Did i really do anything wrong?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello there, just had some issues happen to me at my job recently that I want to share with you all, I work as an LPN in a subacute unit of a rehab/ltc as a PRN nurse.

I was approached by the staffing person in June of this year to work temporarily as the charge nurse until they fill the position of the unit manager&charge nurse. I agreed and I worked usually mon-fri, however I always inform them in advance if am not able to come in. The administrator agreed that we should take it week by week and would let me know in advance if am no longer needed.

Anyway, I went in to work this last Monday(labor day) I had told the staffing person the day before that I would be leaving early on Monday. When I got to work, I realized that there was actually nothing for me to do around there since it was a holiday, doctors offices and most places were closed, practitioners didnt want to be bothered( I usually communicate patient needs to the doctors) and the lab was only doing stat lab orders only. I got to work at 9am and did s few things, then I went to the D.O.N and said I was leaving, he says" what do u mean, you're leaving" I replied that I already told the staffing person that I was going to be leaving early plus there's really nothing for me to do, plus am PRN. He then replied saying ok, it's fine, just go.

About 4 hours later, I received a text from the staffing person saying that the D.O.N says not to come back to work the desk anymore, that my services is no longer needed. I was shocked and I called the DON asking what the problem was and why, I got a voice mail and left a message requesting a call back. I never got a call back, instead, I received a text msg from the D.O.N saying, I was not instructed to leave the facility, that I just wouldn't be needed at the desk anymore that since I am PRN, I should pick up shifts to work the cart like other nurses. I never received a call or text saying WHAT I did wrong and WHY.

Mind you all, I worry about working the cart at my job because I feel like the work load is so much and even though I work there PRN, the only time I pick up shifts is when I can work the desk, do MARS at the end of the month or assist with admissions. I am sharing this with my fellow nurses and other health care providers because, I felt cheated by the D.O.N especially since I have been working the charge nurse position since June and I have asked to be put permanently in the position and I had been told no, that it was only temporary, I shunned my other PRN jobs and gave my entire time to this facility only to be cut off without any notice, I don't feel like I did anything wrong especially when am PRN and I didnt just walk off, I asked permission to leave when I got ready to and I also informed staffing a day prior plus there really wasn't anything to do.

I Am picking up shifts to work the cart at this facility against my will because I couldn't get any shifts at my other jobs based on a short notice but I have decided that am leaving this facility once I get back on track with my other PRN jobs. Also since I don't work the desk anymore, the whole place look a hot mess, papers everywhere, pt's labs sitting there without being called in to the MD, f/u appts not being scheduled. Just sharing my experience with you all.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Specializes in Medsurg, LTC.
Really? There was nothing to do? No pts needed help with their exercises, no nurses needed help with care? All Kardexes were 100% up to date?

Yes.of course, there are things to do, just not the things that I have been specifically asked to come there to do..

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Well, then, ignore the DON and go meet with the administrator that you had the agreement with. Let them handle it. Your agreement is not with the DON. And next time, if you have a scheduled half day or something, make sure that you stay that half day. Your leaving early is what has upset the apple cart. Remember, nobody else wants to be there either - but it's work, and they know they have to stay.

Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

I think it's possible the DON you spoke to misinterpreted you. Your asking to leave could have been interpreted, for alllll sorts of reasons, as a statement that you were just going to do it. A tired, overwhelmed anyone might not have the energy to say you had to stay at that particular time even if her interpretation of what happened was that you just announced it. Then, later, it could really rub the wrong way leading to what's happening now.

Maybe the DON doesn't want to talk to you, or maybe texting is just her preferred way of communicating.

Having had an agreement of flexibility as long as it's decided beforehand doesn't mean on-the-spot to most. It means before the shift starts. Also, nurses do more than what they've been specifically asked to do. We're expected to jump in and help. If there was truly nothing to do, then you're off the hook. If anyone was needing help and you still had hours left on the time you had agreed to work, then the hook is still there.

I see you work hard. That should come into conversation when you talk with those you're going to talk with, about this. I believe it will work out after you talk about it, as long as you don't get emotional during the talk, and don't blame anyone else...

Specializes in Gerontology.
Yes.of course, there are things to do, just not the things that I have been specifically asked to come there to do..Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

See, I would interpret this as you not wanting to be a team player.

