Sad and confused

cursenurse · Jun 18, 2005

i don't understand-were you fired? and if so, why? why are you thinking of leaving nursing? please clarify.

pickledpepperRN · Jun 18, 2005

nursewendy2000:

Dishonesty is wrong. You are right. There must be a good facility where you can work. Or maybe find a private duty agency.

My first jon in nursing was as a certified nursing assistant at a nursing home. They were dishonest too, even forged my initials on charts. I quit and reported them to the Department of Health services. In your state it may be called the Public Health department or some other name. Whoever licenses the facility.

Every job after that has been better. I've been at my current job >25 years.

Patients need you.

PS: pintos are really good boiled with chopped onions, celery, and garlic with grated carrots. Add salt and pepper to taste. Bacon bits, ham hock, or smoked turkey thigh if you like.

OR add chili powder and canned diced tomatos. Use peppers instead of celery. Add meat or not as you like. Mmm beans are good even with a good paying nursing job!

PPS: Seriously keep us informed. I think you have a lot to offer.

medsurgnurse, RN · Jun 18, 2005

Do not get discouraged because of occurences at one facility. I gather this was a long term care enviroment. My theory is the keep the mules, so what is their not great, enthusiastic, or patient centered. If they are the kind of person who will stay in a mediocre job for the security. That is what the facilities want. they don't want the person who excells and rocks the boat. I've seen it happen more than once. Was this your first nursing job? If so then I asked really to really step back take a deep breath and realize that just because you were fired does make you a bad person or a bad nurse. I worked at different nursing jobs until I found the fit that was right for me. Good Luck.

www.allrecipes.com for those pinto beans recipes.

Liddle Noodnik · Jun 18, 2005

I started a new job a few months ago. The facility was as ok as I've seen...you know, a can of mixed nuts - I thought I fit right in and the day nurse I worked opposite to (she on weekdays and me on weekends) was really good....not over-reactionary but would do what needed to be done for the resident when needed. A few weeks ago, she was moved to another unit. The new day nurse was completely different....having read another post from today I guess you could say she's not 'acute care minded'. This last weekend was the worst...every CNA coming to me with observations of residents that have been ignored all week. After a 12 hour shift on Sunday that lasted 18 hours, I had had it! I put my notice in on Monday...my boss acted like she didn't care and that made me feel awful. I know the day nurse is well liked...she can do a 2 hour med pass in 45 minutes. I found a serious med error on Sunday and had to get it fixed....the day nurse tried to pin an 'error' on me back....when I proved that the day nurse was lying (we counted the medication) she completely ignored the facts. I pressed it and the DON flatly said, "I don't think you need to work a notice". I really thought I was being a good nurse, guys...but I feel terrible. I am sad and confused...I'm trying to get back to school this fall --non-nursing--I'm thinking of just going back to working at a convenience store or something...get food stamps for the kids and me to make up the difference. I guess I would just like to hear from you guys....pinto bean recipes would be nice also

Roll with it baby - :)

Seriously, you are good at your job! They know it. It threatens them.

You'll be fine! xo

Blackcat99 · Jun 18, 2005

Sorry to hear about your unfortunate experiences in LTC. I use to work in LTC and I was sad, depressed and confused most of the time. It was just one disaster after another. I feel great now that I don't work LTC anymore.Yes I will work anywhere now except LTC. I work in hospice now. I really enjoy it. :) Good luck.

nurse_wannabe · Jun 18, 2005

You absolutely did the right thing. I agree with medsurgnurse completely - they want someone complacent, not a boat-rocker with the patients' best interests in mind. It sounds like you are a great nurse. Please don't give up nursing, patients need nurses like you, especially in LTC. You will find a job where you are appreciated!

P.S. Around here convenience stores pay minimum wage, i.e. $5.15/hr. I hope you have LOTS of kids. :chuckle

nursemary9, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2005

Nursewendy

I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience.

Please don't give up nursing b/c you sound like you are a good, conscientious nurse. Just try a different facility. Maybe an acute setting instead of LTC.

Or maybe just another specialty.

Just please don't give up.

Let us know, OK

Mary Ann

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2005

Good luck to you in whatever you do.

I'd say good riddance to that place and try somewhere else before I'd resort to food stamps. Don't let a few trolls drag you down.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jun 18, 2005

You made waves for the pet and TPTB do not like waves of anykind. I would ask the DON how my "not" working my notice would affect my reference and my ability to collect unemployment benefits. You put up a red flag when you said this nurse could do a 2 hour med pass in 45 minutes. NO ONE is that good, expecially in LTC where some patients need extra help with meds.

Please take a couple of days to rest and think. Attempt to get a job at a place where you want to learn something, feel appreciated, and you are encouraged to do a good job. Nursing is demanding and stressful, but you seem to have been doing good until a new nurse, one who may not be as through as you, came on the scene. Please give quitting nursing some more thought before you get out of the career completely.

I think I would report this place to the state, you don't have to give your name, and they need a shake up.

WriteStuff · Jun 18, 2005

nursewendy.....I don't know how old you are, how much experience you've had in nursing so far, but I'll be 61 next month (God willing!), am a Registered Nurse, and have 34 years of experience under my stethescope. Twenty-eight years in acute care, and the last seven in LTC.

At the outset let me say this: what you have experienced is NOT the "exception", it is the rule. It is NOT "you", it is the current "mind set" of the healthcare industry at large. In particular, the LTC setting.

I have been in the profession long enough to see the health care industry transform from "patients before profits", to today's disastrous "profits before patients" mindset. What you experienced is part of the consequences of this shift. Once health care became "big business", instead of a caring industry, the numbers crunchers (administration and management) also saw you and me in a whole new light. Patients became "clients", and you and I became worker bees.

We are no longer valued for what we bring to the table (our education, our experience, our desire to care for others) - we are now devalued in the sense that when push comes to shove (to keep from hemorrhaging dollars), we're kicked to the curb, figuratively and literally. Management and administration does not, did not "listen" to you for the simple reason they would have had to "do" something about it and that costs time, money, and energy. These same management/administrative folks WANT the "deadwood" to remain on the job so they have scapegoat resources when the time comes. They are threatened by the good employee who sees the shortcomings and wants something done about it! None of what you went through was an exaggeration of your emotions.

It is a sad reality. The best thing you can do is pick your drooping feelings up off the floor, dust them off, do some objective thinking, cut your losses and move on. The one huge perk of nursing is you have so much to choose from. So, go for it!! And best of luck...

sbic56, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2005

nursewendy

I had a similar experience years ago when I first became an LPN. I pointed out some major deficiencies at a LTC place where I had worked...already having given my notice as that point, as you had...and they told me the same thing; that I did not have to work out my notice! I moved on, never had that type of problem again. But...that facility was closed by the state a few years later. They didn't want this boatrocker there either! I say you should feel good about being out of there and move on to bigger and better things.