Fired for being an LVN!

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Specializes in Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care.

I just got fired. Well, actually, my contract with the VA has been terminated, effective immediately. The reason given was that "nursing management" has decided that ALL employees of the clinic will now be RN's. Funny thing is, there is only one other RN in the entire hospital that has any experience running a Hyperbaric Chamber, let alone the entire department, and he is needed elsewhere. So far, I have fielded twelve calls from freaked out nurses asking me how to do various things, from transferring patients from other VA hospitals, to actually running the chambers!

To say that I am livid is an understatement. More than twenty years of experience completely set aside because of the initials behind my name. More than many LVN's, I, mistakenly, believed that I was a valuable component in providing quality healthcare to our veterans, and that I was immune from the struggles faced by so many other LVN's.

End of rant.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I am so sorry ((HUGS)).

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Wow! I'm sorry, I'm thinking that there is more of this to come for all of us. Best wishes for all of us.

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This just sickens me. RANT AWAY SWEETIE!! I am so sorry for all those years yo have put in that they would treat you like this. :( We have LPNs and RNs in our Home Care teams, and I value the LPNs JUST AS MUCH as the RNs. In my mind when I have a question I know that our nurses will have the answers for me and I don't care if they have an LPN or RN after their names. BIG BIG HUGS I hope you can take this opertunity to find you another job which I am sure you will be wonderful at!!

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I'm so sorry to hear that, especially as a long-time LVN in California. If it makes you feel any better at all, even experienced RNs are getting the boot because of changing market conditions in nursing as a whole. As a little twist on the Bette Davis' quote. . .

Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride! for a while I fear. ((hugs))

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
More than twenty years of experience completely set aside because of the initials behind my name.
I am so sorry this happened to you. :(

This current trend of credential inflation is really getting out of hand, IMHO.

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Specializes in Peds critical care.

I'm mad for you! I'm so so sorry.

Effective immediately, I would take that to mean I am no longer an employee. So the nurses calling to figure out how to do their job would be outta luck. Refer them righ back to their brilliant management that brought this on. Perhaps I'm just mean, but this is what the powers that be wanted, then let them try to fix it!

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Specializes in None yet..

This sucks mud. Next time a freaked out nurse calls you, could you suggest to them that s/he contact his/her manager to see about hiring you as a consultant or returning you to a position as a trainer. Or perhaps you could contact your former supervisor and offer your services.

I know nurses are giving, giving, giving souls but I don't like the idea of you doing unpaid work for an organization that has failed to see your value and has treated you poorly. "Effective immediately?" Jeepers. Just a knee jerk response from a doormat in recovery; none of this may apply to your situation.

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Specializes in None yet..
I'm mad for you! I'm so so sorry.

Effective immediately, I would take that to mean I am no longer an employee. So the nurses calling to figure out how to do their job would be outta luck. Refer them righ back to their brilliant management that brought this on. Perhaps I'm just mean, but this is what the powers that be wanted, then let them try to fix it!

brattygrl, we must have been typing at the same time! I don't think you're mean at all.

:roflmao: "Brilliant management!"

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Specializes in Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care.
I'm mad for you! I'm so so sorry.

Effective immediately, I would take that to mean I am no longer an employee. So the nurses calling to figure out how to do their job would be outta luck. Refer them righ back to their brilliant management that brought this on. Perhaps I'm just mean, but this is what the powers that be wanted, then let them try to fix it!

Believe me, I thought about doing exactly that! After a glass of wine (all right, more than just one), I came to the conclusion that it's probably not a good idea to burn that bridge, even if I was right to be so angry after being told that I was "unqualified" to run a clinic because I wasn't an RN.

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Specializes in Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Care.

I have considered simply sending them a bill for consultant services at the rate of $100 per service call. There's no way that they will contract with me after unceremoniously dismissing me.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

The best way to get anyone to appreciate what you do is to quit doing it. Yup, feels mean, but stop fielding the calls. Please let management know you have been fielding calls. They need to communicate with their current staff the new trouble-shooting protocol. If management wants you to be part of that protocol, your fee will be (name your price). We won't ever be valued until we start making our value known.

You will land on your feet. Good luck.

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