On the chopping block? Need some encouragement

Specialties NP

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.

Hi all. I need some encouragement and sound advice. This is a longer post but, believe it or not, abridged from the first version which went into way too much detail. Anyway...Very long story...less long:

Started my first NP job in April. Absolutely loved it. Great place, great colleagues, and a supervising MD I really admired and hoped to have mentor me. Immediately I got great patient reviews, patients were actually requesting to switch from other providers to me, and everyone from the receptionists to my supervising MD told me what a fantastic job I was doing.

3 and a half months in, I got seriously injured which put me out of work for almost 2 months. I felt terrible. I tried talking to HR and seeing if there was anyway I could do some work from home. They said no, but assured me my job was secure. I tried staying abreast of research, researching some case studies, and learning more about medicine in general.

When I went back part time (still recovering), things had done a complete 180. I'm hearing that people are uncomfortable with me, that I'm not professional, that I lack common sense, and both my supervising MD and office manager have essentially told me they don't think it's a good fit. I asked them point blank if they were asking me to resign and they said "no, not at all", but were evasive when I asked them why they still wanted to keep me on if they feel like it's a poor fit. I'm guessing they don't want to have to pay for unemployment.

I'm hurt, disappointed, and completely flabbergasted and can only assume they're upset at my having been out for so long. They are now watching me like a hawk and finding fault with nearly everything I do. I've become incredibly anxious all day nearly every day and am terrified I'm going to mess up somehow and they'll find a reason to terminate me for cause.

My husband, NP friends, parents, and former preceptors all agree that they seem to be trying to get me to quit. I'm going to start looking for another job, but I'm obviously confused and upset about the situation.

If I do decide to leave or get fired, how will it look if I can't use them for references? I know I could just use my old preceptors, but I'm worried it's going to look terrible that I won't have a reference from the one person who counts the most - the supervising MD of my first NP job.

Apparently I'm not nearly as competent as I thought - at least in their eyes - and for all intents and purposes I've only had my NP job for 4 and a half months, not the 6 that my resume would indicate. I'm nervous about having to explain the situation and worried it will look awful on paper that I'd be leaving after only 6 months.

Any words of advice? Thanks in advance.

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

I'm so sorry that you are going through this. Something smells very fishy to me. It seems that they are trying to push you out and really have no legal reason to terminate you. Have they showed you any documentation of so called issues. or is this all verbal? I think I'd ask for a meeting with the supervising MD and anyone else relevant, and ask for specifics and get it all in writing. Meanwhile, keep looking for another job.

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.
I'm so sorry that you are going through this. Something smells very fishy to me. It seems that they are trying to push you out and really have no legal reason to terminate you. Have they showed you any documentation of so called issues. or is this all verbal? I think I'd ask for a meeting with the supervising MD and anyone else relevant, and ask for specifics and get it all in writing. Meanwhile, keep looking for another job.

Best of luck to you.

Thank you. It's all been verbal. At least they've said "We've gotten some complaints, we've heard about this, we've heard about that..." We've had 3 meetings. I received "minutes" from the first one - a synopsis of what was discussed that I signed and gave back to them. The first meeting was innocuous enough. The things they said were surprising, but relatively gentle, and I took it as a call to be more introspective and focus on my practice more thoroughly. But since then, they've backpedaled a lot with some of the things they've said and can't offer reasoning or rationale behind some of the other things. And their criticisms are getting harsher and largely unfounded.

I constantly want to improve my practice and my relationships with my co-workers, but - yeah - it's really fishy. I asked someone at the practice, who I really trust, if she had heard anything and she said no and that she was incredibly surprised and really admired me and the way I practice.

So...yeah. I think they just want to get rid of me. Thanks again.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Rough situation for both sides and unfortunate they are turning it on your performance if in fact you are practicing competently. My guess is they were in a jam and the part-time hours now are preventing them up from hiring someone full time which probably back logs everyone's case loads. Is there concern that you won't return to 100%? Unfortunately you weren't there long enough to apply for FMLA if the company meets criteria. Definitely look for another job and hopefully that will allow you to leave them and restart fresh. Take care.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Oh gosh....this is horrid. I'm sorry you are going thru this.

I think the writing is on the wall - I would start looking.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

Maybe and this might be bold: Have a meeting with the supervising md and the other relevants to negotiate how you can leave on good terms with at least one written reference. Maybe have a labor lawyer or similar assist. And I think after this you could see if you qualify for unemployment. Sounds awful.

or just have your coworker give you a reference.

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If you truly believe that you are being set up for termination, you need to leave now. Better to leave now, on your terms, with or without a recommendation from your current employer than to try and get beyond having been terminated. I didn't, and was subsequently terminated, effectively ending my career as an NP. Now, out of work several months and having submitted multiple applications I am finding it difficult to obtain a position as an RN, after an exemplary 20 year career. I think that Psychcns has given you excellent advice regarding engaging the services of a labor lawyer.

I am so sorry that you are going through this, and wish you the best luck as you work through this very unpleasant situation.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

When people say "bad fit" they want you to resign. Get your resume together and apply for part time jobs. Tell new place job is not a good fit because you need part time and they want full time. Don't say anything bad about employer. Labor lawyer or someone could help you extricate yourself on good terms. There are other jobs and you only need one. Maybe a minute clinic or urgent care to get back on track at part time.

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Tele/Cardiac, Camp.
If you truly believe that you are being set up for termination, you need to leave now. Better to leave now, on your terms, with or without a recommendation from your current employer than to try and get beyond having been terminated. I didn't, and was subsequently terminated, effectively ending my career as an NP. Now, out of work several months and having submitted multiple applications I am finding it difficult to obtain a position as an RN, after an exemplary 20 year career. I think that Psychcns has given you excellent advice regarding engaging the services of a labor lawyer.

I am so sorry that you are going through this, and wish you the best luck as you work through this very unpleasant situation.

I agree that I need to be the one who leaves vs waiting until they fire me, but I'm also really worried about money. With my having been out for so long, we only have enough saved for me to be out of work entirely for another month. So I really think I need to find a new job first.

Or would you recommend just quitting even without a new job lined up? I don't know what's riskier: staying in an unstable job with the potential of getting fired (until I find something new), or leaving before finding a new job and not knowing how long I could be out of work. :/

Thank you for responding.

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It seems as if you are asking the question because you truly feel that you are one step away from termination. Since that seems to be your gut feeling, it might be better to resign instead of waiting for the shoe to drop. Or, go ahead and have the conversation, make an agreed upon exit plan, and look for a new position in earnest. Best wishes.

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if they fire you unless they have a really good reason you can at least get unemployment. i think most states heavily favor the employee so id just apply to other jobs and wait for the hammer to drop and get some cash out of it.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I would get out prior to being fired.

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