Nurses getting fired left and right...

[Mrs. SnowStormRN]

I've been reading many posts recently of nurses losing their jobs over the smallest things. This is appalling. Are we that replaceable? Yet the nursing "shortage" rumor continues. This really grinds my gears. Is there anything we can do to stop this? I think I'm just venting. I've personally never been fired from a nursing job, but I have been mistreated on a job before. For example, I worked in LTC for 4yrs (2yrs before that as an aid), it was my 1st nursing job. I didnt like the way things were done there, how employees were treated based on what patient families would complain about (mom doesn't like her roommate, so we would constantly be switching room assignments, dad didnt get his pills until 7pm, when they were due at 6pm - things like this would make mgmt jumped down our throats) and this was early 2000s. So I started looking for another job, well the job I applied for called for employment verification and of course all of the managers were made aware and they begin to treat me differently. Even accusing me of being rude to the secretary:confused:. It's like they were trying to find mistakes, eventually I got written up for not wrapping a skin tear (on my 2nd shift, because I'd wrapped it during 7-3, when 3-11 came the 2nd nurse was a no show and they did not provide any coverage, so I didnt get to the skin tear, I missed it somehow. The amount of patients I had was about 30 that night). I refused to sign the write up and argued my case that no harm had come to the patient for this (and that I had no previous verbal warnings), I even had to send two other patients out that night. Also, they complained about nurses staying over their shift time, smh! Other things occurred also, I begin to feel like they were harrassing me, after years of working for them and always going above and beyond for them. I was so happy when I got hired at the other job, it felt so good to put in my notice. They had a lot of unfair treatment in that facility, and I'm beginning to believe that many facilities feel they can treat us badly. Does anyone else feel this way?

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

What a stupid reason to fire someone! it sounds like many of these employers are very petty.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

once upon a time, mds were no always treated or thought of well..... when they created a demand and began to control the number of schools that supplied new mds, they created respect in the work place.

i hate to break it to you but there was more to it than numbers.

back in the days that doctors were disrespected, there was no regulation of their practice or of the schools that taught them. there were no residencies until osler (?), began that practice. thus, they could leave schools that might have few or no clinical practices, and immediately go from working on cadavers to people with little to no oversight.

sound familiar. how many people push that nursing standards should be relaxed, or done online. why do we not require internship?

they also began having high standards for admission and competition. how many students come in, wanting the quickest easiest fastest program, or whine when there are higher standards to be met or grades are not rounded, or being required to have basic math skills and basic grammar skills. or being required to behave like a professional for a few hours a day, letting go of facebook, texting, farmville and turning their cell off.

it has more to it than limiting numbers. it has to do increasing quality and requiring professionalism.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

i hate to break it to you but there was more to it than numbers.....

it has more to it than limiting numbers. it has to do increasing quality and requiring professionalism.

true, however the result of controlling their profession in that way (standards, practice, schools, residency requirements, etc.) is that they control their numbers and create a real demand that has yet to be threatened by all of the kids that grow up wanting to become doctors because most never make it.... thus, i agree that we need to really take control of our profession by changing standards in all areas that result in our controlling our numbers. otherwise nothing will change.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

One measure of limiting the numbers would involve curtailing many of those 2 year programs. You have far too many in the US, hence all the droves of people entering all the time. If many of those programs closed and they raised the standards, many people would find they just don't cut it for nursing.

[ARN1]

Once a facility wants to fire they will find a way.

They make up lists of mistakes and call you into the office for all kind of things.

Best thing to do is once you notice that something is wrong go ahead and find a job, get out of there before they have a chance to make you nothing but miserable.

The above quote is my story right now! after 11 years I was let go, I hear that if I put down that I was terminated (some applications ask this question) No one will hire me. Is this true??

I want to be honest, and get re-hired somewhere else. I am trusting God, but this is very difficult! they also offered to transfer me to another unit, for a 'better fit', when I went in to fill out the papers they said the hospital had a change, in 1 day; and the position was closed, I could resign or be terminated. they even wanted my to finish the week out! I did. Since then ( 3 weeks) they have let go 25 FT positions and are in bad financial situation.

[FLmomof5]

I would say "position terminated".

[leslie :-D]

What a stupid reason to fire someone! it sounds like many of these employers are very petty.

...and cocky.

with a surplus of new and inexperienced grads, they can randomly and smugly terminate the experienced and more confident nurses, replacing them with meeker, cheaper, and easy-to-manipulate newbies.

i say, be careful what you ask for...

you just might get it.

leslie

[gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN]

I got my letter today. They want to deny unemployment. I was let go about 2 weeks ago. Evidently I will not count in the 9.1 % of the US unemployment and will not get any $$. This is bull. I am only one person who lost their job but if you add all these other nurses that number would jump. The labor umemployment numbers have to be way off.

I will also be appealing this.

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

SOP for almost any company (nursing or not) is to deny unemployment, just to make you jump through all the bureaucratic hoops to complete the paperwork for the appeal.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

My husband was denied unemployment retroactively. It has been a nightmare.

[flowerpowerRN]

I would like to know if anyone has been blacklisted by Group One. This is an information broker organization and for a price will pass on ANY information on health care workers. The collect information like credit hx, address hx, education hx, and work hx. If you are terminated you will not work in Dallas/Fort Worth for 7 years. And since Texas is an "at will" state people can be terminated for with no justification required, valid cause not required.

I would like to know if there is anything that can be done.

[Travelnurse44]

Reading these forums makes me sad, but brings me hope as well...to say that you can talk to your mgr to explain things you did wrong WOULD be nice, but in my world that didnt happen. Im a canadian nurse who went to Fl & Az to work for a few yrs, now want to rtn but am quite excited, but a little scared at the same time. I worked many, many hospitals in Az...got fired in a few...to say that you can "talk" to the mgr about what u doing wrong is an understatement for sure...so here goes, I NEED ADVICE FOR THE NEXT TRY!!!

1. Worked per diem at one hospital med/surg. Charge nurse said to use her name to split referral bonus. I'd done this lots so no problem. Waited 3 mos to get my share, went down to HR to ask where or how long it might be...they said she got it 2 mos ago, I approached her again, she told me, "I told you - I never f''got it" (She was a rough character, but had worked there 7 yrs, me I was just per diem. Next day I go to work, get cld into mgr's office - was told I 'forced" a mexican pt to speak english...I told them that was an out right lie (which it was) and that charge nurse owed me $, hence the false accusation. Me w/ mgr etc etc No way did they believe me, I was fired.

2. Worked in ER, pt going down fast (drug addict) I knew something wrong and kept telling nurse who was orientating me...She yelled at me, showing me vital signs, saying "you will never make it, she is stable (VS) and just a drug addict. I had been speaking w/ Dr about her (17 yrs as anRN, u just have a hunch...) Dr walks in says what do you think

3. Worked in ICU, was told I didnt give an IV abx, as the empty bag was not in the garbage - "Are you kidding me?" fired. "There were numerous complaints about you...I asked like what? "You didnt give proper report...Please elaborate...no, its just not your fit...

Btm line - I had no problems dealing with the Dr's, Pts, difficult pts and their families, but if a woman RN doesnt like you....you are toast in those states. I tried to take it up the ladder to no avail....ANY ADVICE? CUZ I'M HEADING OUT AGAIN...MY RN FRIENDS MENTIONED BOUNDARIES AND SAID they noticed schoolyard bullying w/ me not knowing how to stop it.....thanks for ANY advice!