bi-polar and terminated

[democrat]

Recently terminated after 7 yrs. employment for conduct re: innability to get along with certain co-workers in unit. I started getting verbal reprimands from my manager in 2009 b/c getting into it with with the same people and 'my behaviour in unit' 'disrupting the unit'. I have a huge problem holding my tongue when I see people frequently milking the time clock for sometimes up to several hours when the census is down (or no patients in unit at all) socializing and playing on internet and should go home or go work in another unit while others of us were responsible enough to clock out and go home and losing alot of hours in the process. I complained alot to management about this to the point of being labeled as a tattler and I did finally manage to tick off management. Other things these nurses were doing/not doing was what I would call blatant neglect and poor patient care like: 1) not pulling a femoral sheath for 1-2 hours after it could have been removed (pt. staying on their back longer) 2) not moving the pt. to their private room and onto a more comfortable bed from a stretcher when there was no reasons why they should stay any longer (there were not pt. assignments- whoever was available for a pt. was next to get patient 3) nurse with pt's in unit and staying across hall in another unit socializing with friend (if their pt. called, IV pump alarming, family looking for nurse,etc.: this nurse was not able to see or hear anything that was going on with their patient) 4) give report to nurse on my patient that needed Q15 min check on groin; when I come back from lunch and get report, and then be told they forgot 5) I have pt. with B/P in 80's for over 1 hr./asymptomatic/Dr. aware; give report to nurse (same nurse as above) to go to lunch; come back from lunch to find pt. with B/P 69, symptomatic, wife reported no one had been in to check on her husband; got pt. stabilized and moved to CCU; when I asked nurse about why they did not check my pt: response was 'because I had other pt's to take care of'; this nurse had one stable patient. I had been having alot of altercations and at times not very nice with these nurses and making alot of complaints to management. Other nurses were making complaints too, just not near as much as I was. These nurses complained to HR about my behaviour in the unit after multiple altercations with them and multiple complaints to management about them. I kept having altercations with a unit secretary too for not doing many of the duties expected from a secretary (and complaining to management). I just had altercation after altercation and too many complaints to management so was verbally reprimanded several times and after 3 written reprimands teminated for 'innapropriate communication'. I have been completely upfront and honest with management and HR about being bi-polar, history of problems with interpersonal communication, the treatment I am currently under and any new updates with my medication since it was change and had to increased a few times. I do everything recommended to me by my psych dr. and counselor. I take it very seriously. What I did not do was ask for a accomidation although I don't know if that was even possible. I have been fired from about 80% of the jobs I have had in my lifetime for interpersonal problems and here I go and get fired from another job. I have not had any issues with patient care on this job other than a couple med errors that I actually wrote myself up on. I know that sometimes I don't realize (especially when I'm upset) how I come across to people verbally/ body language. I've got and unedited brain. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I have been fired from about 80% of the jobs I have had in my lifetime for interpersonal problems and here I go and get fired from another job. I have not had any issues with patient care on this job other than a couple med errors that I actually wrote myself up on. I know that sometimes I don't realize (especially when I'm upset) how I come across to people verbally/ body language. I've got and unedited brain. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

It took me a long time to learn this lesson because I also have issues with interpersonal skills and interacting with coworkers. Basically, I am a hardcore introvert who doesn't like socializing a whole lot. However, here is the moral of the story: interpersonal skills will make or break you in the workplace. It doesn't matter how good of a nurse you are. If you rub people the wrong way, your days at that particular workplace will be numbered.

I know this is unfair, but I've seen it play out many times. A nurse who is less competent than you can get away with things up to a certain point if he/she is well-liked by management, never receives complaints from patients and families, and is popular with coworkers. However, the excellent nurse is going to be crucified if he/she has crappy social skills and is regarded as brutally honest, whiny, unlikeable, and a complainer or a snitch. Families, patients, and managers will gravitate toward the sweet nurse who is dangerous, but they will be turned off by the overly aggressive nurse who is highly skilled and knows his/her stuff. It's all about personality.

In addition, bipolar disorder is still stigmatized in healthcare settings. I would get treated for it. I would also not divulge to your coworkers that you have it, because it is inevitable that some of them will label you as "crazy" or "unstable."

[NICU_babyRN, BSN, RN]

I would strongly suggest some counseling so you can talk to a unbiased, neutral person about how you feel in general and how you feel others perceive you.

I LOVED my therapy sessions when I had them-it's like having an amazing friend who by LAW can't say anything to anyone unless you are a clear danger to yourself or another person!

