Update on "demotion"

Nurses General Nursing

Published

So a few weeks ago, after getting the best job evaluation I have ever had in my life, I was told my direct supervisor that she was taking me off of charge nruse duty because some of my "coworkers" made generic complaints that I was "intimidating" and descibed me as Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. No specifics were given (of course) and no names were given (certainly!). When asked "why arent you charging" by my coworkers, I decided to be honest. I said that I was removed from the position temporarily because there had been some complaints. This was met with wide eyed innocence and "shock"...and the inevitiable "Oh my gosh, how could they complain about you?? Do you know who did it?" I replied, "No, I dont. I wish I did, though, so I could apoligize and make things right."

The whole issue has somewhat died down. The other night, the backup charge called in sick....and guess who got "administrative approval" to charge? Me. We had a good night and I promptly clocked out at the end of my shift and went home and forgot about it.

The next night, I get an email from my supervisor asking me to precept a new graduate nurse. I replied that I would if she really wanted me to, but I thought that at this point in time, it would be better if someone else did (I specifically suggested my coworker who has been acting as back up charge for the last few weeks.) She replied, and I quote, that she thought "that would be a good idea, as I am anxious to get you back in the charge nurse role at the end of the schedule."

*PULLING MY HAIR OUT*

What the heck???? I so do NOT know what to make of this!!! The difference between WHAT I said, compared to what I WANTED to say are so different!!!! For starters, your back up charge called in sick and you need me???? Too bad! You should have thought about that before you slapped my hands and demoted me!! You want me to precept? Uh....what PLANET are you on? Im intimidating and tempermental REMEMBER? How can I precept when I am sooooo evil!

Someone, anyone....explain to me what is going through her head. I feel like I am embroiled in a great big mind game, and I cant stand it.

You have an incompetent manager who acts rashly and without fact. He made a decision solely based on what others said and now he's attempting to back-track.

"Calling him out" will only exacerbate the situation and annoy him. Telling him "too bad" and not charging because he demoted you will also not help your cause one bit. It would be self-righteous and accomplish nothing and would be perceived that you're not a team player and you're willing to punish him for his mistake. I would never recommend doing that to someone with the power to terminate you unless you're already looking for a new job.

The good news is he now realizes you're the best he has. It was a dumb move by someone who shouldn't be where he is. I'd honestly chalk it up to stupidity and let it go. :)

I believe in personal responsibility. You are owed and explanation of why your manager used such poor judgement by just going on what others said instead of investigating on her own. She will do this again, maybe not to you, but to someone else. Part of the problem is that as nurses, we don't always stand up and demand the respect we deserve.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree with MaxAttack. It may simply be that your manager heard some complaints and took them seriously -- and acted prematurely in demoting you. Now that he/she has more information and realizes the mistake, he/she is trying to correct the situation by re-promoting you. You have a couple of options:

1. Act out all of your frustration and anger publically and probably shoot your career in the foot in the process. Get all huffy, throw a temper tantrum, say things that close the door on ever a positive relationship with that manager (and that hospital) ever again.

2. Just go about your life quietly ... either staying at your current job or leaving ... and keep this experience buried down deep inside ... festering and fueling a bitterness in you towards managers and coworkers in general

3. Set up an appointment with your manager with an open mind -- and give him/her a chance to work things out with you. Open the door and provide your manager the opportunity to explain (maybe apologize) and improve your relationship. The meeting may not fulfill your fantasy of a perfect resolution, but it could very well move the situation a step forward and provide a foundation for you and your manager to build a new and improved relationship.

It sounds as if your manager handled the situation poorly. But handling the situation poorly now won't help you. Two wrongs will not make a righ here. I recommend Option #3. Try to get a true resolution of the situation by being magnanomous and giving your manager a chance to improve things between the 2 of you.

Long term relationships have their ups and downs. Friends, lovers, family members, and professional colleagues, etc. hit bumps in the road together. Such long term relationships require that each person offer a little forgiveness and a second chance to the other person in order to keep the relationship going. Meet with the manager with a positive attitude and try to patch things up. Then give it a little time for the wounds to heal.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Your manager is trying to backpedal and praying you just go with the flow. I would not be charge or precept again without a long talk with your managr about how all this went down. It was handled poorly and it needs the rectified for the future. Your manager needs to not bow to others like she did this time and make another mistake in the process. As Jolie says you asked good questions and deserve an answer. Prepare for the meeting and be honest. Knowing where you stand and how things will happen in the future is an important question. If after this convo you don't feel like returning to charge again say so in a professional manner. You aren't obligated to do so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Part of the problem here, as I see it, is that your manager has failed miserably in practicing what is commonly known as "the golden rule" or simply a do unto others type thing. Would your manager like to be be treated this way? My bet is that she would not.

