The Student Room Group

Should I appeal the panel decision to remove my registration? CONTEXT and conclusion

My first placement an inpatient ward, I needed an introduction to the ward and to be shown the fire exits but this did not happen for another week into the ward so I didn’t know what I was doing ward, if there was a fire and when I asked they would baby talk me and say they were too busy and to go speak to patients. I also arranged a date that lined up to meet my practise assessor but when I approached the nurse, she said she had no clue who I was and claimed she was not informed she was my practise assessor that is massive red flag I should of reported to my university. However shortly, I had nothing good to say about the course in the first learning block from osces times being incorrect, false information, equipment not working amongst the disorganisation and the waiting times to get in contact with my tutor was 5 working days. I didn’t have much hope in them since they often said they would do something and never did. so I felt even more uncomfortable on the ward than before but I needed to stay on top of my placement hours to pass this year. The nurses were some of the most unpassionate and nasty people I have ever met in my life. They would talk about the patients behind their back and make sly and rude remarks all while sitting in the office vaping around the tables and laughing about some of the patient’s history. I asked the student lead if it was possible to talk about ticking off the prophecies that needed to be completed by the end of year 1.. she sighed and said no, she wont sign them off since I am a first-year student and I have no experience? She told me to speak to patients and build therapeutic relationships. So I focused more on building rapport with patients. I quickly became a favourite with patients telling hca’s and nurses I was the best student nurse there because I cared and how I would be a great student nurse. This is when it went downhill. I was asked to go to a room with the student lead and a health care on a nightshift said I did not do a task and was colouring alone at the table in the dining room for hours. For context I was told to stay in the dining room and make an activity for patients to do before bed. So I held a drawing contest drawing angels and half of the patients were in the room drawing with me and another student nurse (my best friend) who was on that shift too. A health care had reported we were not doing a task she asked us to complete by taking an elderly patient to bed and getting her ready for bed. Me and the student nurse asked the patient and she said she wasn’t ready as she was drinking a cup of tea so we kept asking every 20 minutes and finally helped her to bed and got her into bed. We both walked back and told the staff we had got her to bed and returned to the dining room to pack up as all the other patients had finished their drawing and hanging them in their bed space. I was very upset when I was told this by the student lead and had a panic attack on the spot, I couldn’t breathe and was distraught. *when I was informed of this news as I told my lead that I would never refuse to do a task and did take the patient to bed but she did not seem interested or believed me. I took matters into my own hand and went to speak to the nurse in charge that night and when I told her she was extremely shocked and had no clue about the report that was now on my epad and couldn’t be changed. She said she would speak to a nurse. Nothing happened. A week later, I was on the ward doing activities with patients and when we returned from activities I had found a patient that had ligated and was in serious condition, I pulled my alarm which I was used to doing and the patient was taken into A&E. This patient held a vendetta against me for pulling the alarm and saving the patients life so I often stayed cleared. This patient would refuse to speak to me unless I did tasks for them which I didn’t mind and thought it was learning experience. On my last shift before I chose to left I was being treated very strangely on the ward, lots of gossip I was not allowed to be on my own which never was the case before as I was left by my self most days for my shifts to build therapeutic relationships and kept telling me not to leave their sight I knew something was wrong and found out from patients what had happened this same patient had self harmed because of what happened but had said it was because of the student nurse (me). I spoke to the patient and said was this the case on my own back. Looking back I should have never done this but it was confirmed by the patient, I told the patient I never want the patient to do that and they were doing so well. The main encouragement talk and how I want them to keep focusing on getting better. I ASKED for a hug, which the patient agreed and we both left smiling, I was sitting on the floor at the end of her bed when I spoke to this patient, another red flag on my behalf but I did not want to stand as it came across as quite intimidating. I felt awful that day and decided I would not return to the ward and left mid-day during my shift. I did not return due to the gossip and accusations. I was then TOLD the next day been my tutor that the patient felt intimidated by me talking to them and was asked me not to return to the ward. I did not want to as I felt unsafe and extremely uncomfortable. I understand I should of not spoken to the patient privately now but I felt in the moment I needed to know