It's really great to have that one hour/week (or more) where you can just SPILL all the pent up frustrations and they give you great feedback on how to cope with it all!

It's hard to be a great nurse especially in a setting where others slack off continuously. I find this to be specially challenging when I keep a nursing student or orientee busy at all times so she/he does not have time to even TRY to socialize. They are there to learn!

The best you can do is continue providing excellent nursing care but I wouldn't worry about telling management about things you see unless a pt is truly hurting from it (like bleeding out of sheeth insertion site). It seems, in this case, counter productive.

[MouseMichelle]

I with the Commuter in terms of interpersonal communication. Everything that post had to say was true. Also I would not ever tell anyone at the work place that I was bipolar, if you're stable then what's the point of telling them. If you're not stable then get onto disability for a while so you're not at work being unstable.

As for how to come across staff better? Well I can't see you or watch your body language or how you come across verbally so I can't really advise you on that. If ever there was something that happened that could've killed on of my patients I go straight to my nurse manager, I don't lecture the nurse nothing I just go to my nurse manager and let her deal with it how she wants to. If this continues to happen and the nurse manager isn't dealing with it then yeah I'll say somethign to the nurse.

In terms of milking the time clock things like that really is that something that should be your business? I hate it when my coworkers milk the time clock but I figure hey it's not my business, i do my thing and get out and never milk it, and it's up to management to do what they need to do, if they want to fork out money for overtime without investigating it let them. Things like that you can just leave alone I feel. Pick your fights, or pick your complaints to your coworkers........

Hope this helps......

[newway]

I think I would suggest to start worrying more about your patients and less of others. If you are not the charge nurse or the manager stop acting as one. When you constantly give management problems you become their problem.

From the way you describe it I don’t think I would like working with you either. Ever hear the expression about glass houses? So unless you are perfect I would stop pointing out everyone else’s inadequacies.

Management knows who the lazy people are. They may just be waiting for something documentable to hang them on and get rid of them. So you interfering may not be helpful.

[leslie :-D]

phew...not sure what to make of this.

i have learned, that my 'high standards' have gotten me in trouble before, when i expected the same from others.

as a matter of fact, whenever i've gone on an interview and i am asked what my weakest quality is, i always answer, "my high standards"...and continue to elaborate as to why it has interfered with my professional growth.

then when they ask what my strongest quality is, i still answer, "my high standards".

they always get a chuckle out of that, but it's so very true.

in other words, i hope you've learned to keep criticisms to yourself...

unless it involves an actual and dangerous risk to the pt.

...which leads me to the question, have you learned anything at all?

i mean, an 80% termination rate...do you continue to repeat the same mistakes?

and if so, do you believe it has to do with your bipolar?

are you on meds for your bipolar?

or are you in a manic episode when you feel compelled to state whatever's on your mind?

i would think you could get a reasonable accommodation, if you are on meds.

if you're not, then no...and you wouldn't deserve one anyways.

but if you did get an accommodation, it'd only be after proving that it's r/t uncontrolled bipolar (while on meds)...and still, in hindsight, you would likely have to prove that it is indeed, r/t your dx. i have my doubts.

seriously dude, what is it going to take for you to learn, that you just cannot speak whatever is on your mind, and not expect consequences...

esp in a professional environment.

you weren't terminated because you're bipolar.

you were terminated because you were creating a hostile workplace.

feel better.

leslie

[Black Jade, BSN, RN]

Wouldn't it be great to get rid of the lazy and noncaring nurses so that New Grads can get in and get a job?

Unless you are the nurse manager or supervisor I would just focus on my work only. Unfortunately I've seen a lot of lazy noncaring staff in my life and they are still working there. Sometimes I wonder if management is afraid to fire them. At least at my last employer, this employee got fired after my supervisor gave him three warnings when IT notified him that he was using the internet for personal use. The reason I know this is that my supervisor needed a witness whenever this employee was warned.

You said that 80% of your past jobs you've gotten fired. That's a red flag for potential employers. I would reflect on what has gotten you fired and work on that. Sometimes in the real world you need to be diplomatic. If you do take good care of your patients, but cannot work well with others, maybe you need to work in an area where you are independent or don't get distracted with other nurses' incompetency. Have you tried Home Health? Doctors offices where you are the only nurse? Public Health? Like the other posts mentioned, you should not disclosed the fact that you are bipolar. Just continue taking your medications. Besides, it's nobody's business unless it's affecting your work environment. Good luck in your next job!

