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.

[caliotter3]

Nobody likes a perfectionist and nobody likes someone who is right. The managers don't care. They don't want to hear what you have to say because they don't want to do more work. Until you limit your efforts and concerns to your own job performance, you will continue to have these problems. Stay on your task and your task only. Let others take responsibility for the rest. You are not the guardian of the workplace.

[democrat]

Have you thought about home health or private duty nursing? I'm not suggesting you hide from or ignore the need for addressing your difficulties, but you acome across as honest, self critical and dedicated to your patients, all excellent qualities for the above areas. I'd trust you with my family member and that's probably the single most sought after quality.

Thank you for the compliment. I have been only slightly considering the idea of going back to school for psych NP; I would be able to relate to the patient. But, on the other hand, would my perception be skewed?

[kids]

One word that turns up over & over again in the first post is 'altercation'.

Bipolar or not, component of the OP's disease or not NO "accommodation" is going to allow you to create a hostile work environment for your coworkers.

No accommodation is going to allow you to disrupt the unit with your altercations or subject your coworkers to your confrontational behavior.

You've been fired from 80% of your jobs, that is FOUR out of FIVE jobs. Learn some personal responsibility. Grow up, shut up and learn to use proper channels in an appropriate manner.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

One word that turns up over & over again in the first post is 'altercation'.

Bipolar or not, component of the OP's disease or not NO "accommodation" is going to allow you to create a hostile work environment for your coworkers.

No accommodation is going to allow you to disrupt the unit with your altercations or subject your coworkers to your confrontational behavior.

You've been fired from 80% of your jobs, that is FOUR out of FIVE jobs. Learn some personal responsibility. Grow up, shut up and learn to use proper channels in an appropriate manner.

You ended your post a little more harshly than I would have, but I agree with you in essence.

[BrookeeLou_RN]

Are you being treated for bipolar? If so it may be time to look into other employment as your treatment is not effective for you as a nurse it seems. You seem to be saying you are in crisis most of your life. Seems the maniac phase is not under control leaving you to create hostile work environment.. This is not good for you or those who work with you. Can you take a break from nursing and perhaps try another job for a short while to see if you encounter the same problems there?

Please seek help and Best of luck to you.