suspension for hostility

[nightengalegoddess]

I am more seeking info about anyone who has been accused of creating a hostile work environment. After an RN has actually created a whistlblowing situation; in which there was truth, in which HR has made vast efforts to correct...has anyone been suspended or disciplined for some other small complaint not associated with patient care? How does one go about politicaly when one accusation of hostility is reported? No cuss words said, just a sentence with voice mildly raised expressing a truth about unsafe and daily performance issues to a CNL. It was the wrong place, the wrong time, in front of the wrong people...and I am suspended now pending 'investigation'.....which means that they can fire me for creating a hostile work place. Please tell me more about these types of situations, experiences anyone may have shared. I've been a bedside RN for a few years now, and still am surprised at how the system works; how dishonest and hypocritical the foundations of hospital appear. It seems to me, that if one has a good record of patient care, and exposes an upper associate for not fullfilling duties...the result causing a possible unsafe environment, that the the exposing of that person towards that person could be seen as hostile...of course! I know there is a correct way to go about complaints, but manager ignores a lot of complaints towards many....and enforces actions onto a few! I spend a lot of time cleaning up problems with the plan of care of my patients......if I were to report all these issues, I would be reporting every day! Help me maneuver this politic! Thank you. Please, no legal advice. Blessings and beautiful healing!

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

I've had a similar experience: blew the whistle on an unsafe practice, even got a thank you from one of the VPs. The manager (not a nurse BTW) was not supposed to know who was responsible but it probably wasn't hard to know it was me as i was vocal about other issues.

I was accused of sexual harassment, hostile work environment and unprofessional behavior. I got the union involved and the accusation was thrown out.

I stayed on the unit one more year to prove that they couldn't force me out, and then transferred out.

[nightengalegoddess]

Wow Nurse J22! Man. Oh Man. Wish we had a good union here...I'm afraid that would even get me more in trouble And Leelee2...thank you so much. I really appreciate it. That's all I can do now and keep my mouth shut forever more....just keep learning to adress things in writting without emotion in the future. Thanks everyone! Blessings!

[nightengalegoddess]

You may be very right gonzo1. Looking today even. Your cute little jokes about them may have been more true than they wanted anyone to know. Man. I love being a nurse too. I don't care how demented, demanding, or degrading the patients may be...they have a reason to be...they are infirm and often miserable! Now that I know co-workers can be just as bad without much reason....that is going to make things harder to manuver in the future. I guess I will always go to work with the knowledge that just because co-workers don't look sick from the outside, I need to have maybe more mercy and empathy for their inside, hidden sicknesses than I do for the patients. Wow.

[vald96]

i agree your behavior is not acceptable but no harm done to your patients,your management is entitled to investigate the whole issues.you can be suspended at the time of investigation,you can be written up,counselled,you have to go process of progressive discipline before they can really decide to discharge your employment.Did you happen to check you policies and procedure which i think they discuss with you at the time of your orientation.GOOD LUCK.....