Fired from my med/surg job after almost 3 years

[gettingbsn2msn]

I was on vacation last week and came back to work my shift at the hospital 7p-7a on Sunday night. I was informed Sunday afternoon that I had been suspended and not to come into work. I was told that I needed to come to the hospital at that moment and talk with the nurse manager and director. I came in the following morning and waited almost 4 hours to see the director. When I finally walked into his office (I got tired of waiting) I was told he was too busy and I needed to see the nurse manager. I then went to the nurse manager office where I was told that I needed to go to HR. I asked "are you firing me?" She said that she, in good conscience could not allow me to come back to work.

I have excellent people skills, have never been late and sick one time (brought in a doctor note). I have (what I believe) excellent assessment skills as well. The floor I worked on is absolute chaos. I have managed quite well. This was my first nursing job but I am middle aged so this was by no means my only job. Here is why I was let go: We are to do assessments on each patient every 8 hours. That meant that I SHOULD have come in at 7pm and given my meds and sat around (like most others). However I always did my assessments between 7-10 because if something happened to the patient I would have the assessment completed. Anyway I was told that my downfall was I should have copied and pasted the assessment into the 11p-7a timeframe or have done it at that time. THEY FIRED ME FOR THIS. I had done this previously on occassion. I explained that the night said occurance took place I had 2 admissions and a women who thought she was having a heart attack. I also did not take a dinner break in over 12 hours.

I have been upset for days. They told me to write a resignation letter and it will not look so bad. I can also use them for references. I also made NO MONEY and the floor is always short. I am so hurt by this. I worked very well with the nurses on that floor. I welcomed new grads with open arms. The nurse manager even told me "everybody loves you". It has broken my heart and I am trying not to let it break my spirit as well. I have cried for days over this. I miss my coworkers. I miss my patients. I miss the culture. Please someone write me some words of wisdom to help me get over this. My heart is breaking right now.

I need to turn in my letter this week but I dread going to the floor to see everyone. She promised that she would say I resigned so that no one would know I was fired.

I am so worried that I will not find another job now due to the economy. Sorry this is scattered but I have been upset for days. Thank you for your kindness in reading this.

[Chin up]

It is sad, nursing is dangerous when on vacation. I have worked in places, that fire nurses, when they return from vacation. At one place, I was told soon after orientation by the staff, never take a vacation, you will find you do not have a job, when you come back. They went on, they start talking about you and since you are not in the building, you are unable to defend yourself, and soon look guilty...unfair, but it happens.

Anyway, I am sorry. You have experienced an injustice and it hurts, a lot. This pain, will last a long time, but you must go through it. Nothing but a correction, will make it go away. Only time. That time is different for everyone, but I can honestly say, it takes a long time. And even then, you will never forget it. All the gimmicks in the world, will not take it away. To be blindsided like that, causes much grief. Surround yourself with loved ones to get you through this. I really feel for you right now.

There is much wisdom in the above post, but it is probably too much to handle right now. So please sit down with an attorney, to do the work for you. I will say, do not resign. They are Not doing you a favor. Just think, they fire you unjustly, but want to do something nice? There is no nice, in business, period. They only do, what is expedient for them. If you already signed a letter of resignation, explain to unemployment, it was under duress. This will nullify it immediately. It was clearly a firing, a force resignation or whatever you want to call it. You are due, unemployment wages and should go forward. Do not worry about future references right now. You are in survival mode and need to take on today, only. Good luck, we are with you, you can get through this and will. Peace!

[Chin up]

There is NO benefit to you in writing a letter of resignation. It would only serve to harm you.

File for unemployment and be prepared for your claim to be denied and be prepared to appeal the denial. Hopefully you will find another position sooner than later, because if unemployment is as meager in your state as it is in Louisiana ($247 per week and less than that in Mississippi), your days unemployed will be difficult.

The main thing I want so desperately to impart to you is this: Damn good nurses get fired EVERYDAY for NO good reason. Innumerable false "reasons" are given for firing them. The actual reasons have to do with baser aspects of human nature, such as supervisors who feel threatened by competent employees. Organizations that cultivate dishonest atmosphere where cutting corners and falsifying records are threatened by employees who demonstrate integrity.

It is a wretched thing to be fired for no GOOD reason from a job you have enjoyed and done well. The wretchedness is compounded by the super difficult economic problems our country is facing.

Keep your head up and carry yourself with pride and dignity. Be prepared for people to be make unflattering assumptions about you solely on the basis of your having been fired. Be prepared to be rejected for employment because you have been fired. Keep in mind that the organizations that reject you are probably not organizations that you really want to work for anyway. Keep your head up.

