Nanaie4ever

Sorry, I meant Galadriel724, not CharlieRN in above post.

I have also worked UHS, they are a very money oriented system. To the detriment of the pts and the staff. Also wondering if CharlieRN and I are in the same area. The pay here in MA is so low it's unbelievable. The local hospitals with psych units pay up to $4 to $8/hr more for any of the 3 shifts. I actually found one hospital on Rt 128 (now 95) that pays the night shift a total of $50/hour to start depending on experience. At least, that is what I was offered. Unfortunately, I knew the DON from another setting where we worked together and shared too much and did not get the job. I would stay as far away from UHS as possible. Also I was knocked unconcious for 2 mins by 2 male pts fighting each other in the hall. I was watching them fling around one of my female MHC and just could not stand there and watch so jumped in to help her. I was taken to the hospital and told to go home and rest. Stupidly I went back to work to do the DAM paper work. Was I ever given some pat on the back for this?? Absolutely not. When I mentioned 2 months later that my PCP said I had Post Traumatic Concussion Syndrome (which may not go away) they found a way to fire me. (Mentioned this in another area last Feb). Now I don't know if there is anything I can do to get disability or whatever I'm entitled to as I am having a very difficult time in my new job, just remembering names is a problem, since it is an Alzhiemers unit, this is not good as I could medicate the wrong person if they are in the wrong room. None wear name tags, bracelets or any form of id. So I got yelled at for not at least knowing some of the names after 2 weeks of orientation. Just hope I can memorize some of them soon. I wish you lots of luck in your nursing career, but I would definitly stay away from UHS any where in the USA. Sorry for getting off track.

Hey CharlieRN: Thanks for replying, so far I have good news for a change. I won the first appeal and they only have 5 days left to apply for the 2nd appeal. The best news is that I now have 2 jobs. I start at the nursing home on the 9th of May and when I tried to quit the home health job but then the owner wanted to meet with me. We did and she feels we are such a great fit she doesn't want me to leave! So she and I agreed to stay per diem and if I want to come back I'll be salaried at 32/hr, with them paying for my cell phone bills, milage (.37/mile), a little help there but not much and insurance and all the other bennies. So I am starting the new job with the understanding that I'll take one or 2 assignments with the home health and if I want to come back full time at any time, I will be able to. I felt I really need some medical background to feel more comfortable being in someone's home and this I can get at the nursing home. I'll also learn IV's, trach's, etc, etc. So thanks for all the advice and responses. They helped me a lot and I am very grateful. Now I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for 5 more days, but I really can't see them going after me again when I've won the first round!! Teh

Just an update with my "firing due to abandonment" of unit in middle of shift. I had the appeal process at the unemployment office, the company sent a rep from the HR dept who wasn't even present for any of the interaction that took place on the unit. I won the appeal. Now I am told they have ANOTHER 30 DAYS to re-appeal. If they lose that one, then they can take me to court and sue me.!!! Where does it all end?? I am trying to use references not associated any more with the hospital. (my nurse mgr for the 3 yrs I was there is now at a sister hosp & will and has given me very good references. So I know I can count on him and on one of my friends from the unit. We are close friends outside of the job and we would swap off with charge and meds all the time. So legally she can say that she not only worked with me but was charge while I did meds. My problem is in finding 1 more person. I've lost contact with the nurse mgr of my last job - she was the best and would give me a great recommendation! Can't find many others on my list either, moved or changed #'s to unlisted. Currently, I am doing per diem with a home health company, 1 patient who won't need RN much longer. Then they say I can go out and check up on the N/A and HHA. Good for now with the good weather, but not looking forward to this in the winter. Want another job before then. But making 39.00 per 1/2 hour, honestly per 1/2 hour. Interviewed with a Nationally known nursing home today and they are offering 27.50 per hour. I am so down in the dumps and confused. Do I take this which will include intensive training to be certified in IV's (??? don't really understand just what this includes), I'ld be on a dementia unit and sometimes on an Alzeheimer's Unit, both of which appeal to me, but I'm so disappointed in the pay. I inquired about bonuses, pay in lieu of bennies, nothing helped or was available. No charge pay, yet the nurse does all the med runs, V/S, treatments for approximately 23 to 30 patients with no other RN or LPN on. It's just one nurse and aides. Idon't know. Do I keep looking??? Do I keep taking the unemployment with the possible outcome that the old job (also a nation wide psych facility) will continue to harrass me and continue with appeals and possibly court???? Anyone got any good ideas, even just a few words of hope???

