The long term effects of being fired

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been fired once in my career. And it really hurt me in alot of ways. It has been some months, since the occurence, but I still get sad. Anyone else, with some long term effects of being fired???:crying2:

Specializes in med/surg.
I have been fired once in my career. And it really hurt me in alot of ways. It has been some months, since the occurence, but I still get sad. Anyone else, with some long term effects of being fired???:crying2:

Poochee: and every other nurse on this thread. Do I ever feel for you.

Oracle said it so succinctly. A lot of nurses are getting fired. The corporations don't want to be found out.

I have been fired from 2 different facilities because I reported dangerous and abusive care, not to mention the first one I worked at for a year. A "psych warehouse." The administrator would not take seriously what I was telling him, even kept copies of the things I had written to him. So he didn't correct the problem, and as State law mandates, if they don't, you are mandated to report abuses to the State. I did this when he did not take care of the problems. I was fired. Labor board said it was not retaliatory, even though he was placed on the "National Watch List" for actual harm to patients.

I filed a lawsuit, the employment lawyer said he would take it as a contingency, that I was credible, that it would settle and wouldn't have to go to trial. When I went to see him, he said he was too busy and asked another inexperienced lawyer that needed clients to do it for him.

I have a history of depression which was controlled on Prozac. When I was fired, I went into a deep depression for about a year. Then I went to another facility as a nursing supervisor. I found that a patient who had COPD and was in respiratory failure, had not been checked on on that shift or even her vitals were not taken. I had to call 911 because her vitals were off the chart. The DON refused to answer my phone calls about what was going on with my unit. I called as mandated by the State if the facility did not correct the problem, to call the State. I was again fired. I called my lawyer and he screamed at me to "keep out of trouble." Catch 22? Several months later he called for my permission to dismiss him from the case because he wasn't making any money. Then told the court he wanted the case dismissed because I was a problem client.

He got himself released from the case, but I was served on 4 different court dates, I guess pertaining to the case and representing myself because the defendant demanded the interrogatories and discoveries I had given the lawyer that apparently he said he was getting permission for an extension for me to get a lawyer. Then the court ordered a sanction against me for $1220, and then said $1700 now, to be paid to the defendant in 15 days? For what? I can't get an answer from anyone. I am going to have to contact a public defender, but I understand they only take criminal cases.

I have pretty much recovered from the disability and wanted to get on with my life and not get another lawyer. I don't even know what was going on, the lawyers would tell me nothing except just to wait. Then all this happens. I have a letter from State that all the things I reported were validated and the facilities were fined. I said, "where is the retaliation law?" Again no answers.

So I thought, well, that tells patients in LTC that it's alright for corporations to abuse patients, not care for them and die, and then take all the Medicare/Medical for huge profits.

I couldn't believe it. I knew the Corporations were ripping off these patients and making money at it, but it is just like saying this is okay to take money from sick and defenseless people.

Then I was threatened by the lawyer that if I didn't do all these things and get a lawyer, if I lost the case, I would end up being fined thousands of dollars! What?

This has really done somethng to me. I am trying not to sink into that horrible depression. The first time I was fired it was so humiliating, all the staff showed up right before change of shift and proceeded to laugh and hug each other, play their IPODS. I was on disability for depression for a year after that. Then when I feel pretty well recovered, I was hired at another rehab and had to send the patient 911. No one would talk to me about what was happening so as mandated, I had to call the State and they sent me a letter validating the wrong doing and lack of care of the patients, but I was fired for doing my job as a nurse. As nursing supervisor, who probably saved the woman's life, I was fired and the facility was cited. But I am the criminal. Her nurse or the cna who did not take the vitals as part of her routine were not disciplined. They are still working there. So if the woman died, who was going to take the fall?

Me!

This has really done something to me. I feel horribly about all mankind, but I do know that I have good friends and good people around me. I don't like this feeling of knowing how the lust for money turns them into monsters.

Now ex-lawyers are portraying me as a nut, uncredible, because of my depression and firings. There is still that unchangeable, unmovable, unenlighted stigma against mental illness. I tried to tell them I was depressed, but not deranged or uncredible. I documented each time something happened. I followed the letter of the law, when the administration wouldn't listen to me, I called the State as I was required.

My reward for possibly saving a patient's life and trying to take care of my patients was now I am a criminal.

No one takes me serious. I have a history of depression, I am not psychotic, and or was stable until now, but I am treated like a leper. They automatically assign "crazy" to you if you have any mental conditions, or are depressed, and as I said, I was depressed, not psychotic. They just cavalierly throw around that you are crazy.