And I would wonder if you would step in and help in an emergency, when staff are short etc, or would you just say "not what I was hired for"

Specializes in ICU.

I'm wondering why the staffing person is the one TEXTING you not to come back anymore. If the DON was letting you go, he is the person with the power, not the staffing coordinator. That is something that should not be delegated. Weird.

Specializes in Medsurg, LTC.

See, I would interpret this as you not wanting to be a team player.

And I would wonder if you would step in and help in an emergency, when staff are short etc, or would you just say "not what I was hired for"

I am a team player to the core, the have the slightest clue what I do around there, it takes someone that is able to multi task and stand up to help at anytime, WHEN NEEDED, I was there for a few hours on that day and did a lot in a few hours, I don't have a regular schedule on a day to day basis, the facility and I are taking this week by week per the administrator, I made sure everyone was ok before I left among the clinical staff, from nurses to CNA's.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Specializes in Medsurg, LTC.
I'm wondering why the staffing person is the one TEXTING you not to come back anymore. If the DON was letting you go, he is the person with the power, not the staffing coordinator. That is something that should not be delegated. Weird.

That's what really bordered me, I have since been back working the cart and every time the DON sees me, he seems to go in a different direction like am being avoided. I know almost everyone that know what happened in the facility told me I did not do anything wrong, if I wasn't dependable, someone would have said something earlier, I know I did my best and even though am scheduled 8-4:30pm, am usually the last one to leave among everyone else that came in the morning.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Specializes in Home Care.

Sounds like a case of miscommunication to me.

Did you go and talk to the DON in person?

Maybe you're not the team player they are seeking, you should be taking the cart when requested.

Specializes in hospice.

Man, you people are brutal. I'ts funny how at times I read about something, and it's all love, and then other times, you rip into the OP.

Personally, I don't see anything she did wrong, it sounds like this DON has something up his/her ***. I don't really have any advice as I don't know how the nursing homes work, but it sounds like you didn't deserve what you got, sorry about that, it sucks when crap like that happens.

Good luck to you.

Specializes in MDS RNAC, LTC, Psych, LTAC.

Jeannepaul,

I agree that the original OP was given the shaft. She is agency was doing her best to help out a facility in the way the administrator wanted. It looks like it was poor communication between the DON and the staffing coordinator. I have worked LTC for many years and this happens often in some facilities. Someone drops the ball and the low man or nurse on the totem pole gets the shaft so no one has to admit to an honest mistake.

If you are agency actually you are just supposed to go in and do your scheduled hours most generally they dont want you to stay over and an agency nurse has to get permission to deviate from stated hours so requested by facility by the company she works for. If I was the OP I would stay until PRN shifts at other facilities pick up and move on. Dont think you are a bad nurse or did something wrong. If you were doing charge nurse duties prn you have no direct patient care load so you did not abandon any residents.

Things like this is why I stopped working LTC the workload is horrendous and unsafe and no respect is given to staff nurses or agency and many DONs do the quick shuffle on responsibility.

I really don't know the answer to your question b/c I'm not sure a/b the protocols for PRN nursing in LTCFs, but I do know how to be assertive and confront situations directly. The DON does not!!! Texting a punitive reassignment of duties with no clear explanation when he had an opportunity to address the situation with you in person is leadership at its finest. Sarcasm. Can you try requesting to speak with him in person?

Specializes in Medsurg, LTC.
I really don't know the answer to your question b/c I'm not sure a/b the protocols for PRN nursing in LTCFs, but I do know how to be assertive and confront situations directly. The DON does not!!! Texting a punitive reassignment of duties with no clear explanation when he had an opportunity to address the situation with you in person is leadership at its finest. Sarcasm. Can you try requesting to speak with him in person?

I have given up, I am satisfied with working the cart now and I enjoy watching the desk looking a mess also, major chaos is happening since I was asked to stop, pt's f/u appts not scheduled, labs not called in. Am enjoying every minute, God always vindicates the just, I know I have done very well for this facility. The administrator is who am going to speak to this week, not because I want to get back to working the desk but because I want her to know what really happened and in case am asked for help in the future and I refuse, at least she'll know tge reason why.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

+ Add a Comment