if I was the reason. Fast forward to the panel.. the panel was more confused by the evidence submitted by the ward but the real cherry on the cake was the fact the investigator that supports the university did not investigate the evidence submitted by the ward which they needed too since I had spoken against what had happened on the night shift and said this did not happen, I told them the truth from the beginning of what happened and what I could have done better esp with the second issue in the cause of concern but I had no guidance from the ward and was left by my self all day to find things to do which was rare so I would just talk with patients.. The verdict was shockingly they needed to investigate further for another 2 weeks during when my assignments were due and my next placement that would have started next week. I decided I was going to drop out since I had not slept from placement and stopped eating. This investigation killed my confidence I had in the course and the poorly run panel. As a student nurse, a service user I thought they would be vouching for their patients and supporting them in becoming better as clearly this was not a good placement. I have heard horrific experiences from other students and theres a major lack of care and support in the nursing course that I could go on for hours. I informed my tutor I wasn't going to attend the next meeting as I want to put this to bed since this happened in February. I was sick and tired of the 'evidence' that was not made up and statements about me that were shocking as I was never rude to any members of staff on my placement. I was wrote a letter saying saying that the evidence was poor and their dates they said I was on the ward didn't even match up to the dates I was on the ward, how they can improve the course, how to stop this happening again and my withdrawal request. Unfortunately they have decided to remove my registration from the course in the last meeting with immediate affect and that I am impaired for the course. I need to speak out about my experience because this has crushed me for so long. In conclusion, any false allegations of you will be proven true no matter how hard you plea your case as they 'proved' in the final meeting I didn't refuse to do the task when my best friend is sitting next to me angry knowing we did put that patient to bed. I have never been so discouraged in my life and don't know what to do because its my word against the wards.. I am done with the course but I can't sleep at night knowing that I am 'impaired' when I did nothing but try my best on the ward by even helping housekeepers doing the dishes when there was no tasks for me on the ward if I was given any. Should I appeal under the grounds of misconduct from the university with the evidence and plea my innocence?
Original post by SugiiStudies
My first placement an inpatient ward, I needed an introduction to the ward and to be shown the fire exits but this did not happen for another week into the ward so I didn’t know what I was doing ward, if there was a fire and when I asked they would baby talk me and say they were too busy and to go speak to patients. I also arranged a date that lined up to meet my practise assessor but when I approached the nurse, she said she had no clue who I was and claimed she was not informed she was my practise assessor that is massive red flag I should of reported to my university. However shortly, I had nothing good to say about the course in the first learning block from osces times being incorrect, false information, equipment not working amongst the disorganisation and the waiting times to get in contact with my tutor was 5 working days. I didn’t have much hope in them since they often said they would do something and never did. so I felt even more uncomfortable on the ward than before but I needed to stay on top of my placement hours to pass this year. The nurses were some of the most unpassionate and nasty people I have ever met in my life. They would talk about the patients behind their back and make sly and rude remarks all while sitting in the office vaping around the tables and laughing about some of the patient’s history. I asked the student lead if it was possible to talk about ticking off the prophecies that needed to be completed by the end of year 1.. she sighed and said no, she wont sign them off since I am a first-year student and I have no experience? She told me to speak to patients and build therapeutic relationships. So I focused more on building rapport with patients. I quickly became a favourite with patients telling hca’s and nurses I was the best student nurse there because I cared and how I would be a great student nurse. This is when it went downhill. I was asked to go to a room with the student lead and a health care on a nightshift said I did not do a task and was colouring alone at the table in the dining room for hours. For context I was told to stay in the dining room and make an activity for patients to do before bed. So I held a drawing contest drawing angels and half of the patients were in the room drawing with me and another student nurse (my best friend) who was on that shift too. A health care had reported we were not doing a task she asked us to complete by taking an elderly patient to bed and getting her ready for bed. Me and the student nurse asked the patient and she said she wasn’t ready as she was drinking a cup of tea so we kept asking every 20 minutes and finally helped her to bed and got her into bed. We both walked back and told