Fired because they "can't afford me"...now what?

[AngelfireRN]

I think I'm cursed, I really do.

I left a perfectly good cardiology job to work for my primary care doc, whom I'd known for 26 years, after he called and nearly begged me to come work for him. Historically, the man hated NPs, so I was flattered, to say the least.

Never having done primary care to speak of (with the exception of the infamous "All is not Well" incident), I had a lot to learn, and we both knew it.

In the course of three months, I was seeing upwards of 20 patients on some days (not all), had passed my 2nd set of boards (meaning I was double certified), and had been farmed out to a satellite clinic that doc had gone in with, where they needed an NP to cover some days. This did not sit well with either me or doc's wife, as we found out about it on the same day, but I went and made the best of it.

Today, fresh off a weekend that doc was away, where we saw upwards of 50 patients, worked down 2 nurses, and treated doc's wife for food poisoning, I figured I'd at least get an "Atta girl".

Wrong.

I went in after clinic to ask if I had made any major oopsies that we needed to discuss, and he had 4 charts on his desk out of the 50+ that I had seen (not too bad for 3 months in, if I do say so), but he said we had bigger problems.

He shuts the door, and proceeds to tell me that the business is not picking up like he had hoped it would, and that I am not seeing enough people to cover mine and my assistant's salary. It went on, with him saying that I WAS improving, majorly so in the past two weeks, so that he felt that he didn't have to follow me so closely, but that the practice was taking a hit.

So I asked him, "Are you firing me?"

He said "We can't afford to keep you".

So, in a nutshell, I'm improving, but I cost too much. Kinda like telling someone that they have cancer and have 3 months to live, but GREAT NEWS!, their cholesterol levels are fabulous!

I don't know what to do. He made mention of possibly having me back as hourly PRN, but I don't even know if I can stand the thought of seeing him again as my doc, let alone working there anymore. His wife (also the OM) was just sobbing when I left, she apparently had no idea, we've been talking on Facebook all evening, with her thinking that I'm mad, and once I get past the numb, I probably will be, but not at her.

This wasn't what I signed up for. Any advice would be great. Thank you.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

(((angel))), dang woman, you've had a run of it...and i'm so sorry.

after the shock and hurt subsides a bit, is there any chance that what he said, makes sense?

that maybe he was losing money/unable to cover your salary?

please don't get upset...i had to ask.

because IF it's possible that he was losing money (and so, his firing you was valid), then i think it helps accepting the situation for what it is:

it sucks, but understandable.

fwiw, i never worry about you.

you're young, and you will go far in life.

give time, and yourself, a chance.:redbeathe

leslie

Took 10 posts before someone finally said "hey, maybe he let you go because he truly could not afford you, and not because he's Satan." Sign of the times, I reckon, but jeeze, people. Not everything is done out of malice.

[TDCHIM]

Took 10 posts before someone finally said "hey, maybe he let you go because he truly could not afford you, and not because he's Satan." Sign of the times, I reckon, but jeeze, people. Not everything is done out of malice.

He doesn't have to be Satan to be an inconsiderate jerk.

From a straight business standpoint, it is foolish to take on an experiment like this one without the guaranteed resources to sustain the experiment for a fair trial period. For instance, when you start a brand-new business, you are advised to have sufficient resources in cash, income, and loans to sustain a five year period of running in the red to some degree. By the end of that time, if the business has proved to be successful, you should be running in the black. If your business's overall trend is running deeper into the red rather than starting to trend out of it with improving yearly receipts by the time you hit year three to year four, you know to cut your losses. The length of time (three months) indicated by Angelfire in her post hardly seems like a fair trial period for the physician's experiment with substantially modifying his practice (by adding new staff roles to his practice model).

This poor business practice was compounded by his behavior towards the new staff he hired. To urge someone with whom he apparently had a long-standing relationship to abandon an employer of 26 years to come work for him without making sure the offer was backed by more than rosy-tinted income expectations was unfair. Angelfire certainly took a risk in leaving for this new position. However, in light of the way the physician appears to have capitalized on the long-term relationship to convince her to take the position, his decision to discard her in such a way after only three months was immoral as well as poor business management in my opinion.

You are correct in saying his decision does not appear to have been made out of malice. Nevertheless, his actions put a good nurse into a terrible position, and he's earned some heated criticism.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

And it just keeps coming!

Today, as I was perusing the online ads, an email popped up that one of my Facebook friends had updated their status.

Turns out that it was docs wife, who had (ostensibly) stood by me through this, and squalled and bawled as I left. The post?

"DOC'S WIFE didn't believe it when people told her her coworker was immature, unprofessional, and a liar. Once again, I'm reminded how naive I am."