This is not a fun or happy situation to experience. I know you must be fiercely disappointed right now. Disappointment can weigh so heavily that it feels like failure. It is not failure.

As trite as it sounds, this can be a time for tremendous personal growth. You can find yourself utterly devastated and you can stay defeated and distraught OR you can pause and try to see just what you can learn from this situation. All you can do is all you can do. You can do nothing more. What's meant to be will be. Things will work out for you.

Yes, this is the voice of experience talking to you.

Ruthfarmer: this is excellent advice and encouragement! I hope the OP listens to your wise words. Thanks for writing this!

[sistasoul]

This is absolutely horrible. I feel very bad for you. It sounds like the hospital was looking for any excuse to cut down on staff. I have never heard of a profession that was so underhanded. Its as if employers don't care how they wound people's spirits. I don't know how some people live with themselves. Not copying forward on an assessment is not something one should be fired for.

This behavior is appaling and what goes around comes around.

[Ruthfarmer]

It is sad, nursing is dangerous when on vacation. I have worked in places, that fire nurses, when they return from vacation. At one place, I was told soon after orientation by the staff, never take a vacation, you will find you do not have a job, when you come back. They went on, they start talking about you and since you are not in the building, you are unable to defend yourself, and soon look guilty...unfair, but it happens.

I have seen this termination upon return from vacation (or days off) phenomenon, also. If they were compelled to fire a person, they could do it before the person goes on vacation and spends money they will be needing to live on while unemployed! But, that would be too much to expect.

[KeechieSan]

oops, wrong thread

[thirdborn333]

i agree with the other posters, i absolutely would not submit a letter of resignation. human resources will show that letter to the employment security commission, and your claim for unemployment benefits will be denied!!! if they're claiming that they'll give you a good reference for future employers then they'll do that whether you receive unemployment or not. the employers seeking references will speak to your direct clinical supervisor, or nurse manager, not human resources who handle unemployment claims. so, just make a wise decision!!!

[NP_student]

What a horribly unfair situation. That sucks. Sometimes I don't understand this profession. Nurses (including mgmt) can be horrible to one another.

Personally, I would rather submit my letter of resignation. If you are fired, you will have to state "yes" to the question "have you ever been fired?" on future job applications. That could affect you for many years. It will not be difficult to find another job, so there is really no reason to collect unemployment.

[gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN]

I am the OP of this thread. Thank you very much to everyone who posted and helped me get through this. I am possibly looking at registry or a travel assignment. I really do not want to get sucked back in to hospital politics again. Yes, I loved my coworkers but I cannot put myself into a position where if I loose my job, then I do not socialize with my nurse friends anymore. I would suggest people think about this. Loosing your job is bad enough but loosing your support system is horrible. Side note: I moved here for this job so really they were the only people I knew well. Don't ever do this to yourself! Blessings to everyone!

[exnavygirl-RN]

This seems to be happening a lot lately...and to awesome nurses. It's scary. I'm so sorry this is happening to you.

[gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN]

For the record, I did apply for unemployment benefits.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I am the OP of this thread. Thank you very much to everyone who posted and helped me get through this. I am possibly looking at registry or a travel assignment. I really do not want to get sucked back in to hospital politics again. Yes, I loved my coworkers but I cannot put myself into a position where if I loose my job, then I do not socialize with my nurse friends anymore. I would suggest people think about this. Loosing your job is bad enough but loosing your support system is horrible. Side note: I moved here for this job so really they were the only people I knew well. Don't ever do this to yourself! Blessings to everyone!

Get your apps to the travel companies as SOON AS YOU CAN. They are heavily recruiting right now. I had 3 calls just yesterday from different companies wanting me to return to the travel business. If you complete them NOW, you will serve two purposes:

1. You will be putting yourself to work by completing these applications (it can be tedious) and feel that you are doing SOMETHING instead of becoming more and more depressed/angry/sad.

2. You will be ahead of the game and "sticking it to the Man" (sorry, I just finished watching School of Rock) by getting your applications finished and turned in before that sorry, spineless, two-faced Nurse Manager realizes that you aren't going to be sitting at home wringing your hands and writing draft after draft of the resignation letter that she so desperately wants you to turn in.

List the human resources number instead of your supervisor's number on your applications. I would be willing to bet that if the hospital is run as badly as it seems to all of us, they won't have any idea what is going. Chances are your supervisor is awaiting your resignation letter before alerting the HR department.

Jump on those apps now!

Keep your head held high. You did NOTHING to warrant being fired.

[kcmylorn]

I too have got numerous calls ( and e-mails) from travel agencies want me to come back for travel assignments.(Favorite, onward, on assignment, progressive, american mobile) anyone know what's up with this?