Whistle Blowing and Retaliation

[celticwoman61]

i know that i am not alone in this, but i'd like to hear from others who work in an environment of hostile managers who thrive on retaliation towards whistle blowers. how can we survive/thrive in such toxic environments (especially when we live in small communities with limited jobs)?

i reported a narcotic theft last year to my superiors; was "punished" (given a letter of reprimand in my file) for bogus charges (which my employee assn. rep fought and won) and i have endured a year of retaliatory hell from the individual who admitted to taking the narcs......btw this individual is now my boss. (i love the message from this ordeal...steal drugs and get promoted. huh. who knew?).

the employee assn. advises me to just "do my job", lay low and document, document, document. each day brings new, exciting adventures in ways to make my work life miserable. is this karma at it's worst?

what are your experiences? advice?

thanks for listening........

[crippersmom]

I'm going through a very similar deal, only i reported another nurse who took pictures of a patient's face after a horrific fall, then picture messaged and emailed them to her friends. Reported it to state. I'm looking for another job. You can't trust the HR of the company. I am in retaliation heck too. Not worth it. The bad guys always win in this world, celtic. The good guys get the shaft, every single time.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I agree with fines; it may make people think twice. Personally, I believe that it is safer for the individual to document everything witnessed and then to remove themselves (get another job) from the situation and then report.

[Moogie]

My advice? Leave. The sooner the better.

My experience was bad. Reported a nurse for multiple screwups, many of them dangerous. She ended up being "friends" with the supervisor. The tables turned and they went after me.

Sometimes you can win. There is no reason to stay in a toxic work environment.

I have been in situations like that as well, once in acute care, twice in LTC. In all the experiences, the nurse manager allowed personal friendships to interfere with his/her job responsibilities and looked the other way when his/her favorite nurses made mistakes. In one of the LTC facilities, actual harm resulted from the incompetency of a couple of favored employees and nothing was done. Yet, minor infractions by other staff resulted in written warnings, suspensions and even terminations.

I think the only way to win is to get OUT of the toxic work environment. Your mental and spiritual health (not to mention your physical health) are far more important than a nursing job in an unprofessional or unethical facility.

To the OP: I am so sorry this is happening to you and I am ashamed of my profession because incidents like yours (and Praying Mantis' and mine) are far too common. There is something vastly WRONG with the OP's facility if someone who was caught diverting drugs was PROMOTED. It is not a healthy place for you---or for those whom your facility serves. (BTW, can you report this outrageous turn of events to corporate or anyone else?)

Please take care!