I'm a new grad LPN and just started working at a LTC home. I love it there but all the nurses talk about everyone who's been fired, everyone who gets wrote up and on and on....
The way they talk, it seems the admin can just up and fire you if they don't like you, even if you're a good nurse, even if you work extra shifts.
I feel really paranoid about this, especially because I love the job and the location of the facility. Right now, I feel like I want to work there a very long time, but I don't want to live in fear of losing my job just because the admin is having a bad day.
Then another part of me knows that if you just keep your mouth shut and do your paperwork and make it "look" like you're doing your job, you'll be okay.
Can anyone give me some insight into why all the nurses seem to think they can be fired at any given moment? Is firing beneficial in some way? I just don't get it!!!!!
Everybody is right on. The people that do the worst job are the ones that keep their jobs. But that's just it, not only do they not really perform work, but they also keep their mouths shut and do go along with whatever admin says - even when it's wrong.
Me, I'm just a big mouth and the older I get, the worse it is because I just don't care if admin likes what I say anymore. I'm going to do what is right and they can just bite me.
Nope, not me..I always have a plan B. My next move if I were to lose my job would be to become a travel nurse. I think the hospitals should live in fear that we'll quit!
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Yes, people can be fired for no reason. I usually scrutinize every personality I come across, because I find many nuts in the barrel...sometimes, the best nurses are terminated, the ones telling the stories don't know all of the details and exaggerate (and are sometimes the ones that egg on the firing of people), many, many, many things.
I have a union where I work, so, it is not easy to terminate us. The problems, sometimes, unfortunately is the same thing...they cannot easily terminate us...ANY of us and that includes the bad ones. I discovered that if you do speak up or question; it must be done tactfully. Also, you have to read deeply between the lines on what is being said, watch body language and be a keen observer of personalities. You have to look out for yourself first. And, like another poster mentioned (and this takes time), always have a plan B in your back pocket. If you like it there for now, that is great. But, try not to get in the mix of the gossip mill. Most stories you hear are not the entire scenerio, so, use discernment, and keep the information you hear in the archieves of your brain for later use.
Nope, not me..I always have a plan B. My next move if I were to lose my job would be to become a travel nurse. I think the hospitals should live in fear that we'll quit!
Hospitals live in fear that nurses will finally get so disgusted that we all unionize and go on strike across the entire country. That is what the US Post Office did in 1970 and they brought this country to its knees in three days! That is what hospitals are afraid of. Nurses taking control of our professsion and calling the shots.
I am an LPN and no, I do not worry about being fired. There are plenty of jobs in my area so if they got rid of me I could just go and get a new one right away in my area. Besides, if they got rid of me, it would be "their loss." :chuckle
If staff is frequently being fired, I would wonder about the ability of the manager to hire quality people.
With some good judgement, a little fact checking and perhaps calling a reference, most "problem" employees can be screened out and not hired in the first place.
I agree though, it's surprising in health care how if you point out negative points of care your labeled for having a "bad attitude" because your trying to actually make things work better. Is it like this in the "magnet" hospitals or does that actually improve things?
Hospitals live in fear that nurses will finally get so disgusted that we all unionize and go on strike across the entire country. That is what the US Post Office did in 1970 and they brought this country to its knees in three days! That is what hospitals are afraid of. Nurses taking control of our professsion and calling the shots.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington
That would be fricken' awesome if that happened-Unfortunately, I still think that kind of scenario is a ways off for nurses because the "martyr nurses" that are out there..But, when it does start to happen, sign me up!!
I always joke around that I'd be lucky to get fired from where I work. That being said, I'm usually only half joking. Mostly because I'm lazy and starting a new job is hard. I wouldn't be terribly upset if I lost my job though, I'd just go find another one (and maybe be lucky to find one less stressful). I don't really know anyone that has been fired in the year I've been where I'm at. So no, I don't really fear being fired or written up. I figure if I screw up I probably deserve a write up. If I got fired it would probably be because I was incompetent...not really likely to happen. So no I don't worry too much about it at all. Probably the last thing on my mind, actually.
I live in fear every day I work. I too work in a ltc facility and in my time there I have been "verbally coached" and wrote up for the silliest things I have ever heard of and none of them has to do with my actual job! The last one being that I supposedly said something about someone else that of course doesn't like me so I got wrote up for it even though they couldn't prove it was even said. Yet another more popular nurse throws chairs and cusses at other staff in front of patients but she just gets a talking to.
I don't leave this facility because I truly love my patients and my hours and with small children that is the main part of my staying. Of course I am working contingent at another facility to have a back up just in case.
Where I work doing your job the way it's supposed to be done makes you a target. The good for nothings get away with murder and those of us who try to do our best get the shaft. If you work too hard at my job you will be teased and accused of trying to be super nurse and then everyone will be looking for you to make the most minute of mistakes so that you can be written up. Three write ups and you are fired, meanwhile the people who are not doing their jobs never get reported.
The only reason I am sucking it up is because as an LPN with less than 1 year experience my employment options are rather limited. Basically I can stay at this crappy LTC and do what I can or go to another crappy LTC (no shortage of these in my neck of the woods) and deal with goodness knows what else. I'm praying to be finished with school so that I can have some options.
I love my residents and I truly feel bad for them but after this experience no more LTC for me.
I agree though, it's surprising in health care how if you point out negative points of care your labeled for having a "bad attitude" because your trying to actually make things work better. Is it like this in the "magnet" hospitals or does that actually improve things?
Yes it can be like this even in the magnet hospitals. I will say that overall though, the magnet facility I worked for in TX was much better than any of the other places in TX I have been. My friends in other states, particularly with unions are much happier with their working conditions.
Until everyone has the courage to do what you did - and all at the same time - we are doomed.
RN1989
1,348 Posts
Everybody is right on. The people that do the worst job are the ones that keep their jobs. But that's just it, not only do they not really perform work, but they also keep their mouths shut and do go along with whatever admin says - even when it's wrong.
Me, I'm just a big mouth and the older I get, the worse it is because I just don't care if admin likes what I say anymore. I'm going to do what is right and they can just bite me.