This is the thanks for trying to help heal the ill?

So, believe me, I know what each and every one of you is feeling.

But as poochy said in so many words, you are fired because they are hiding things. I developed a low esteem, then realized, They were the crazy ones. I was trying to take care of the sick.

I know this has been long and hope you eyes haven't glazed over, but just couldn't help myself. My therapist told me "it is traumatic getting fired," so God bless all of you.

Red

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I have never spoken about this with anyone apart from my family. It becomes one of those shameful secrets you keep. It feels like such an indictment on your character and work ethic that it can severely affect your self confidence.

It's good to know other people have shared in this and I would like to thank everyone for their input. It's good to know you are never alone in your feelings.

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Specializes in med/surg.
I have never spoken about this with anyone apart from my family. It becomes one of those shameful secrets you keep. It feels like such an indictment on your character and work ethic that it can severely affect your self confidence.

It's good to know other people have shared in this and I would like to thank everyone for their input. It's good to know you are never alone in your feelings.

Thank you for your reply and openess. Really, it does help. I have been to a few National Depression support groups, and it seems like being fired came up several times. Unfortunately, the subject of being fired is still shameful and depression is still shameful.

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Specializes in med/surg.
I was fired from a position once because I enforced the rules of the facility. It was a farce from beginning to end. Taught me a lot. I NEVER trust administration now.

Amen!

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Specializes in med/surg.
Years ago getting fired was an unusal experience for a nurse. Lately it seems to happen all the time. To me that does not say that quality of nurses has gone down hill. What I think has happened is that managment has become much more paranoid. You see, they have so much to hide and it is getting so much harder to hide it. I say to them, "go ahead and sacrifice the nurses in attempt to cover up your tricks, the piper will be at your door sooner or later to get paid". I wish I could gloat when I see one of you on the hot seat but I can't because it usually means someone got hurt.:oornt:
Oramar: I'm sorry, I posted my email to you on poochee. I'm not really rattled, am I? I wish I could see how it is getting harder for them to hide what they do. The last place I was fired, the staff killed a patient by carrying out a one time order for Coumadin for 23 days and when they finally observed she was having some problems, they sent her to the hospital where she died of a massive brain hemorrhage. Never did any INRs, doctor never followed up.
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Specializes in LTC.

At my last job i made the choice to leave. About 3 months before i was to graduate nursing school i was pulled into the managers office for my "evaluation". Mind you this person had only been my manager for about 2 months and had been a nurse that i have previously worked with. She promptly told me that i was a terrible aide, that the nurses hated working with me, and that i would not be welcome on that floor as a nurse, or any where else in the building. She then told me about all the complaints that had been made against me. I will admit that i walked out crushed and waited till i got out to my car to break down and cry. I had always felt that i did a good job, and that i interacted well with my peers and patients. It wasnt until i left with my tail between my knees and found another job that i really began to think. 1. If my co-workers had hated me that much, where were all the supposed write ups/complaints, i had never seen nor signed them. 2. If i had that many complaints from my patients, why wasnt i given the warnings to shape up or be shipped out. 3. And the most important, of the almost 7 years i worked there, 5 out of 6 evaluations had been excellent, hers was the only poor one. It has taken me almost a year to come to terms with the hurt and the massive blow to my self esteem that this caused, but i am now finally seeing things for what they were, sour grapes for only God knows what reason.

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RedZeppelinRN, that was alot you were subjected to you, for doing the right thing, at a cost that affected you, in many of ways. But, I commend you. Just imagine, the power nurses would have, to make nursing what it is supposed to be, if every single nurse, could feel free to wholly advocate for patients. We could enforce staffing ratio laws, we could affect healthcare in so may ways. I like your, fight mentality, at least, you fought for what is right. The way you were treated and labeled, is not your fault, or a reflection of you, but, shows the sickness nursing itself suffers. Keep your head up, good always wins out, in the end.

With the heart and courage you have displayed, maybe all that you have been through signals, that you should be in a job position, to advocate for change and patients rights. I would have you as my nurse, any day.

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Specializes in ED.

My husband has been fired and its been since october. Not that its not hard on us girls but you guys really take it hard. Depression is such a bear to deal with when fired.

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Thank you to Poochie for this post. I lost my job 33 days ago and am still crushed. I'm trying to talk myself into applying for jobs this week. I'm really nervous about it, I'm afraid that during every interview they will ask me why I left my last job, find out I was terminated and I will never get another nursing job. I never harmed a patient, probably helped more than anything but it is all policital BS. Sometimes I wonder if the DON just likes to take a nurse and make an example out of them with ocassional firings. I also hope that every superior that fires a somebody without GOOD reason gets to feel what it is like for themselves at some point. Especially considering all the rude, unprofessional comments they feel it is necessary to make during that horrible discussion.

