Phlebotomist fired- should I feel bad?

Question

Couple months back I went through my clinical rotation for my Phlebotomy program and saw some rather questionable activities. I got in touch with a couple different groups and ended up getting a couple Phlebotomists fired due to unsafe practices.

I am working for the hospital were this occured- no one knows I did it, but I feel guilty, because now everyone is mad at the person that altered their practices.

Should I feel bad? I mean, I did this for the health and safety of others, is in doing that I think I did right, but these people lost their jobs.

Some of th ephlebotomists were taring fingers off of their gloves to feel for veins, and hand washing was pretty much once every few patients. Tourniquets went un cleaned between patients, and a few other things like that.

Answer 1

There is a reason for the phrase "no good deed goes unpunished."

It sounds to me like you did what you felt you were morally and ethically obligated to do. Unfortunately, that act did have consequences - but the truth is that people were not fired and practices weren't changed because you reported them. Instead, people were fired for not doing their jobs right and practices were changed because they were unsafe. You just happened to be the person who had the courage to report them. It is better that you did report them than wait for somebody's health or test results to become compromised.

If I were you, I wouldn't advertise what I did for fear of the backlash from my co-workers. But I also suggest that you have nothing to feel guilty about if you truly did what you believe was right. It is natural to empathize with the people who are suffering the consequences - but they ultimately made the decisions that led to situation and those decisions are something that you have no responsibilty for.

In time, people will become accustomed to the changes and the people who lost their jobs will move on. Also, the patients in question will be healthier and safer because of what was done.

Answer 2

Don't feel guilty. I commend you!!! Standing up for ethics is a hard thing to do but you did the right thing. The ones that are mad are not people I would be concerned about. You should be proud that you had the courage to say something. Most people would look the other way. It's not like you are a painter that saw someone cutting corners, you are in the health care industry. Your ethics and practices should be impeccable. If not, you should be working somewhere else. I am a massage therapist and recently worked as an instructor at a school where the admissions reps were lying and misleading potential students just to get more enrollments. I had to leave because the school wouldn't fix the problem. Don't share your actions with your coworkers but when you see something wrong make sure you document it.

Answer 3

You should not feel bad in the least. Yes people lost their jobs but it sounds like some of the people didn't put much importance in having their jobs or they would have done the job the correct way. Just ponder this,I'm sure you would feel much more guilty if you had heard that a patient died as a result of an infection caused by the unsafe practices that you were aware of but kept silent about To answer your first question about if you should feel bad about what you did:NO!! you should be proud of yourself.I for one am glad there are still people like you in the world.Thank you for doing the right thing.

Answer 4

No I say you have a heart because you feel bad but you did right by letting someone know so it could be taking care of. Now I don't know if you had warned these folks before hand but if they are not doing right serves them right. What happens if something went wrong the patients doesn't get a 2nd chance then the hospital has an appointment in the courthouse. I would say this is no different than forgetting to wear a condom how many 2nd chances will they get.

Answer 5

The phlebotomists that were terminated knew that what they were doing was wrong. You did this place a favor and helped raise the standards of practice. This department gets audited by the health dept. like any other. If these unsafe practices had been observed during an audit, there would have been fines imposed on the hospital and the staff would have been counseled or have had in-services anyway. If it occurred during an accreditation audit, there could have been a problem as well. You prevented this.

It's always a problem when staff become comfortable taking short cuts like this. I see it myself in nursing. Believe me, no nurse hesitates to blow the whistle and you shouldn't regret doing so either. When I was getting a blood draw once I reported two staffers - one was sitting nearby watching and eating (specifically forbidden to have food in the area) and the one doing the draw kept touching my vein before he started to insert and I kept telling him wipe first and don't touch after.

Don't advertize what you did but don't feel bad either. It's not as if you told these two to ignore what they were taught.

Answer 6

Don't feel guilty. I work at a clinic and I know that the health and safety of everyone, especially the patients, is the number one most important part of the job. When people use a hospital they expect to be protected and safe. Of course these people are mad if you changed the way things are done. People generally don't like change, especially if it makes things harder. I suggest not telling anyone that you are the one responsible or it will make your job miserable. Eventaully they will forget about it and it will be no big deal. You did the right thing.

Answer 7

If you feel you have done the right thing , then i guess there's nothing to feel bad about. I'm sure those directly concern with firing the phlebotomist had the right reasons, especially since you are in the health care division, safety on health is of utmost importance.

Answer 8

You did the right thing. The workers should know proper procedures and it isn't your fault they can't do their job the correct way. Unsafe practices by a few people can end up getting the entire business in trouble. In my opinion, you have saved the entire business, and possibly saved a lot of trouble in the future. And even though the patients don't know it, I am sure they would appreciate it greatly.

Answer 9

I have been working in an OR for 10 years honey...get used to it. I have torn the end off of my glove for about as long. You just wait until you get a 300 black woman in your chair and you couldn't see a vein with an x-ray...you'll tear your glove too. I do suggest that everyone wash their hands though. I don't necessarilly think that you should feel bad, although I think you have caused yourself alot of unnecessary stress. No matter where you work for the rest of you days, it will be that way...a little tip...just worry about what you do from now on.

Answer 10

You should most certainly not feel bad. I have worked in the medical field for 14 years. This could have put patient's lives in danger, and you know this. I commend you. This is one job rules should not be broken. Thank You!