pt complaint/called to office

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

Keep in mind that if you need unemployment insurance, it will not be available if you submit a written notice of resignation. Good luck to you, and I hope that the best possible outcome arises out of this situation.

AggieNurse99, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

Texas, employment at will. Thanks though. Already with 2 other jobs PRN, so more work at other places.

skylark, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

I'm guessing that as you were the one to escalate this, you know what it is about.

Prepare yourself for questions, and give honest answers.

Going in with a resignation letter seems a little defeatist, but then I don't know the situation.

Figure out what YOU want, whether its to resolve this, learn from it, move on, etc, and aim for that outcome. There will be something postive here.

And let us know . . . .

ronray · Jul 21, 2011

You are always going to find family members who are ungretafull. They will complain about you, but try to do your job right and know that you covever yourself. Do not talk back to them, they can get you real mad. Yesterday one hang-up the phone on me and said she was going to talk to the big boss. I was so gratefull she hang-up I did not have a chance to say nothing to her. When they're acting up just give a smile.

roser13, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

Personally, I would make any decisions in the heat of the moment. I wouldn't resign, I wouldn't sign anything and I would not accept any pressure to take any immediate action.

Even if they say "you can be terminated or you can resign," you should require at least 24 hours to contemplate your actions.

skylark, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

Ditto that.

i had a complaint 3 weeks ago, from the boyfriend of a patient with hyperemesis. I was trying to get an IV line in to give flluids and antiemetics, and she was moving around arguing with him. He got mad that I asked her to keep still, and could not understand that she needed the IV meds to stop the nausea, kept demanding that I DO SOMETHING.

In the end he took my name and reported me for siting an IV line INSTEAD of helping her.

I give up : )

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

As we don't know the situation, do you really think resigning is the answer? If I resigned everytime a patient's parent complained I would have had a multitude of jobs. People complain, esp in healthcare and we see it a lot in OB and NICU.

The only thing you can do is go in, be honest and straightforth.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

So I'm a nervous wreck. I had a patient complaint about me that I escalated to management. Now I've been told not to work, but come to a meeting today. I've got a letters of resignation written for 'effective immediately' and 2 weeks notice, just to be prepared. Ugh! I think even if not asked for I'm turning one in, this place is way too stressful! Asking for thoughts for strength and to comport myself appropriately. Thanks!

....here is some advice.

I would NEVER be "required" by my employer to turn in a letter of resignation.

Why? Because first, they cannot require you to quit. They can fire you, but they cannot require you to quit. They don't need anything in writing from you if they want to get rid of you.

It is to THEIR benefit, not yours, for you to quit. You cannot collect unemployment...if you don't need the money, then all is well, but if you do, then resigning is not the way to go.

People say, "But that will be on my record!".

If you do some research online, employers care very, very little about if a competitor gets a quality employee or not, so unless you were fired for failing a drug test, etc..they are very unlikely to share anything more than your dates of employment. Yes, they can "technically and legally" say you were involuntarily terminated, but that also sets them up with having to PROVE that allegation if you ever sue them if you didn't think the termination was warranted.

If they got nasty about it, I would flat out tell them: If you want to fire me, then fire me, but I am not handing you ANYTHING in writing nor am I SIGNING anything and I fully plan to file for unemployment benefits if terminated.

netglow, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

As a former business owner, I like to run my own show. I have form letters for just about everything, even nursing. It all depends on the OPs situation, I am sure she will do what is the best for her.

Remember, especially for business that might seem kind of large, hospice and home health, but don't have educated folks in the office, HR is not "real", you can run into monkey business. You have to have yourself well documented. I do email and make sure there is a good "back and forth" conversation going on. I print the entire thing. It helps to allow the "thread" to be in one document so the older conversations keep being copied when replied to when you do finally print the entire email conversation out to keep for permanent record. I think it's a good idea for legal purposes. And, if you feel you need to "explain" why your former employer won't return calls... bad press for them too, and all of their own doing. These days lots of people like to say they "never got the email" or "never got the phone message" or "never got the text". Well, hmmmm. You've got proof that they were even going to give you a reference. I print out every thing that is sent, even if it is not returned, cc yourself.

merlee · Jul 21, 2011

Wait until you hear them out, and then state your case. Unless you've done something really terrible you will probably not get fired.

Do not quit. And DO NOT SIGN anything. If they insist you sign something, smile sweetly - very sweetly - and ask for a copy to take to your lawyer. They won't expect that. If you are fired, tell them nothing. Then go directly to the unemployment office. And if you have a lawyer, call your lawyer!

Best wishes!

AggieNurse99, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2011

Went much different (better) than I thought. I'm going to think on things for a few days, but I'm leaning towards leaving med-surg. Thanks everyone. Was actually very very impressed with management.