Bullied in the workplace

[medicbird]

I am writing to you for 2 reasons. 1. for your input. 2. to help me vent.

I started what I thought was a dream job just over 1 year ago. I have worked in an Level 2 trauma center for many years. sadly had to move, and accepted a job at an Urgent care close to where I live. but immed.upon hire I was not assigned a mentor, nor given a proper orientation. having to do not only walk in care nursing, which is no problem, I had to do urine drug screens, which was new to me. had poor training and would make mistakes. which I had been called into the office on occasions. would tell them if I was trained properly this wouldn't happen. etc... often I was left to close alone with only the doc after 9pm. where often many people would walk in for urgent care, and drug screens, and I was left to handle these patients where hours before their would be 3 or 4 other staff members. I would complain but of course would fall on deaf ears. finally the one thing that just got me thinking I had to leave this place was I was falsely accused of leaving a fellow nurse who was getting a patient who was having an allergic reaction. I thought what??? when see was bringing the patient back, he was in no resp distress, talking full sentences, so I was going to get my dinner which at the time was 8:30pm only run pick it up and come back. but I didn't and stayed with the other nurse. thankfully had did the documentation in the EMR on the patient, so when I was accused of leaving I told the manager, how could I leave pick up my dinner and write in the EMR at the same time. their are many more things. but the straw that broke the camels back for me was yesterday. I came into work late, I have been late freg recently, all notifying my manager, my son who has leukemia was in the hospital, was late for that, I should have just called out or taken FMLA. I didn't perhaps if I did I would not have been in this present situation. personal doc appts, etc. anyway yesterday I walked into work, I did punch in late, went to get my PC laptop and was told to go into the office. their I was asked if I like my job. I said why are you asking me this? then I was told because I was late, I explained that, and agree yes Im sorry I will try not to be late again. yadda, yadda, then they had like 20 other things. but what made me just stand up and say "I QUIT" when once again I was accused by my practice manager of telling her I refused to take an assignment. I couldn't believe it, I never said no, didn't even know what she was talking about. I looked at her straight in her eyes and said " you mean to tell me, that I looked in your eyes and said no? I would never do that!" her response was 2 people heard you. I was shocked. I just had it, I stood up and said "I Quit" at that moment I didn't care that I wouldn't have a job, lose my insurance, couldn't collect unemployment, I just didn't care, what I did know was that their was no way I could walk out of that office and do patient care. I was not in a proper state of mind, and if I was accused already of making mistakes, etc when I was in a good mind, what in the world would happen, I was concerned with my state of mind, and caring for what ever would walk through our doors, so I just up and quit!!! I am a professional Nurse, I have not been accused of medication errors, or taking drugs, or anything like that. they just pushed me too far. I am a human being, My Son's ANC was zero and in the hospital just a week before. worried about what is happening next for him. again I should have just taken FMLA. Now I have to worry if my Nsg Licence will be suspended. if they will report that to the state board of nursing. I did not take a patient assignment because I was immed. called into the office. I did not get report on any patient, did not take over care on any patient. we are a walk in urgent care, for all I know their may not have been any patients in the waiting room. but I did leave. but my then manager did use the Abandonment word.. so I am preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. ok fellow nurses, let me hear from you.

[heron, ASN, RN]

OP - I have old eyes - I cannot read your post, let alone understand the issues. Would you consider editing it into paragraphs? It would help me and you might get more, and more intelligent, responses. Thanks!

[vanilla bean]

I am writing to you for 2 reasons. 1. for your input. 2. to help me vent.

