From Golden Child to Worst Employee: What The?????

[tencat]

Hi all. I've been doing hospice for 3 years, and I love it. I used to like my current job as well, but lately I hate getting up in the morning to face the day. I used to be praised and even was recognized officially as an exemplary employee. Then I had a 10 week medical leave about a year ago, and during that time our manager asked the other nurses to have a ridiculous work load (one having 23 patients, the other doing call 24/7 and all admissions with a small caseload) and they did not complain about it, which I encouraged them to do as I felt that was not fair to them and the resources were there for another plan.

So fast forward to now. Since I've been back from leave I've done nothing right according to my manager. The other case manager I work with is a Drama Queen, and all she cares about is herself and HER needs as an employee. Even though she has over 20 years of experience as a nurse, she refused a complex patient (tubes everywhere) because she was 'tired' and needed a 'break'. The manager backed her up when I pointed out that I had nowhere near the experience she has, she was due for more patients (I had 14, she had 10), and I wasn't comfortable either with such a complex patient and no support system. I ended up with the patient anyway. So now that we are facing a medical leave from another of our nurses, she's talked to the manager and convinced her to make me do call 24/7 with all admissions while she takes 25 patients. No one asked me what I thought would work for me. When I objected, I was told that I needed to do what's 'best for the patients' and that this plan worked so well last time that it was going to be used again. WTH? Looking back over the last year I think I'm being 'penalized' for taking medical leave.

I was thinking I was crazy: How had things gone from so good to so bad in a year? No changes in management or team members. Yet here I am hating my job and resenting my coworker. I'm not blameless; I know that. I just wonder where I went wrong.

If you made it this far, thanks for listening.

[LACA, BSN, LPN, RN]

Have you discussed other possible plans with them and what could be done instead?

[leslie :-D]

i'm thinking word got back, that you encouraged others to complain?

either way tencat, it sounds like an absolute nightmare.

(this is inpatient???)

time for another leave...except make it permanent.

leslie

[onetiredmomma]

It sounds to me that your manager is trying to keep to a low budget. Would she be willing to carry this assignment? Try to keep the emotional part out of it and ask for a meeting with all of you. Voice your concerns and have some alternative plans to offer. Document in writing, provide a copy to your manager and her boss. If no one is willing to address your concerns, time to buff up your resume and move on. Best of luck!

[Jules A, MSN]

Sadly sometimes it just happens and whatever the reason if you dread getting up for work it is past time for a change. There is a better team out there for you. Take care.

[annacnatorn]

Working in Hospice is stressfull, in and of it's self. Everyone must work as a team. There is no "I" in team, it takes many.

1. What was done when you took leave..was there a "case conf" to discuss the possible shift in load?

2. Legally, there should be relief time for the on call, especially 24/7. A Nurse can and will get fatigue hence causing the resentment. The need for 24/7 is there, yes, no doubt about that, death knows no time, however, a Nurse that works 24/7 is headed for a disaster. A good thing to try is rotating the 24/7, that way each of you have a chance to recoop.

3. Was there a "thankyou" for covering for me in my absence?

4. All Hospice Nurses, regardless of level, get frustrated and burnt out, an outlet is needed. Working with dying people is difficult and messes with ones psyche.

Good Luck, Sounds like a "case conf" needs to be done to discuss the situation, rather than bickering back in forth.

I live and love Hospice.

[tewdles, RN]

tencat, this is a very difficult situation for you, obviously.

The fact that you were held in high esteem prior to your leave suggests to me that you were a highly productive team player...clearly something happened to change the employer perception. I think that leslie may have hit the nail on the head...conversation at some point alerted admin that you were "stirring a pot" of discontent in your medical absence (at least in their opinion based upon heresay).

The fact that the management team's response is reactive and punative suggests that their primary interests do not include the health and well being of the staff. If it did, they would be receptive to other ideas for meeting the needs of the patients and professionals without sacrificing the needs of the nurses.

Too many home health and hospice agencies have no real plan for covering the case load of RNs when they are not available to work, other than to shift the visits and responsibilities to another case manager who is unlikely to have adequate space in their calendar to comfortably accomplish them. They could hire more contingent or per diem nurses to assist with care. They could employ a temp or agency nurse to provide the care. They could use financial or other incentives to gain voluntary coverage of care. Unfortunately, none of these options are "free" and are therefore not even a consideration for many employers.

In my experience, it is unlikely that you will regain your standing in this agency unless there is a change in management. I know that as a manager once I have an impression or opinion of a professional on my team it is not an easy or quick process to change that opinion...either way. This is human nature to a large degree. I agree that your best option may be to begin the process of discovering another hospice in your geographic area and investigate working for them.

Hospice is sort of a small community and so it will be best and easiest for you if you can find other employment and leave your current position with relationships as intact as possible.

Good luck. Hospice needs to keep dedicated nurses who are passionate about the care.

[savnlivzPRN, LVN]

I had the same thing happen at my work. I was the best employee promoted very quickly always trying to do more and learn more then the others at work started to "attack" me and feel that they shouldn't do thier part because i was "special". So I had to do the job of three people to cover these others who decided it's ok for them to just clock in and clock out... The manager who had praised me before started to come down on me. I was like "HEY i'm doing 3 peoples jobs here!! (honestly no exaggeration) and he started holding me accountable for things they wouldn't do. It got to the point where the stress was overwhelming. 6 months later i had to beg 2x for a transfer. and was only granted one because i went above the managers head (not reccomended) due to his unwillingness to let me go. I suggest you transfer, quit... something. I know people say to talk to the manager and i agree but sometimes (in my case at least) it could not only be useless but it could also be counterproductive... Good luck and keep your head high even though the praises are not comming your way i hope you know that you still deserve them... :)

[southernbeegirl, BSN, RN]

it could just be that you work for Sybil, like I do. one day she loves you...the next day she won't even speak to you and tells people how stupid you are. maybe it's her and not you?

[tencat]

Thank you all for your great replies. You guys rock! I have decided to leave the job and take a different job not in hospice, which is really tearing me apart, but I need a break to recharge and replenish. I love hospice and will go back eventually, but for now I need to step back and take a breather. I've already got another job lined up, and I thank God for that, as the economy is so bad right now. But it's time to move on.

[laynaER]

Sounds to me like you need another job, and if you felt your patient assignment was unsafe then you should have maybe filed the necessary paperwork to protest it and to declare the situation unsafe that way in case something happens, at least you had it documented. I hope things get better for you.