And now, suddenly, I'm not her Facebook friend anymore.

Thing is, nothing was said that was a lie. I posted that I needed a job, and answered a couple of friends that asked with "he could not afford me", before asking them to keep their ears open for possible leads.

I'll admit, my post about people that expect miracles sinking like a rock when they hit the water just like the rest of us was a bit snarky, but I felt justified.

So no lies were told, and, so far as I can tell, the only unprofessional person in this would be he, the immature one she. I mean, really, unfriending me on Facebook? I'm crushed.

I called and set up care with another doctor today, a decision that WAS spurred by malice. If they can't see that some measure of hurt and anger is to be expected under the given circumstance, then I have no intention of giving them my business or running the risk of going in there at less than top form and having something occur.

Thank you again, to all. I have several leads, and am headed to one tomorrow to drop off an application. I will not be filing unemployment, as these people have shown that they cannot be trusted, and I am not certain that they won't claim termination for cause based on some trumped-up means. It isn't worth it. They've shown their colors. And, should the name-calling continue, they may get to see mine. I don't truly get mad often, but I'm getting close.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Sorry but to post on FB about your job is just not in the least bit professional. The internet is not private and yes, you do have to expect repercussions when you post on FB about your job loss.

Since this type of job loss seems to be a pattern, maybe you need to do some self-examination and see how you are contributing to these issues.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

All true Trauma, but in my experience, MDs do not make good businessmen. Many times it's of the "can't find butt with flashlight and GPS" -type situation more than not.

Angel, girl, the fact that "the wife" is OM would have me turn tail. Sure she's probably trying, but unless she's degreed/well experienced in business or on her way in edu. or working with a financial consultant specializing in healthcare business -- forget her. I have no problem with you posting the reason they gave for your loss of your job.

But you know Angel, you've got an "achilles heel", you are very personable and get too friendly. I am by nature a pessimist, and do not trust, and that's too bad for me. I don't fault you though, as you knew these people for many, many years. In this case it's gotta hurt.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Trauma....I'm confused, how is being let go because of a financial hardship a pattern? Unless the reference is to the clinic I worked at while I was in school (which has gone through 14- I am not exaggerating-14 NPs in 2 years' time), I've not been let go anywhere else. It was made exceptionally clear to me that my performance was not a factor, and at no time had I been counseled on anything except for the fact that the man hated my shoes. Go figure.

I agree, the FB option was not my most profassional road, however, I am in touch with the majority of my NP school friends via FB, and it seemed to be the quickest way to get some feelers out at the time. I didn't say anything inflammatory, only what happened, which was that he could not afford to keep me. And, to be honest, I wasn't at my professional best at the time, I was madder than heck, and I wanted to say a heck of a lot more than I did.

Even the snarky comment about walking on water, which she obviously took as a dig at the clinic, wasn't even directed at her. That barb was marked directly at DH and my MIL, who had been giving me heck about not being able to find a job in a day and a half. Kinda felt the need to clarify that one. Since my initial post about needing a job, nothing I have posted, with the exception of a thank you for looking and keeping ears open, has been in regards to that place.

Any road, I have to run back in today to take some soap that I had ordered by for the girls I worked with, so hopefully we can get everything hammered out.

Thanks again, all.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

2nd, you're right, I'm way too friendly, in fact, that was one of the reasons they gave for wanting to hire me. And had I not trusted them, and had asked for a contract, and been smart, I would not be in the mess I'm in now. Sigh, sometimes you just don't know.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

sorry but to post on fb about your job is just not in the least bit professional. the internet is not private and yes, you do have to expect repercussions when you post on fb about your job loss.

i have to agree. i've seen a lot of people get into trouble by posting unwisely on facebook. the mistake was in "friending" a work colleague in the first place, then posting about your job. either friend work friends. or post about your job. i think it's safest to do neither, but then i supposed i'm hopelessly outdated.

[leslie :-D]

angel, i consider you a new grad, just like any other new grad...

which will predictably entail being frustrated/unhappy/stressed in that first year.

you'll find your niche, no doubt in my mind.

leslie

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

God, that sucks. Did he do any kind of research or business planning? I hope you land on your feet, good luck!

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

One can only assume not, based on the current situation. Thanks, I always do. Must have something to do with being a Leo, all those catlike instincts!

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Well, this was unexpected....got a call from the manager of the doc-in-a-box, who said " I heard what happened. I have a friend who's looking for someone like you. His name is Dr. X. He's expecting you at 10 tomorrow, you can start immediately. He's heard good things."

:yeah:Here's hoping!