I started what I thought was a dream job just over 1 year ago. I have worked in an Level 2 trauma center for many years. sadly had to move, and accepted a job at an Urgent care close to where I live. but immed.upon hire I was not assigned a mentor, nor given a proper orientation. having to do not only walk in care nursing, which is no problem, I had to do urine drug screens, which was new to me. had poor training and would make mistakes. which I had been called into the office on occasions. would tell them if I was trained properly this wouldn't happen. etc... often I was left to close alone with only the doc after 9pm. where often many people would walk in for urgent care, and drug screens, and I was left to handle these patients where hours before their would be 3 or 4 other staff members. I would complain but of course would fall on deaf ears. finally the one thing that just got me thinking I had to leave this place was I was falsely accused of leaving a fellow nurse who was getting a patient who was having an allergic reaction. I thought what??? when see was bringing the patient back, he was in no resp distress, talking full sentences, so I was going to get my dinner which at the time was 8:30pm only run pick it up and come back. but I didn't and stayed with the other nurse. thankfully had did the documentation in the EMR on the patient, so when I was accused of leaving I told the manager, how could I leave pick up my dinner and write in the EMR at the same time. their are many more things. but the straw that broke the camels back for me was yesterday. I came into work late, I have been late freg recently, all notifying my manager, my son who has leukemia was in the hospital, was late for that, I should have just called out or taken FMLA. I didn't perhaps if I did I would not have been in this present situation. personal doc appts, etc. anyway yesterday I walked into work, I did punch in late, went to get my PC laptop and was told to go into the office. their I was asked if I like my job. I said why are you asking me this? then I was told because I was late, I explained that, and agree yes Im sorry I will try not to be late again. yadda, yadda, then they had like 20 other things. but what made me just stand up and say "I QUIT" when once again I was accused by my practice manager of telling her I refused to take an assignment. I couldn't believe it, I never said no, didn't even know what she was talking about. I looked at her straight in her eyes and said " you mean to tell me, that I looked in your eyes and said no? I would never do that!" her response was 2 people heard you. I was shocked. I just had it, I stood up and said "I Quit" at that moment I didn't care that I wouldn't have a job, lose my insurance, couldn't collect unemployment, I just didn't care, what I did know was that their was no way I could walk out of that office and do patient care. I was not in a proper state of mind, and if I was accused already of making mistakes, etc when I was in a good mind, what in the world would happen, I was concerned with my state of mind, and caring for what ever would walk through our doors, so I just up and quit!!! I am a professional Nurse, I have not been accused of medication errors, or taking drugs, or anything like that. they just pushed me too far. I am a human being, My Son's ANC was zero and in the hospital just a week before. worried about what is happening next for him. again I should have just taken FMLA. Now I have to worry if my Nsg Licence will be suspended. if they will report that to the state board of nursing. I did not take a patient assignment because I was immed. called into the office. I did not get report on any patient, did not take over care on any patient. we are a walk in urgent care, for all I know their may not have been any patients in the waiting room. but I did leave. but my then manager did use the Abandonment word.. so I am preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. ok fellow nurses, let me hear from you.

Your story, as you've relayed it here, does not seem like bullying to me. More a case of you not being the right fit for the job at this point in time. Being spoken to about showing up for work late is legit. You admit you've been making mistakes and are "not in a proper state of mind." Perhaps complaints to management from your coworkers reflect *their* perception of situations. Hope the venting helped. Good luck to you and your son.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

If they are saying you refused an assignment, by definition that is not abandonment. Abandonment only occurs if you accept an assignment, then leave without giving report to a nurse who will take over care.

They can't have it both ways. Either you refused an assignment-an offense for which you could be fired, but not considered abandonment-or you accepted an assignment and left without assuring continuity of care.

This sounds like a crummy job. However, quitting and leaving like that may cause you grief when you try to get your next job. And regardless, you are going to have to be on time every day when you do find another one. I sympathize with your difficulties-it must be really hard dealing with a very sick child. But the people at your next job will be counting on you to be there when you are scheduled at the time you are scheduled.

With all your trauma experience, it seems like that would be the best bet for you going forward. That is very valuable experience.

Good luck to you.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I am sorry that this happened to you. Going forward, see your son's social worker at the facility where he is treated to be able to get the benefits that you need to care for him.

If you have malpractice insurance, contact them just to let them know what has happened.

Go to unemployment anyways. The worst that can happen is that they say "no".

And I would speak to your malpractice attorney (or if you don't have malpractice insurance, an attorney) regarding the fact that you could have/should have been eligible for FLMA, but that you were not schooled in the specifics, and I think (think) you have to be somewhere around 6 months to qualify.....

Anyways, not legal advice per AN TOS, but you should get some legal advice. And the advice of your son's social worker on where to go from here.

Wishing you nothing but light and hope for you and your baby boy.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I am sorry that this happened to you. Going forward, see your son's social worker at the facility where he is treated to be able to get the benefits that you need to care for him.

If you have malpractice insurance, contact them just to let them know what has happened.

Go to unemployment anyways. The worst that can happen is that they say "no".

And I would speak to your malpractice attorney (or if you don't have malpractice insurance, an attorney) regarding the fact that you could have/should have been eligible for FLMA, but that you were not schooled in the specifics, and I think (think) you have to be somewhere around 6 months to qualify.....

Anyways, not legal advice per AN TOS, but you should get some legal advice. And the advice of your son's social worker on where to go from here.

Wishing you nothing but light and hope for you and your baby boy.

To qualify for FMLA, you need to have worked for the employer for at least 12 months and have worked 1250 hours in the 12 months immediately preceding the leave. It is not clear based on the OP if she qualified.