the staff we had got her to bed and returned to the dining room to pack up as all the other patients had finished their drawing and hanging them in their bed space. I was very upset when I was told this by the student lead and had a panic attack on the spot, I couldn’t breathe and was distraught. *when I was informed of this news as I told my lead that I would never refuse to do a task and did take the patient to bed but she did not seem interested or believed me. I took matters into my own hand and went to speak to the nurse in charge that night and when I told her she was extremely shocked and had no clue about the report that was now on my epad and couldn’t be changed. She said she would speak to a nurse. Nothing happened. A week later, I was on the ward doing activities with patients and when we returned from activities I had found a patient that had ligated and was in serious condition, I pulled my alarm which I was used to doing and the patient was taken into A&E. This patient held a vendetta against me for pulling the alarm and saving the patients life so I often stayed cleared. This patient would refuse to speak to me unless I did tasks for them which I didn’t mind and thought it was learning experience. On my last shift before I chose to left I was being treated very strangely on the ward, lots of gossip I was not allowed to be on my own which never was the case before as I was left by my self most days for my shifts to build therapeutic relationships and kept telling me not to leave their sight I knew something was wrong and found out from patients what had happened this same patient had self harmed because of what happened but had said it was because of the student nurse (me). I spoke to the patient and said was this the case on my own back. Looking back I should have never done this but it was confirmed by the patient, I told the patient I never want the patient to do that and they were doing so well. The main encouragement talk and how I want them to keep focusing on getting better. I ASKED for a hug, which the patient agreed and we both left smiling, I was sitting on the floor at the end of her bed when I spoke to this patient, another red flag on my behalf but I did not want to stand as it came across as quite intimidating. I felt awful that day and decided I would not return to the ward and left mid-day during my shift. I did not return due to the gossip and accusations. I was then TOLD the next day been my tutor that the patient felt intimidated by me talking to them and was asked me not to return to the ward. I did not want to as I felt unsafe and extremely uncomfortable. I understand I should of not spoken to the patient privately now but I felt in the moment I needed to know if I was the reason. Fast forward to the panel.. the panel was more confused by the evidence submitted by the ward but the real cherry on the cake was the fact the investigator that supports the university did not investigate the evidence submitted by the ward which they needed too since I had spoken against what had happened on the night shift and said this did not happen, I told them the truth from the beginning of what happened and what I could have done better esp with the second issue in the cause of concern but I had no guidance from the ward and was left by my self all day to find things to do which was rare so I would just talk with patients.. The verdict was shockingly they needed to investigate further for another 2 weeks during when my assignments were due and my next placement that would have started next week. I decided I was going to drop out since I had not slept from placement and stopped eating. This investigation killed my confidence I had in the course and the poorly run panel. As a student nurse, a service user I thought they would be vouching for their patients and supporting them in becoming better as clearly this was not a good placement. I have heard horrific experiences from other students and theres a major lack of care and support in the nursing course that I could go on for hours. I informed my tutor I wasn't going to attend the next meeting as I want to put this to bed since this happened in February. I was sick and tired of the 'evidence' that was not made up and statements about me that were shocking as I was never rude to any members of staff on my placement. I was wrote a letter saying saying that the evidence was poor and their dates they said I was on the ward didn't even match up to the dates I was on the ward, how they can improve the course, how to stop this happening again and my withdrawal request. Unfortunately they have decided to remove my registration from the course in the last meeting with immediate affect and that I am impaired for the course. I need to speak out about my experience because this has crushed me for so long. In conclusion, any false allegations of you will be proven true no matter how hard you plea your case as they 'proved' in the final meeting I didn't refuse to do the task when my best friend is sitting next to me angry knowing we did put that patient to bed. I have never been so discouraged in my life and don't know what to do because its my word against the wards.. I am done with the course but I can't sleep at night knowing that I am 'impaired' when I did nothing but try my best on the ward by even helping housekeepers doing the dishes when there was no tasks for me on the ward if I was given any. Should I appeal under the grounds of misconduct from the university with the evidence and plea my innocence?

