don't burn bridges!

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Ok...So here is a lesson for everyone. Don't just "quit" a job. It WILL come back to haunt you!

Here is my story. I have worked at the same place for a few years. I left to try another facility. I worked at this other facilty for ONE day, hated it. The place, the tension from the staff, the director, everything. I know it was just one day, but it was apparent that it was a negative place. So, anyway after a couple of weeks off I went back to my old facility. Now a year later, GUESS WHO IS GOING TO BE MY NEW DNS IN A WEEK?? She is absolutely going to remember me...How should I handle this???

Try not to sweat over this. When you see her, smile and say hello. Don't act embarrassed or uncomfortable. She might not say anything about it, or even remember you. And if she does, do as the others suggested.

She will know that you are a good employee, for the simple fact that you've been at this current facility a while, and not gotten into any trouble (I'm assuming). If you do your job and stay out of trouble, what can she do to you?

Stay calm and continue as you've been doing. You will be fine.

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Scmoo, you did nothing wrong.

Let me tell you a story about burning bridges.

A nurse I worked with called off a lot. Not a great nurse. Lots of personal problems, couldn't always concentrate.

Gets hired at another facility. Now, bear in mind this is a rural area where everyone not only knows but is somehow related to one another. Tells our DON they won't wait and she can't give notice. DON insists she works out her two weeks. She agrees, works two nights, then never shows up again. She was told point blank that if she did not complete her notice she would never under any circumstance be hired back.

She was fired her first week.

She burned her bridge.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

A bit off topic but: don't lie on your resume'. This is a small industry. I had a girl come in for an interview for a CNA. I looked at her resume' and saw she had worked at a place I had worked at for years. I asked her why she left and she told me "It's because they were downsizing." Yeah sure. The place is always full and they actually are expanding. I called one of my former co-workers and asked her about this girl. She said they fired the girl because she couldn't learn to do her charting. One building was 100's of miles away from the other. You never know who knows someone who knows someone.

PS. I'm not sure the DNS would even remember someone who had only worked there for one day. Unless the building is very small or you made some sort of commotion....

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

while it's never a good idea to burn bridges, i don't think one day is going to stick in her memory unless it was a really memorable day. (the orientee who, on the first day, told the medical director of the icu that he didn't know his anal sphincter from a hole in the ground comes to mind. or the one who came to work in hot pink scrubs, matching shoes, enormous dangling earrings, bright pink hair and lipstick and purple eye shadow out to the ears . . . and he was male. or the one who fainted when she entered her first patient room, went to the er in psvt, coded and was admitted as a patient. you know. something really memorable.)

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A bit off topic but: don't lie on your resume'. This is a small industry. I had a girl come in for an interview for a CNA. I looked at her resume' and saw she had worked at a place I had worked at for years. I asked her why she left and she told me "It's because they were downsizing." Yeah sure. The place is always full and they actually are expanding. I called one of my former co-workers and asked her about this girl. She said they fired the girl because she couldn't learn to do her charting. One building was 100's of miles away from the other. You never know who knows someone who knows someone.

PS. I'm not sure the DNS would even remember someone who had only worked there for one day. Unless the building is very small or you made some sort of commotion....

It is so true...The LTC community is small. Even with so many facilities, everyone moves from place to place.

Yes, it was a small facility, but no I didn't make any sort of commotion. Actually, assuming she will even remember me is iffy. I would just feel bad if she mentioned in front of my other co-workers.. I think that is what I am really nervous about:uhoh3:

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while it's never a good idea to burn bridges, i don't think one day is going to stick in her memory unless it was a really memorable day. (the orientee who, on the first day, told the medical director of the icu that he didn't know his anal sphincter from a hole in the ground comes to mind. or the one who came to work in hot pink scrubs, matching shoes, enormous dangling earrings, bright pink hair and lipstick and purple eye shadow out to the ears . . . and he was male. or the one who fainted when she entered her first patient room, went to the er in psvt, coded and was admitted as a patient. you know. something really memorable.)

thank you for laughs

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I just wanted to update everyone who was nice enough to post. The new DNS came in to fill out some paperwork. She introduced herself and seemed to recognize me, but didn't mention anything. I feel slightly better.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
I called one of my former co-workers and asked her about this girl. She said they fired the girl because she couldn't learn to do her charting. One building was 100's of miles away from the other. You never know who knows someone who knows someone.

I was under the impression that legally all you could say is that they worked there, were on time or not (at least in my state), I got this from a laywer. How could you justify calling a former co-worker for information? Was that co-worker her supervisor, ADON or DON?? Understandably she did lie about her reasons for leaving the old facility, but, I guestion calling someone you know for information, didn't the HR at the old place give you information?? Just wondering.

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I was under the impression that legally all you could say is that they worked there, were on time or not (at least in my state), I got this from a laywer. How could you justify calling a former co-worker for information? Was that co-worker her supervisor, ADON or DON?? Understandably she did lie about her reasons for leaving the old facility, but, I guestion calling someone you know for information, didn't the HR at the old place give you information?? Just wondering.

If she wasn't calling to get a reference check and just gossiping with an old friend..that shouldn't be illegal unless she used it against her.

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A director was hired at my facility. I had worked for her ONE day at another facility and did not return. I was worried that she would mention it to my current employees. Just in a chit chatty way.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

"I was under the impression that legally all you could say is that they worked there, were on time or not (at least in my state), I got this from a laywer"

I've always been under the impression that this opinion is more like an urban legend - often quoted, never quite true.

Maybe it is a state-to-state difference, but I've had attorneys tell me quite the opposite.

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I've provided the advice given to me by my attorney many times. If it is true, they can disclose your job performance. (Of course, if the supervisor, says it is true, then it is considered to be true. We all know how that goes.) If it is their opinion, they can state their "opinion". Their indication that they are expressing their "opinion" of your job performance is sufficient. The only thing they are prohibited from doing is lying about your job performance. Of course, that is where the problem lies. You have to prove they are lying about you. Very difficult to do in most cases.

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