Hello all! I’m a CNA in Kentucky and I was recently let go from my job for basically no reason. Here’s the story:
I called into work Friday. I was called by the interim DON to be notified that I was terminated for calling in. When I questioned why I was being terminated for calling in when I only had 1 call in and 0 disciplinary actions on my record, the DON then stated “In Kentucky I can fire you for any reason so I don’t have to have a reason”. Our policy states that to terminate someone over the phone you must use a facility phone and must have a third party listening in to the phone call. She called me from her personal cell phone without a third party. In addition, our policy states that you haven’t reached grounds for termination until you’ve called in 8 times in a calendar year. That was my first call in. The big catch is that the interim DON used to be just a regular nurse, and we have had public face-to-face confrontation before she was promoted, that she had to be talked to by the administrator for because she acted unprofessionally towards me. She has only been interim DON for about a week. I feel like I could be looking at a retaliation or harassment lawsuit? It looks highly suspicious that we’ve had large conflict before she became DON, and now that she’s interim DON I’m terminated within a week with 1 call in and 0 disciplinary actions on my file. I don’t really want to pursue a lawsuit, but does it look bad enough that you think corporate may be scared into giving me my job back?
Any advice as to how I should handle this? Thank you all!!
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
I agree with most of the previous posters. Right now you have no job so I would use a multifaceted approach:
1. If you have a union, call them first. But you probably don't, so:
2. Contact HR to see if they can do anything for you, especially if she violated hospital policy.
3. If HR doesn't give you any joy, contact a labour attorney to see if you have a case.
4. Apply for unemployment.
5. Find out who you can use for references and start applying for jobs.
Your main goal is to pay the rent and buy groceries. Second is to protect your reputation. Third is to minimize life disruptions. Fourth is to see your DON suffer for being such a *****, but that one is a long shot. Good luck.
Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.
I agree that she is retaliating and the minute she got some power she could not wait to find any reason to get rid of you! When you mess with someones livelihood that does not deserve to be messed with you are playing with fire. All good advice and especially about would getting an attorney...you can sue for wrongful termination but you have to get moving on it and will need all your employment documents.If I were in your shoes I would be looking for a new job and making an appointment with an attorney....You need to start writing down dates and times including the date you got the call .You will need a copy of your personal file.employmemt agreement or contract..an employee handbook.any applicable HR or workplace policies...job evaluations...Pay stubs..any communication about and incident s with this employee. I would be furious at this person's childlike behavior and honestly she needs to learn a lesson!
An Interim position can stay in play for a long time. When it comes time for a permanent post, the interim is usually the likely pick.
Are you afraid of change? Sometimes I read about the things nurses put up with, but then comes a block where nurses complain but don't seek out a better job. I can't think of why you would want to go back to a place where you were treated like that. What if the next job you find is better and you look back and see that getting pushed out of your old job wasn't such a bad thing?
Find a new job. If you've had "large conflict" with someone who was your supervising nurse and is now the DON, you're not going to win.
Even if you did, they'd get you on something else. I know it is painful and unfair, but best for you to move on.
I do think you should make it known to HR and Administration that you had only 1 call-off and that this evil woman did not follow policy.
BTW, are you positive about the policy?
Good luck in the future.
On 9/23/2019 at 9:59 PM, iluvivt said:
I agree that she is retaliating and the minute she got some power she could not wait to find any reason to get rid of you! When you mess with someones livelihood that does not deserve to be messed with you are playing with fire. All good advice and especially about would getting an attorney...you can sue for wrongful termination but you have to get moving on it and will need all your employment documents.If I were in your shoes I would be looking for a new job and making an appointment with an attorney....You need to start writing down dates and times including the date you got the call .You will need a copy of your personal file.employmemt agreement or contract..an employee handbook.any applicable HR or workplace policies...job evaluations...Pay stubs..any communication about and incident s with this employee. I would be furious at this person's childlike behavior and honestly she needs to learn a lesson!
How far in advance of your shift starting did you call in? Some facilities consider a last minute call in a no-call no-show which is grounds for immediate termination.
Unlike the others who have replied to your post, I can see where you would have been terminated. You have already had confrontations with this nurse, you repeatedly say she used to be 'just' a nurse and is 'only' an interim nurse. You also state that you would like it if she was demoted.
You show a bad attitude and I believe this has come across in your dealings with this nurse, whether she was a staff nurse or the interim DON. She may not be the only one who wanted to be rid of you and took this as the opportunity to send you out the door.
TriciaJ, RN
4,328 Posts
I agree with most of the previous posters. Right now you have no job so I would use a multifaceted approach:
1. If you have a union, call them first. But you probably don't, so:
2. Contact HR to see if they can do anything for you, especially if she violated hospital policy.
3. If HR doesn't give you any joy, contact a labour attorney to see if you have a case.
4. Apply for unemployment.
5. Find out who you can use for references and start applying for jobs.
Your main goal is to pay the rent and buy groceries. Second is to protect your reputation. Third is to minimize life disruptions. Fourth is to see your DON suffer for being such a *****, but that one is a long shot. Good luck.