Getting over a bad experience

[savoytruffle, BSN, RN]

I have been away from a bad job for over two months. I am doing well in my new position and should feel better. In some ways things are great, but I still find that I have terrible dreams at night, can't get to sleep, second guess myself, and just generally feel down. I am still holding into so munch anger! I need to let it go and move on. When I think about those awful women and that awful job... Ugh. I just want to scream. Anyone had success kicking old anger to the curb?

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I'm still working on that one myself, even though it's been nearly six months since I was kicked to the curb. I was the sacrificial lamb, so to speak, because I was fighting severe stress that was contributing to an exacerbation of my mental illness, and it made it all but impossible for me to do my job. Plus they kept changing the rules and the expectations, and that made things even more difficultt. So instead of helping me they sent in a corporate nurse who told me that I'd be fired if we didn't pass our state re-survey.

I never even made it to that point......I had to go on medical leave, and while I was out, they figured out a way around the Americans with Disabilities Act and terminated me the same week I came back. They decided they "couldn't" grant me the reasonable accommodations for my disability that my psychiatrist had recommended, and that was it. I could have fought it, but I was too exhausted and felt so beaten down that I just didn't have the energy to go after them.

Long story short, I'm almost past it, but still have some anger toward my former employer. I think it's almost a PTSD thing; losing a job like this is traumatic, and you have to work at getting that negative energy out of your system. Therapy, and medication if you need it, are also helpful in recovering from this sort of thing if you can't get past it on your own. Two months isn't a very long time; be gentle with yourself and eventually you'll be able to move on.

[miasmom]

I hear ya. Iam seeking independent vounseling from them. They already figured around the ADA. I did speak with an attorney. This company and admin are known for this and older workers. I know a girl still in 30 in different building afraid to smile.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Seek some independent counseling. It can help you to put things in perspective. It is such a difficult thing. Because you are doing so well in your new position, know that you are an effective nurse who can succeed. Tell yourself that every day. Out loud.

I am a firm believer that there are many, many nurses who are looking for jobs, so management can and does come just-this-close to crossing lines every day. It is a passive-agressive dance.

Rock on in your new position!!