I feel for all of you that have been through this. RedZepplin, what you went through, unbelievable!!! I hope you heal completely from your terrible ordeal.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their feelings. I was beginning to wonder why I was taking this situation unusually hard. I see that now I am probably reacting in a normal fashion. It is truly very difficult being a nurse.

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Specializes in med/surg.
At my last job i made the choice to leave. About 3 months before i was to graduate nursing school i was pulled into the managers office for my "evaluation". Mind you this person had only been my manager for about 2 months and had been a nurse that i have previously worked with. She promptly told me that i was a terrible aide, that the nurses hated working with me, and that i would not be welcome on that floor as a nurse, or any where else in the building. She then told me about all the complaints that had been made against me. I will admit that i walked out crushed and waited till i got out to my car to break down and cry. I had always felt that i did a good job, and that i interacted well with my peers and patients. It wasnt until i left with my tail between my knees and found another job that i really began to think. 1. If my co-workers had hated me that much, where were all the supposed write ups/complaints, i had never seen nor signed them. 2. If i had that many complaints from my patients, why wasnt i given the warnings to shape up or be shipped out. 3. And the most important, of the almost 7 years i worked there, 5 out of 6 evaluations had been excellent, hers was the only poor one. It has taken me almost a year to come to terms with the hurt and the massive blow to my self esteem that this caused, but i am now finally seeing things for what they were, sour grapes for only God knows what reason.

What I don't understand why they have to doing everything they can to hurt you, grind you into the ground, destroy you. Why do they have to be so cruel? I don't understand it. I know all of you feel as I do. If you have hurt someone inadvertently, or when you were angry, don't you always feel guilty about it? What's with cruelty?

Red

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Specializes in med/surg.
At my last job i made the choice to leave. About 3 months before i was to graduate nursing school i was pulled into the managers office for my "evaluation". Mind you this person had only been my manager for about 2 months and had been a nurse that i have previously worked with. She promptly told me that i was a terrible aide, that the nurses hated working with me, and that i would not be welcome on that floor as a nurse, or any where else in the building. She then told me about all the complaints that had been made against me. I will admit that i walked out crushed and waited till i got out to my car to break down and cry. I had always felt that i did a good job, and that i interacted well with my peers and patients. It wasnt until i left with my tail between my knees and found another job that i really began to think. 1. If my co-workers had hated me that much, where were all the supposed write ups/complaints, i had never seen nor signed them. 2. If i had that many complaints from my patients, why wasnt i given the warnings to shape up or be shipped out. 3. And the most important, of the almost 7 years i worked there, 5 out of 6 evaluations had been excellent, hers was the only poor one. It has taken me almost a year to come to terms with the hurt and the massive blow to my self esteem that this caused, but i am now finally seeing things for what they were, sour grapes for only God knows what reason.

All I can say is, I don't understand it. I am older and my best friend is a nurse, same age. She said, "we are a dying breed." She gets notes of thanks from her patients all the time. She is an OB nurse, and I am not saying her job is easy, but it is not like some of the other jobs. She has been there many years so has a bond with all the other old timers.

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Specializes in med/surg.
Thank you to Poochie for this post. I lost my job 33 days ago and am still crushed. I'm trying to talk myself into applying for jobs this week. I'm really nervous about it, I'm afraid that during every interview they will ask me why I left my last job, find out I was terminated and I will never get another nursing job. I never harmed a patient, probably helped more than anything but it is all policital BS. Sometimes I wonder if the DON just likes to take a nurse and make an example out of them with ocassional firings. I also hope that every superior that fires a somebody without GOOD reason gets to feel what it is like for themselves at some point. Especially considering all the rude, unprofessional comments they feel it is necessary to make during that horrible discussion.

I feel for all of you that have been through this. RedZepplin, what you went through, unbelievable!!! I hope you heal completely from your terrible ordeal.

Red

Thanks to everyone for sharing their feelings. I was beginning to wonder why I was taking this situation unusually hard. I see that now I am probably reacting in a normal fashion. It is truly very difficult being a nurse.

Even with my dim view of mankind at this time, see I told you there are good people around. Thank you so much for your very kind remarks. But it is funny, that when things like this happen, you think you are the only "outcast" in the whole world. But that's not true, is it?

Red

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