would have never 'dobbed myself in'.

Sorry to read this.
It was a big mistake, albeit one made with the very best of intentions. Often kindness and good intentions don't help you in jobs. As everyone else has said, you really shouldn't mention this in interviews. Any reference will just be a can of worms. Maybe do some agency temp work for a bit. Good luck moving on. And it sounds like you've dodged a bullet re the horrible colleague.

To be honest OP I can see why you thought it was fine, you recognise that it would be inappropriate to give advice on medication etc and can see why it felt okay. It shows they probably haven't given you enough training and/or support, and although it doesn't help now if you hadn't been honest the patient may have said next appointment or whatever anyway- you did the right thing for you.

Yes doctors surgeries are private businesses but on NHS contracts.

Oh that's very strong I was a GP receptionist until jan this year and it's hard sometimes when you know what the clinicians would say but to repeat it in a helpful manner.

You were trying to be helpful and didn't know the boundaries of your role. It was a very serious mistake but it wasn't malicious and you didn't try to hide it.

If I was employing you, I'd want to know what you'd learned from your experience. That should be the most important thing.

At our NHS place of work, all new starters have a thorough induction, covering all aspects of what is expected in their role. Competencies are signed off as they are achieved. I hope CQC find out how appalling their induction for new staff is because THEY are putting patients at risk.

Please don't let this knock your confidence. You made a mistake which was a re training situation not dismissal, they decided you weren't a good fit by the sounds of it. Start applying for new roles asap

OP it's ok, I work in a hospital - mistakes are actually important because how do we learn otherwise? We have a whole reporting system for things that go wrong which they do all the time and they have to be documented for improvements and a secretary chatting with patient and telling them maybe they could try some vitamins is NOTHING compared to some of the clangers I've seen.

Yeah - don't do it again obviously, but you're not a bad person, you're not a bad employee, it sounds like you're well out of there actually as it's toxic - is it a GP practice? I worked in a GPs once for 3 months and OMG never again, it was it's own little universe of petty bullying, cliques and the knives out for each other. I hated it.

I agree with others who say just don't mention it to a next employer - you're a SAHM looking for your first job!

To make it even worse I was on a temporary contract and they were going to change it to permanent after 2 months. It all went so wrong so quickly 😩

I would be very surprised if in your training they hadn't made it clear that you can't give medical advice. That is usually pretty central as the front desk gets a lt of medical questions - can you tell me my results, or I forgot my pill, can I double up.

If they didn't tell you you couldn't give medical advice, then they were in the wrong but I think you might have just overlooked that part of your training.

It is a sackable offense. It is a safety issue that could harm or kill a patient. Reception can not give medical advice.

Don't let it put you off healthcare, look for jobs where you will get a proper induction so that you understand your role boundaries better.

You made a mistake, but I also think you've not been well treated. I'd have spoken to you and made it clear that you don't give medical advice however well meaning - but then I'd have looked at your learning needs & put a plan in place.

Really?! In my industry one of the first things we tell new starters is if you make a mistake no matter how minor or major you think it is don't try and cover it up, don't ignore it, tell someone. It is much better to tell on your own mistakes, then they have a chance of being rectified easily than let it slide and 3 years later the whole thing is a mess.

This.
Get some temp jobs. If you work with rude people you don’t have to for long!

Sounds like you were best out of there, and gp surgeries are highly, pressurised places. You’re bound to feel upset and shocked today - that’s a natural reaction. Give yourself time to come to terms with it.

You can use the experience you gained from it - computer skills, customer facing etc for your next job.

I agree with PP, this is simply inadequate training on their part. Yes, it was a mistake, but one you wouldn't probably have made if the training and induction had been appropriate.

Don't let it knock you back too much, things will be fine.

This wasn't meant to be. You meant well and shit happened. It's ok to cry and feel bad. Use the time to apply for other roles. You've got this x

@Shitsandwiches yes it was a GP practice. I asked why there was no warning and he said because I'm in my probationary period he doesn't have to go down that route.

I wouldn't do it again. I went above and beyond to help as many patients as I could. Tried to challenge the stigma attached to gp receptionists and got no where. Ultimately I've lost my job and as the breadwinner that's going to have a huge impact on my children and nothing is worth that

Thank you but I don't want it to bite me in the butt months down the line as I'd only have myself to blame

so justify it as a temporary contract on your cv but as a pp said, get another one via an agency and then you can use that as a reference.

@openstop I didn't realise I'd made a mistake and I completely agree. I have made a couple of minor ones and always been completely honest and rectified them. I didn't try and hide or cover it up and as soon as it was mentioned I accepted what I said and the consequences, regardless of whether I meant well