Fired for expressing concerns about patient safety and care!

[hkrntobe]

I need help please. Just not sure what to do now. Getting right to the particulars.

I was working in a So Cal Hospital in a Psychiatric unit. I was assigned a set schedule.

1) I was suddenly assigned to work 8 days straight Wed - Wed (8 hour shifts / this schedule would also mean that I would be working overtime without getting paid for it.) I consulted my union rep. and at her advise requested my set schedule back.

2) After numerous AWOL's and patients attacking each other, I expressed concerns on patient care and patient safety when probed by my manager. Within 4 business days of these two incidence I was called in the office and told "You are not a good fit." "You did not pass probation."

3) Come to find out that there are people have expected for some time that the Union was in-bed with administration. The union rep stalled for almost two weeks before telling me that my start date was my hire date.....regardless of the date I had on the paperwork from HR stated. I have never received a complaint from anybody for any reason. After bringing to HR's attention that 90 calendar days from the "date of hire" had passed, HR stated they would get back to me after hearing the managers side of the story.

After several days I am advised that my date of hire was not until my first day I hit the floor. They refuse to address the ethical issues or the fact that I have signed paperwork from HR which clearly states my date of hire as documented by the hiring HR representative.

I was Fired because I was a good nurse and attempted to prevent further issues with patient safety. I was fired because I questioned why I was working 8 days straight. I was fired NOT because I was a poor nurse or because I lacked critical thinking skills, but because I was not a Quiet Nurse.

I am just floored! I have a child to take care of and feel that he is now suffering for my decision to do the right thing. Should I really have to sacrifice patient care and POTENTIALLY MY LICENSE in order to provide for my child? Advice would be appreciated please. What are my options from here?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

If your employment was terminated prior to the end of your probationary period, I am not sure what your options are at this point. During probation, your employment can be terminated at any time and for any reason the employer deems fit.

For what it is worth, I personally would wait until well after your probationary period ends at your next job to start lodging complaints, bringing up concerns, and questioning the status quo. You do not want to end up becoming a target too soon into your employment relationship with the next company. Nursing can be very political while chewing you up and spitting you out.

Good luck to you, and I hope you can find another job soon.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

After taking a look at your previous posts, it appears you've struggled for more than one year to find your first nursing job, and now this unfortunate situation happens. I am so sorry that this happened to you because I know how badly you wanted a job.

My advice might not be popular, but I am going to give it anyway. As a new employee who desperately needs the job and income, you may wish to fly under the radar, keep your mouth closed, and avoid attracting any attention while doing your job. Pretend to be grateful for the job. Do not complain or do anything to irritate management until you have worked there for a while.

[hkrntobe]

While I understand that your advise is to keep my mouth shut frankly, several patients and staff have been attacked, including myself. I would rather uphold my standards of nursing care than run the risk of having my license revoked because of an unfortunate incident that could have been avoided but, went unaddressed simply because I was to afraid to deliver the same care to a patient that I would expect for my friends or family. I find it verry telling that a Nure should be told to Keep her mouth shut as opposed to identify and attempting to resolve a dangerous situation. I guess with all of the Medicare Medical and Oboma care, we've reached a point where it's acceptable to forgo Patient Care?! Seem questionable to me.

[hkrntobe]

Not to mention the personal liability I expose myself to when doing so.

[nursingpower]

I need help please. Just not sure what to do now. Getting right to the particulars.

I was working in a So Cal Hospital in a Psychiatric unit. I was assigned a set schedule. 1) I was suddenly assigned to work 8 days straight Wed - Wed (8 hour shifts / this schedule would also mean that I would be working overtime without getting paid for it.) I consulted my union rep. and at her advise requested my set schedule back. 2) After numerous AWOL's and patients attacking each other, I expressed concerns on patient care and patient safety when probed by my manager. Within 4 business days of these two incidence I was called in the office and told "You are not a good fit." "You did not pass probation." 3) Should I really have to sacrifice patent care and POTENTIALLY MY LICENSE in order to provide for my child? Advice would be appreciated please. What are my options from here?