Can I make a suggestion? Rather than writing a single 1,615-word block of text, try breaking it up into paragraphs. It makes it so much easier for people to read. A good rule-of-thumb for this is to start a new paragraph if the time or place changes, or you start writing about a different topic. Examples would be, "A week later" (new paragraph) and "Fast forward to the panel" (new paragraph). The first time I saw your post I just ignored it due to the way it was formatted - I just couldn't face it. I felt bad about that decision and tried to read it an hour or so later, but gave-up before I'd got a third of the way through it. The only way I managed to read it was to copy/paste the text into a text editor and add paragraph breaks myself. Anyway...

I've struggled to find the reason you were given for the panel's decision to remove your registration. You make lots of references to "the evidence submitted by the ward", the fact that you "told them the truth from the beginning of what happened", and "esp with the second issue in the cause of concern". But you have haven't clearly stated what those caucuses of concern were. The fact that you refer to "the second issue" suggests that there were at least two. We don't need a 500-word explanation of what each issue was; a single sentence will likely suffice.

Was one of the issues that you spent time "in the dining room and make an activity for patients to do before bed" instead of "taking an elderly patient to bed and getting her ready for bed"? That seems a fairly mundane miscommunication for the panel to become involved it. But I don't understand why you've even written about it if it's not relevant.

I can guess that one issue that was brought-up was the patient who "held a vendetta against me for pulling the alarm and saving the patients life" - and who later went on to self-harm, saying "it was because of the student nurse (me)." Or was the cause for concern that you "sat on the floor at the end of her bed"? Or that you "ASKED for a hug"? Or were all these rolled into a generic "lack of competence" or "misconduct" concern?

Clearly some of things that have gone wrong were down your own actions. For example:
"Looking back I should have never done this..."
"...decided I would not return to the ward and left mid-day during my shift. I did not return..."
"I understand I should of not spoken to the patient privately..."

However it's very difficult to offer any advise as to whether you should appeal if we don't actually know what you've been accused of.

Reply 2

What university are you at?

I don't think you have handled any of this particularly well in all honesty. But stress can do that.

You absolutely should not have gone and spoken to the patient who complained about you, let alone ask for a hug. You are the professional and they are a service user, and to turn their upset to your upset, and ask them for emotional support is not good. I dont know how you managed this as you've said you wern't allowed to be alone with anyone, and people were gossiping about you. Speaking to them for your own peace of mind means they are filling your need, when you should be helping them. You also chose to leave and not go back mid shift. You are also always going to be at risk of complaints in these services, and panic attacks on the spot in a care facility probably wont have gone in your favour either. I'm not saying you don't have a right to be shocked and anxious, but its about controlling emotions, which in both of these examples, have not happened.

Its hard to believe that for a full week no one would show someone where the fire escape was? How many times did you ask? Its also hard to believe that every single member of staff in a care service was unprofessional, vaping, ****ging patients of etc. so when there is only one side to this story its hard to offer neutral advice. If they didn't know who you were, and hadn't even shown you around, it would make sense that they wouldnt sign of tasks for you.

During the investigation you decided you were going to drop out, so they were also probably questioning your commitment to the course. You've stated there was a poorly run panel, poorly run ward, poorly run course, poor tutors. and suggested ways they could improve during an investigation about your conduct. You told your tutor you wernt going to attend a meeting as you wanted it to be over. When you ask should you appeal to protest your innocence, you aren't innocent in the mistakes you have made. So to appeal, you'd have to own your mistakes, show far more commitment to your degree and stop reacting in anger, which is how it comes across when youve walked out of a shift, requested to withdraw but then been annoyed when they have removed your registration. Regardless of whether you did or didnt agree to put a patient to bed, there is far more to this than just that issue. If you are genuinely done with the course, id just leave it be, because i cant see it helping you.

Quick Reply