[mentalhealthRN]

To me the fact that the other nurses are not doing their jobs is the bigger issue here. Maybe how you have chosen to approach the situation is wrong but I can understand how if this kind of thing is going on and the management is clearly doing nothing, how you would feel frustrated. I'm curiuos as to what the problems where at the other places you were fired from. If your co-workers were providing unsafe care there as well. As far as them clocking out late and that kind of thing I wouldn't worry about that. If the company has a problem with it they will manage that and you probably should hold your tongue on that stuff. But I do have an issue when pt care is being effected and people here think you should still "mind your own business". That is an issue. I personally find it unethical to allow any pts safety or quality of care to be at risk just because everyone is minding their own business. The manager is not there all the time to see things. Yes there is a way to speak up about it professionally and maybe that is where you need some work. So maybe it's not that you are speaking up but how you are doing it, the words you are using. That is something you can work on with your therapist. But to give you general advice to just always mind your own business even if that means putting a pt at risk is rediculous. Do you walk by woman who is being beaten or raped and do nothing? Do you mind your own business? No you call 911, you go and get help. You do SOMETHING even if it's not jumping in yourself. Good luck to you and hopefully you can find the right meds and the right job that work for you.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

I think I would suggest to start worrying more about your patients and less of others. If you are not the charge nurse or the manager stop acting as one. When you constantly give management problems you become their problem.

From the way you describe it I don't think I would like working with you either. Ever hear the expression about glass houses? So unless you are perfect I would stop pointing out everyone else's inadequacies.

Management knows who the lazy people are. They may just be waiting for something documentable to hang them on and get rid of them. So you interfering may not be helpful.

I don't understand this post, my read on the OP was these WERE her/his patients..

[leslie :-D]

To me the fact that the other nurses are not doing their jobs is the bigger issue here. Maybe how you have chosen to approach the situation is wrong but I can understand how if this kind of thing is going on and the management is clearly doing nothing, how you would feel frustrated.

i understand that frustration, as well.

and i've also been in an environment where i was terminated (wrongfully, and won the case) for essentially, rocking the boat.

i made my employers and some of its workers, look bad...and it all went downhill from there.

so it's 2 fold with democrat.

that he seems to be working in a place that would rather look the other way, than to deal with these issues.

(but then again, we have no idea if these problem employees have been dealt with)

and 2, it's not what he says, but how he says it...AND seemingly goes overboard with his demeanor.

and so, 1 of the reasons for termination is likely legit, where the other reason (rocking the boat) is not.

for the nurse that covered his pt, and her bp dropped...i'd write an incident report over that.

and not checking groin and pulling sheath, is also concerning.

but there are ways to put one's concerns across.

as with everything else in life, one needs to learn how to manage themselves, before attempting to manage others.

i think i'd start there.

leslie

[Laboratorian]

I have a huge problem holding my tongue when I see people frequently milking the time clock for sometimes up to several hours when the census is down (or no patients in unit at all) socializing and playing on internet and should go home or go work in another unit while others of us were responsible enough to clock out and go home and losing alot of hours in the process. I complained alot to management about this to the point of being labeled as a tattler and I did finally manage to tick off management.

Yes, you are a tattler (that's a nice way of putting it).

Snitches are never liked. For you to report this also makes the manangers look like they aren't doing there job in supervising the employees. Next time, remember to snitch to Administration anonomously, not management.

Since your personality is so bold................................have you considered law school. You would fit right in.

[democrat]

i understand that frustration, as well.

and i've also been in an environment where i was terminated (wrongfully, and won the case) for essentially, rocking the boat.

i made my employers and some of its workers, look bad...and it all went downhill from there.

so it's 2 fold with democrat.

that he seems to be working in a place that would rather look the other way, than to deal with these issues.

(but then again, we have no idea if these problem employees have been dealt with)

and 2, it's not what he says, but how he says it...AND seemingly goes overboard with his demeanor.

and so, 1 of the reasons for termination is likely legit, where the other reason (rocking the boat) is not.

for the nurse that covered his pt, and her bp dropped...i'd write an incident report over that.

and not checking groin and pulling sheath, is also concerning.

but there are ways to put one's concerns across.

as with everything else in life, one needs to learn how to manage themselves, before attempting to manage others.

i think i'd start there.

leslie

My frustration kept building as patient care issues with these individuals continue and yes, I did go overboard expressing my concern. By that time, management was sick of me and wasn't listening to anything I had to say. I agree with above posts the time clock thing was none of my business.