I'm sorry but that I don't know. Maybe you can ask the interviewer at the workmen's comp. Or maybe someone here does have the answer and will be able to provide it. Wish you well. Teh

Having worked as CM in the past in psych & substance abuse, I think you will get diversified experience in both areas. Workers comp may not be quite as diversified, but the reasons for the workers comp could be. As for medicaid population, you would definitely see many different areas - depression, lots of mental health issues, homelessness, joblessness, no outside supports, no income (other than usually SSDI), drugs, alcoholism, medical problems either caused by any of the above or totally separate. Of course, with the workers comp you could also deal with a lot of the same stuff because most people out of work with a disability then become depressed, could lose their homes, could have marital problems. Lots for yyou to think about. Either one is a good place to start. Good luck with your choice and the job. Teh

I'm sorry Jess that you felt an "ouch". I really am. Did not mean to make you feel invalidated or put down. Sometimes (honestly : ( ) I don't get my points across very well. I usually put my foot in my mouth a lot. I just meant by the fact as you mentioned being an older grad that your life experiences would have warned you to back off of something as this. As OKTRAVELNURSE just mentioned we really don't have all the particulars and I was making a lot of assumptions. Still assumptions that I hope are more correct than not. I only hope this young nurse learns positive things from this unfortunate experience and can keep her head up and remain in nursing and do well. I wish her and you the best. Again, sorry for "ouching" you! Teh

"The real question is not why they fired her, but why they ever hired a Charge Nurse with no experience!!!! I'm also shocked that a new nurse did not know enough NOT to accept a charge nurse position. I hate to sound tough, but I feel no sympathy about her being fired- that person should never have taken a charge nurse position (and how on earth he/she got hired as charge nures is beyond me!) I am about to be a new nurse shortly (after July) and I wouldn't take a job running a nursing home, or as charge nurse, any sooner than I would be a Hospital Administrator right out of school. And I'm an "old" student nurse- with several prior careers and experience behind me. I'm pretty sure I could dazzle a facility into thinking I was more 'advanced' than most new hires...but I will be a 'new nurse' like any other new nurse- because its experience as a NURSE that really counts. Shame on the hospital AND shame on that new nurse who took the job- equal blame and equal shame!!!!" QUOTED from above (sorry I can't figure how to do that yet) I think the difference here is that you are an older grad and know the difference via life experience. I think the original writer is writing about a young new in-experienced RN who took an interviewer at her word that there would be plenty of suport and training and probably folks to turn to for assistance while on duty. I know this is the line most facilities give to all nurses whether new or just new to the facility. I have yet to find one hospital that has ever given an adequate orientation. Nurses tend to eat their young!!! It's wrong and to blame this young, inexperienced RN for taking a job she was told she would be able to do (why else would they hire her). I think all nurses - at any license level - need to look out for each other and offer helping hands and smiles instead of putting each other down. I don't mean to offend you for your statement, however, I do want to point out what actually goes on in real life nursing. Teh

