I was fired from being a director of nursing at a Long-Term Care facility in a remote, isolated area in Maine. The reason was, as was reported to the Board of Nursing, "not clinical." It was all about my leadership. But the administrator said that she was only going to report to the board of nursing that it wasn't clinical...only leadership. However, she reported to the board all sorts of stuff that are exaggerations, half-truths and some outright lies. Besides the betrayal, which is hard enough to deal with (I'm a big boy, I'm so over and above the catty nature, and awful treatment), I now have to answer to the board of nursing, as the board of nursing took the termination letter and called it a complaint. Unprofessional conduct, or, "a violation of this chapter." I need some help in putting together a response to the board in writing. I am not looking for a lawyer - I simply can't afford it. At this point, I am looking for some pointers of how to seal with the Maine State Board of Nursing in responses. Is there anyone who can help me?
By the way, I think that Long-Term Care is broken. Too much is expected from too few people, with too many people who are just simply, jerks. It is a rare gem to find a supportive facility, with real people who treat people as people - not objects.
Please don't tell me that I should have malpractice insurance. I've now learned that lesson...as I am aware that it would have reimbursed for license defense. But that didn't happen. I am now insured...but I w
Since I'm a cynic, I'd say there is more to this story.
There really is more to the story. But that's not what I'm after. As I read over the law regarding an entity's mandarin to report RN termination, I find nothing in my conduct or actions that meet the requirements to report. My administrator genuinely thought that she had to report any and all RN terminations. But when the administrator did report my termination, she really let loose. It was awful...and of course, the board had to investigate.
I've decided that I would never tell anyone to become a nurse leader. It's not worth it. Especially in long term care. It's not worth the constant feeling that you're not a good enough leader because you want a good work/life balance. It's not worth the constant grind of not enough reimbursement, thus not enough staff...or not enough money to pay staff what they should be...and to look into their eyes and smooth it over when you know that they should be paid more...and can be paid more...just that corporate office won't pay them. But you can't say that. It's awful what is done to good people in nursing. Although nursing is all about the patient, it isn't when you're a nurse leader. As a nurse leader, I wanted to still make my practice all about the patient. But...it in fact...turns out to be all about the nurse leader. They are the constant conversation at the dinner table. They are targets. In fact, I will never encourage another person to enter the nursing profession general. It just may not be worth losing a part of their life. Nursing is wonderful...but you the professional loses a part of themselves that they can never get back.
Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.
You know...that is exactly what I did. I just don't think the BON will bite on this. I just think that they need, "due diligence." But it seems a bit overkill. It is spending my time...taking me away from a good life/work balance.
FWIW- not every complaint to BON results in license issues. Many times they decide its unfounded and drop it all together. Or they decide to do a written letter to you that it is a written warning and has no probation etc with it.
jjoechezzz
8 Posts
There really is more to the story. But that's not what I'm after. As I read over the law regarding an entity's mandarin to report RN termination, I find nothing in my conduct or actions that meet the requirements to report. My administrator genuinely thought that she had to report any and all RN terminations. But when the administrator did report my termination, she really let loose. It was awful...and of course, the board had to investigate.
I've decided that I would never tell anyone to become a nurse leader. It's not worth it. Especially in long term care. It's not worth the constant feeling that you're not a good enough leader because you want a good work/life balance. It's not worth the constant grind of not enough reimbursement, thus not enough staff...or not enough money to pay staff what they should be...and to look into their eyes and smooth it over when you know that they should be paid more...and can be paid more...just that corporate office won't pay them. But you can't say that. It's awful what is done to good people in nursing. Although nursing is all about the patient, it isn't when you're a nurse leader. As a nurse leader, I wanted to still make my practice all about the patient. But...it in fact...turns out to be all about the nurse leader. They are the constant conversation at the dinner table. They are targets. In fact, I will never encourage another person to enter the nursing profession general. It just may not be worth losing a part of their life. Nursing is wonderful...but you the professional loses a part of themselves that they can never get back.