I am sorry that happened to you. I am very curious to know what that hospital listed as the job description and about the work hours when they advertised that position you applied to. Next time when you interview these are some questions you want to ask. Don't just take any job just because you are trying to get one.

Know BEFORE you take a job the min/max hours. Overtime policy. Scheduling rules/policies. Attendance policies. Are you able to self schedule? If not how is scheduling done and by who with what as determining factors. It just seems like you were taken advantage of but then again I only have one side of the story.

All I know is that the hospital I work for has policies in place. Including a employee complaint/grievance policy. No one is exempt when it comes to hospital wide, employee policies. We can always go to HR who will assist with ensuring the policies are being held. That's here in Ohio. I can't speak for Cali.

Anyways, be happy that you don't have to work for such a place. If they are treating you like that and you just got there it can only get worse. Anytime you work somewhere that your patients/nursing liscense is a risk YOU take initiative and leave. That probation term should be a two way door. If you don't think they are a fit you should be able to leave too.

Either way this is a learning experience for you to pay attention to the "small print" and know what to ask during interviews.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Really? You're going to bring politics into this and blame the President?

Also, I think you mean "advice" instead of "advise" in the two places you've used it so far.

While I understand that your advise is to keep my mouth shut frankly, several patients and staff have been attacked, including myself. I would rather uphold my standards of nursing care than run the risk of having my license revoked because of an unfortunate incident that could gave been avoided but, went unaddressed simply because I was to afraid to deliver the same care to a patient that I would expect for my friends or family. I find it verry telling that a Nure should be told to Keep her mouth shut as opposed to identify and attempting to resolve a dangerous situation. I guess with all of the Medicare Medical and Oboma care, we've reached a point where it's acceptable to forgo Patient Care?! Seem questionable to me.

[hkrntobe]

Thank you for your input. Yes I was told it was full time and I was given a set schedule. I was told that if the set schedule needed to be changed that I would be notified in advance. Working a person 8 days straight wed-wed is just a way for administration to work a nurse into the ground without having to compensate them. Thank you for your input.

[hkrntobe]

Really? You're going to bring politics into this and blame the President? Also, I think you mean "advice" instead of "advise" in the two places you've used it so far.

Thank you colleenrn2b. I did. I'm not quite sure were you got that I'm blaming the president though? The reference was intended to point out that Hospitals seem to place more importance on reimbursement concerns than patient care. I did mention Medicare and Medical as well.

[nursingpower]

My advice might not be popular, but I am going to give it anyway. As a new employee who desperately needs the job and income, you may wish to fly under the radar, keep your mouth closed, and avoid attracting any attention while doing your job. Pretend to be grateful for the job. Do not complain or do anything to irritate management until you have worked there for a while.

While I understand that your advise is to keep my mouth shut frankly, several patients and staff have been attacked, including myself. I would rather uphold my standards of nursing care than run the risk of having my license revoked because of an unfortunate incident that could gave been avoided but, went unaddressed simply because I was to afraid to deliver the same care to a patient that I would expect for my friends or family. I find it verry telling that a Nure should be told to Keep her mouth shut as opposed to identify and attempting to resolve a dangerous situation. I guess with all of the Medicare Medical and Oboma care, we've reached a point where it's acceptable to forgo Patient Care?! Seem questionable to me.

I will say this. Where I work we are praised for being PATIENT and SAFETY ADVOCATES! Nurses are encouraged to voice our opinions as individuals and as part of our NURSING INSTITUTE. I also find it very telling that a nurse should be told to keep his/her mouth shut in the face of danger, injustice and unfairness.

Fly under the radar, keep your mouth closed, avoid attention, PRETEND TO BE GRATEFUL, don't complain or irritate management??? Sounds like SLAVERY to me. Nursing is too good of an occupation to even be compared to something like slavery. So so sad if anyone believes that that is what nursing is about.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

It was when you threw "Obamacare" into the mix....

Thank you colleenrn2b. I did. I'm not quite sure were you got that I'm blaming the president though? The reference was intended to point out that Hospitals seem to place more importance on reimbursement concerns than patient care. I did mention Medicare and Medical as well.

[hkrntobe]

It was when you threw "Obamacare" into the mix....

Out of everything, that's what you got out of that?