Anyone get rejected lately from cases?

smartnurse1982 · Jul 23, 2011

Want to add it was all Moms doing the rejections.

ventmommy · Jul 23, 2011

We ask that our nurses have their hair in a bun/braid/ponytail for longer hair, headband for shorter hair. If your weight is low enough that you can do your job, move the child, get on and off the floor, etc., then I don't see why that was an issue. I'm not skinny and I don't expect my nurses to conform to some weird ideal either. Actually, our favorite pediatrician is a short, fat woman. Two of our female nurses are over 6 feet tall and quite heavyset and I think the world of both of them.

About the smiling, maybe you didn't want to appear fake or inappropriate. I wouldn't expect you to be smiling if your preceptor was explaining my child's catastrophic illnesses and injuries to you. But if you smile so little that you appear to be cold, I could see how the parents might be discouraged by that. Were you answering the parents' questions? If you are so introverted that you can't carry on a conversation that would make PDN difficult. If you are just very shy, there are things like Toastmasters that you can do to help bolster your confidence. We had a nurse that did Toastmasters for years to get over shyness. By the time she was our nurse, she was very confidant when talking to us, our son, doctors, other nurses, etc. She said that at one point in her life, she could not even make eye contact with another adult without getting flustered.

The mom should have put an end to the gift-giving. At the very least, she should not have been telling you that Nurse Suck-up brings her gifts. We have nurses that sometimes do nice things for us...bring meals to the hospital, bring Ben & Jerry's in the morning if she knows that the overnight nurse had called out and I was up for 24 hours, bring a little coloring book for our other child. But we certainly do not advertise that to the other nurses and we definitely DO NOT EXPECT IT from any of the nurses.

I hope you find a client that has great parents that can judge you for your nursing abilities and not on some superficial traits.

allnurses Guide · Jul 23, 2011

I've noticed that people seem to be more likely to reject a nurse for reasons that seem to be superficial, too. It could be a short-term anomaly or it could be that there is such an abundance of nurses going into private duty in my area due to the fact that this is one field who hires new grads.

When a parent was talking about how she has allergies explaining her various allergy mitigating strategies I said, "I understand how important that is because I have allergies, too."

Then he called the agency and said they don't want me because they were afraid that my allegies meant I would be calling in sick from allergies all the time. Sighhhh. . .So no,

I don't think it's just you suddenly beaming out a parent repellant ray. :)

It's a little difficult to understand how it's possible to get a feel for a person's personality based on such a small amount of time with them. I'm definately not the gregarious type, either. I've been told on a few occasions people felt reassured because they interpreted my quiet nature as calm and focussed.

If you try to put on a different personality you could end up seeming odd as you try to talk and simultaneously judge/evaluate how you look and sound while you're saying it.

caliotter3 · Jul 23, 2011

As long as the agency caters to clients to the point of being unreasonable it will be at your expense. All you can do is to address any situations you might be able to change, if you want to change. But do not expect backup from your employer. I heard an agency employee tell a client the way it is one time, but I am certain that was just a fluke of exasperation. After all, it is true, once they have gone through all available nurses, there will be no more nurses for them to reject.

Harrychandler · Jul 25, 2011

Isn't it illegal to reject someone for being too fat? That is just so rude and I am sorry this happened to you.

I haven't been rejected but I almost was when I first started with my agency. The family complained about my body spray. Well I don't where body spray when I go to work. I just do the normal shower. Well my job called me and asked me not wear body spray. I told them I don't. So anyway this went on for weeks and get this...my job called me again and asked if I could go out and buy unscented bath products! Nope no way not gonna do it. The other family didn't complain and I even asked them if they smelled a heavy perfume odor and they said no. Well I am still with the family who complained. I finally had enough and got both parents together and I had a sit down talk with them. They also complained about other stuff too. But everything worked out and I did it myself without the help of my agency who was ready to discontinue me from the case in the beginning.

allnurses Guide · Jul 25, 2011

I think the families can reject people for any reason they want to, unfortunately. I can understand it if the family and nurse try to work it out and are not a good fit for whatever reason, but usually when that happens both parties realize it and you can go your separate ways without any ill feelings.

Making a decision based only on a short "meet and greet" or even a few hours on a shift could cause some potentially really good match-ups to go by the wayside.

I worked for years with one particular family who seemed to reject four nurses for every one they found acceptable, therefore I did lots of orienting for naught. There were several people who I knew would work out great but the client focussed on some easily fixed detail whereas I could see the big picture. In the end it is their decision, though.

Another example was a family who would say "no, no absolutely not - no male nurses" --but----" no! One day they had no choice because a different agency sent someone out to set up their IV antibiotics - it had to be done and that is who was available. He was such a great guy he immediately put whatever their fears were to rest. But not for that chance encounter they never would have gotten past that issue.

caliotter3 · Jul 25, 2011

I always inform my new clients at the first meeting that it is their prerogative to let the agency know when they do not want me or any other nurse to be sent to their home. I tell them that they need give no reason at all, since it is their decision who enters their home and who does not. Every family has thanked me for this candid information.

The above information aside, it is very possible that the agency can work out situations with the family, by discussing their options, just as they can change the family's perceptions about other matters. However, in most cases the agency representatives do not care to take the time or to make the effort to talk it out. The nurse goes without work for a longer period of time simply because somebody didn't care to "market" him or her.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2011

re. introverts. I'm a quiet person. I get along much more in the physical nature (totally sounds worse than what I mean) with my patients than verbally. For instance, I have one kiddo who likes it when you sing silly made-up songs, constantly, to soothe him. Instead, he gets the occasionally silly song with other things that I've found that soothe him -- rubbing his back, tickling his toes, whatever. I simply cannot do a steady stream of chatter for 8 hours. Some parents will be okay with this. Some will not. I don't think it's necessarily about keeping a smile on your face but about being able to interact meaningfully. And I've excused myself from a few cases because I felt that I could not interact meaningfully with the child.

For what it's worth -- I do think that the ability to move the child from a to b is important. I'm a normal sized person who is not very strong. I simply cannot move a kid who is 90+ lbs.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Jul 31, 2011

About the hair. Until last year I had incredibly long curly hair. For work I always put it up in a bun and covered it with a heavy hair net ( I get mine at the tack store ). Then I put a little mouse on a brush /comb and smooth down the flyaways. I have been doing this since nursing school and it's served me well.

I've been a patient more than I care to say and the one thing I can stand is someones hair flinging in my face as they are adjusting the iv or whatever. So if you can avoid being rejected from a case for your hair I would do so.

SDALPN · Aug 8, 2011

Could be the agency too. I found out that the agency I'm with will tell people its not a fit when it benefits the agency...such as avoiding paying OT if they have another nurse that doesn't have as many hours to work regularly. I ran into another parent not too long ago that asked me why I left. I told them because I was told they didn't want me back. They said they really liked me and that the agency told them I didn't want to go back. I really liked them too. While I've been asked to leave for the most silly of reasons....like the allergy example given above...I know that its usually, but not always the parents.

caliotter3 · Aug 8, 2011

Could be the agency too. I found out that the agency I'm with will tell people its not a fit when it benefits the agency...such as avoiding paying OT if they have another nurse that doesn't have as many hours to work regularly. I ran into another parent not too long ago that asked me why I left. I told them because I was told they didn't want me back. They said they really liked me and that the agency told them I didn't want to go back. I really liked them too. While I've been asked to leave for the most silly of reasons....like the allergy example given above...I know that its usually, but not always the parents.

If this happened to me and I figured it out, I would know that it is probably past time to find a new employer.