How much trouble am I ? Scale: 1 to super fired

Nurses Relations

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Soo quick back story- I work 2 casual jobs one I love and a bedside one that pays for childcare, keeps my skills up, and gives me insite for my side gig nursing lobbying/activism ( Not joking, this is my true true passion!)

I am an experienced critical care nurse +3 years, came from an academic medical center..recently I started working at communitry hospital

The floor is not what Im use to, staffing is junk, 6 to 1, no CNAs, no unit clerk, and just 2-3 nurses. The doctors have you do everything for them (orders, consults, med recs, everything, etc ) and they very are disrepsectful.

Soooo a few days ago, Im at work, everyone was as mean as a snake. I got called stupid 5 times by 3 different doctors ( for not consulting fast enough, not knowing a patient's 5 year medical history blah blah blah). My patients and families were upset about various things out of my control- nursing home placement, garbage, poor prognosis etc.

I had 7 patients no CNA no clerk.

So I'm trying to get this patient a tray before it's too late and the computer deleted her. I made some calls and kept getting transfered around and around to different departments, until I reach a very mean person on the other end who would not listen to my question, I literally couldn't get a word out.

The person on the other end did not introduce themselves, and just kept telling me you need to call someone else over and over and over again. THATS IT, no other words.

So after a day of harrassment I finally decided to stick up for myself- I said:

"Ok I'll try elsewhere but can you take that tone out of your voice"

Person on the other end? A nursing director.

She of course got really really really angry. Stunned- I said Im sorry but you were really mean.

Once I hung up the phone, another nurse said " Oh her, she always sounds like that, but she's a director- I guess the truth hurt her feelings"

I immediately called back the administrator/house supervisor and explained I thought I was talking to a peer.

Then I called the director: apologized and said I was mortified/embarrassed and thought she was a peer and that I would never speak that way to a director, however I did feel attacked.

She of course then tore me apart, telling me I should be embarrassed and to "watch it."

who did I think I was.

I then called my manager, explained the situation, and asked if I was fired. She said yeah ***** does sound like that, thats just her personality. I asked if I was fired- she said no, just be more careful.

But for real, am I fired? I left feeling awful- and of course I keep going over my work from the day and thinking about how they can pluck apart my charting and fire me for something I missed or did.

What to do next? Resign cause she is going to be out for me? Just keep quiet and stay until 3 am charting to be perfect? Go to HR for lateral violence?

I don't need this job at all but I have quit another job previously for poor working conditions ( previous post: Pregnant and harrassed by management ). and I don't really want to make it a habit. I am also starting to think nursing is this way at 90% of places.

Oh my record- clean, no write ups. No previous occurances, at any hospital.

ickc22

39 Posts

Specializes in ER.

Who cares. You should find a new job, that place sounds like a pit.

dudette10, MSN, RN

3,530 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

What a hell-hole to work in. If you end up being fired, thank your lucky stars. Why in the world would you put up with an environment like that?

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

If you have to go around asking if you are fired, then maybe you should just find another job.

I'd say you did nothing wrong. Your boss says you're not fired, so you're not fired. I'd let it go.

I would quit!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN

22 Articles; 9,987 Posts

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I'd be out of there in a New York minute. Best to 'git while the gittin's good".

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Do you even want to work there anymore?

OrganizedChaos, LVN

1 Article; 6,883 Posts

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

If you don't need to work there why stay!!! Get out!! Sounds like you're not the only one there who is miserable.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN

1 Article; 4,094 Posts

Specializes in Oncology.

I doubt you're fired. I once totally bad mouthed our CEO to his face and then apologized when I realized how bad it sounded. He said, "You can't get very far in life being easily offended."

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

GOOD FOR YOU, standing up for yourself!! And shame on that director, thinking her behavior is okay. She owes more of an apology than you did.

That said, I agree with the PPs. Time to get the heck outta Dodge.

Nibbles1

556 Posts

I would be begging to get fired. I once told a doctor that if he didn't want to get 0300 phone calls he should have went into dermatology. He hung up on me. I called right back and said I'll keep calling until I get an answer. I became his favorite nurse after that.

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