Hi Janelle: I did not mean to give the impression that I completely agree with restraint free units. I do think it is a great "idea". However, after 23 years in the psych/substance abuse field, I honestly do not think it will ever be possible. At the very least there has to be a level of protection for both the staff and the patients. Sometimes the only way to have that protection is thru mechanical restraints, be they leather or cloth, however I feel the cloth is less humiliating. The other means for protection is thru medication restraints. This is very important especially in areas which are not an actual psych unit. I have made many a "code" call to our ER when a psych pt is out of control and even the security has a hard time with psych patients. I wish most ER's employed at least 1 psych RN who could be there as the one to go to when a psych pt is admitted. I agree with you in most all of what you say! There really is no happy answer, because most of the people who end up needing the restraints of either kind are either the true psychotic, the true alcoholic in withdrawal, the true drug addict in w/d, and then there are the (Hate to use this word even) borderlines, the narcisists, the manipulative who just need to get as much attention as they can and will do anything to ensure they are the center of attendtion ( and being in restraints really puts them in the center of attention!! Good luck to you, enjoyed "chatting" with you. Enjoyed your input. Teh

This does sound great in theory however I have the same concerns of the above posters. One hospital I worked with decided after hiring a lot of new nurses and giving us a lot of really exceptional training, was able to see a 70% reduction in restraints in 1 year. It was exceptional as I said. Was also one of the best jobs I ever had. I'm curious as to what area of the usa you are in? Would you be willing to say where you are from? Wishing you and your unit the very best with this process. Teh

Like all of nursing, it depends on many factors - the patients, the # of staff, the milieu. Generaly there is no heavy lifting in psych. BUT, depending on which age range you work with, there are restraints. We still have many on the adolescent units and children's unit. Even though everyone is trying to cut down on the # of restraints, sometimes there just is nowhere else to go with a particular client to get him/her under control. Some places, will let you be primarily the med nurse and all you would have to do is prepare any meds ordered and then give either PO or IM while the support team is holding the person down, or sometimes after they have the person in restraints. So it can vary from day to day, as every nursing position does. Some days we go home in tears, some days laughing, some days just a little down and some days feeling like we have "saved" someone. So there is qute a mix. Hope this helps. I know a woman who has MS and has successfully kept a full time psych position for the last 15 years. She works out keeps in shape and takes her meds. So there is hope. Good luck, Teh

Thanks Chatsdale for your reply. I have checked my license on the web Board of Nursing and it states no actions taken since 1996. (think they must do this in 10 year increments, as I've never had any action taken against my license. I have documented everything, sent a letter to the CEO stating my side, now sending a letter to the Med Director of the Hospital as he is sometimes out of the loop with lower mgmt. I'm asking him to stop this denial of benefits. Don't know if it will help or not, but at least I am trying to stay withing appropriate channels. God knows I'ld just as soon go down there and beat them all silly until they tell the truth!!!!! (manner of speaking only:saint: ). Teh

just an addendum from above, I was not fired from that job. I knew enough to quit and quit quickly.:)

I so agree with Tony. Years ago I had a similar experience and from then on did not put it on my resume. Thankfully it was also at the very beginning of my career and therefore simply appeared that I had taken the summer off before applying for a job. Teh

Hi It's Teh again, I have applied for Unemployment since the beginning of Feb. due to being fired for "abandonment" (have explained in an earlier post all aboout this and it is NOT true). The "powers that be have now hired J J Assoc. to fight my getting the unemployment benefits. My question is (I don't think this is a legal question). If a DON accusses an RN of abandonment of a unit, is she not obliged under some law/guideline to report this to the board of registra of nursing? This has not been done. I have checked. So how can they continue to have this in my record and deny me benefits for it.????? I'm at my wit's end. We live (like a lot of people) paycheck to paycheck), I can't fathom how to pay bills without the help of the unemployment for the past 3.5 weeks. If I fought this, do you think I would put my license in jeopardy? I guess if they are willing to lie about why I was fired then they would lie to the Board also. So I just don't know what to do. Can anyone give me any advise??? Some say "leave it alone", others say "fight it". I really can't afford an attorney (one said a 700 dollar retaianer just to start. I'm getting so depressed and paranoid over this. On the bright side, I interviewed for a home health psych group and it looks like they likekd me so I should know in a week or so if I have it. Many prayers to all of you who have helped so much in the past.. Thanks so much, Teh