I've been a supervisor, and I never took the words of others against someone else as the gospel truth just because. Supervisors/managers are held to a higher standard when dealing with employees. It is essential to set a good example and show others that one is approachable and fair when dealing with complaints, concerns, what have you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I thought you were looking for a new job??

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have an interview at another hospital next week....its for a PRN position, less pay, and a longer distance to drive. The other position is with an agency. While I am not "actively" pursuing another job, I am trying to keep my options open "just in case."

Im trying really hard, at this point, to go with the flow. I truly appreciate the input and support from everyone here. Another option that was placed in fromt of me came from one of the house supervisors...he recommended that I put in for a tranfer to ICU in a few months, when this all dies down. He even said he would put in a recommendation for me.

I am just bewildered by the whole incident.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What is the hourly pay bump for charge or precepting at your facilities? I ask this because I know my turn will be coming for charge and precepting in the next few months and if it is negligible, I may turn it down.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

At our hospital, charge gets an extra dollar an hour, and we have to take up to 6 patients. My circumtance was a little different though...I was working at a sister hospital while our hospital was closed. They were trying to get me to stay there permanently as fulltime charge. When my director found out, she told me that when our hospital reopened, she wanted to put me as full time charge there....I told her I was considering staying at the sister hospital. After negotiations, I ended up getting almost 2$/hour more by committing to full time charge at our regular hospital.

While precepting, we get one dollar for every hour we precept. The last nurse I precepted was already an LVN. She got 12 weeks of training with me. After taxes, it amounted to about 250$. I enjoy teaching....however, if it a new grad, it doesnt come close to enough compensation, IMO.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

The next night, I get an email from my supervisor asking me to precept a new graduate nurse. I replied that I would if she really wanted me to, but I thought that at this point in time, it would be better if someone else did (I specifically suggested my coworker who has been acting as back up charge for the last few weeks.) She replied, and I quote, that she thought "that would be a good idea, as I am anxious to get you back in the charge nurse role at the end of the schedule."

*PULLING MY HAIR OUT*

What the heck???? I so do NOT know what to make of this!!! The difference between WHAT I said, compared to what I WANTED to say are so different!!!! For starters, your back up charge called in sick and you need me???? Too bad! You should have thought about that before you slapped my hands and demoted me!! You want me to precept? Uh....what PLANET are you on? Im intimidating and tempermental REMEMBER? How can I precept when I am sooooo evil!

Someone, anyone....explain to me what is going through her head. I feel like I am embroiled in a great big mind game, and I cant stand it.

It is a mind game and you will not win.

I have to say that I have been there, and it did not stop until I quit the facility and moved on. One year I am complimented on a certain behavior, and the next censured on THE EXACT same behavior. I still have the paperwork to prove it. The reason - some staffers liked me and others didn't. But admitted the manager played the exact same game with several other staffers.

But the main episode.

I got pulled off night shift/ charge, because I by accident poured some water in a cup of pills, she thought it was "bizarre behavior. And to do this I was put on "probation" on days. Until she was "sure" that I could handle night shift. Incidently, one of her day chemo nurses needed surgery and was going to be off for 6 weeks - can you guess how many weeks my "probation" was going to be?

Well, it back fired. They tried to float me, where upon I calmly and sweetly explained that per terms of "probation", I could not be floated. She threatened to send me home if I didn't float - I said that would be fine, send me home. She ended having to leave me on , and float one of her pets to the other unit.

I handed the holiday schedules back to her. You see, I had been helping voluntarily negotiate the self scheduling, and the annual scheduling hell known as the holiday schedule. When she asked why?, I explained that I have no business handling scheduling when I wasn't working that shift and might not even be still employed by the holidays, much less on that shift. And since she was so worried about the pressure on me and it wasn't my job anyway, she could have it.

To boot the night shift nurses hated charge because they hated rounding with the MDs, and I tended to handle the MDs better. Several of them made loud comments about pouring water into everyone's pill cups, so that they too could get banished to day shift and not permitted to charge.

Needless to say, I had a very short probation. I was moved back to nights and charge. But I also starting looking elsewhere.

I learned that my manager was a major user and manipulator and that I was a valuable staff member. And that my services might be better valued elsewhere and they were.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment