Ok, so this happend like 6 months ago, and I am still not over it. So I am going to vent, and would love to hear others opinions on it.
I used to work day shift (moved to nights after the infamous HR incident). We work well together on our unit, or so I thought. The charge nurse and another nurse and I are friends, who socialize outside of work. Apparently, this did not sit well with some people.
One day, the charge nurse was called to HR. She was freaking out (because usually, its not a good thing to be called down there). She came back devestated. The next day, the other nurse was called down there. So I knew that it was only a matter of time before it was my turn.
So I jumped the gun. I called down to HR and asked them when it was my turn. The HR rep was suprised (to say the least). She said that yes, she DID need to see me, probably around 4PM or so. Well there was no way that I was going to sit and worry about it for 8 hours, so I said that 4PM wouldnt work for me. She called back and said I could come down immediately.
So I get down there, and my manager and the unit manager are there with the HR rep. Apparently, "several" staff members (3 or 4) had stated that they wanted to be transferred off our unit because of certain staff members. So according to HR, they did a "random" interview of staff members, asking if the staff on our unit practiced our hospital values (integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence).
Anyways, according to HR, 70 percent of the people interviewed, stated that I did not practice these values. Among the accusations were: I am unprofessional, I treat doctors rudely, Im mean, I play on the internet, I make fun of patients, Im not a team player, and I dont respect LVN's or CNA's.
So I try to remain calm and I ask the HR rep, "Can you give me some instances of when these so called incidents occured?"
Her reply, "Im not going to give you that information."
I say, "Ok...so you say that 70% of my coworkers have named me as a problem. How many people did you interview?"
Her reply, "im not going to give you that information."
I asked her, "How am I supposed to address these issues if I am not given specifics?" Her reply was "You just need to know that these are the perceptions of your coworkers."
The meeting went down hill from there. And yes, I am ashamed to admit it, but I cried.
What I found ironic was the fact that the HR rep was told that I was "an excellent nurse". I looked her in the eye and said, "Really? How can I be an excellent nurse when I make fun of patients, dont respect my coworkers or doctors, play on the internet, and am mean?"
She didn't have much of a reply to that one.
Then the manager states that I needed to show immediate improvement or it would be grounds for termination. She then REPEATS the statement and I look at her and say, "You already told me that. I consider what you now saying as a threat."
Then they told me that if I mentioned it to anyone, I would be fired.
So after I stewed about it for several days, I decided to transfer to nights. It was obvious that we needed to break things up a bit. And get this....since transfering, I have received numerous compliments from my coworkers stating how much they enjoy working with me because Im such a "team player" and so "helpful." And Ive had 3 or 4 people ask me to come back to days because they "miss me."
My manager actually acknowledged the compliments and said "Good job." I replied, "Really? Thanks. You know what? Im acting EXACTLY like I did when I worked days. What does that tell you?"
Anyways.....I know I sound cynical. I still get PO'd when I think about it, much less type it all out. As mouthy as I was, Im suprised they didn't fire me.
Anyways, just wanted to get it off my chest.....ahhhhh....I feel better now!
