Mad and confused!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I don't post much..I just read. I'm an LPN, just now a year in... I've been working at a LTC for three months now, got a good report from my DON. She resigned, we got a new one. A week into the new DON's administration she calls me into her office, never having even spoken to me before and tells me several things she's "heard" about me and complaints etc...i.e I'm too harsh with the CNAs (yes, I can be..I knew this already..workin on it) I'm not assertive enough (My confidence is low..also been working on that) She gave me a *week* to improve these things.

I busted my behind to work on them, was very good to the girls (great group of girls who I got along with splendidly actually)...so yesterday she calls me back in and tells me that I haven't improved enough in these areas and she's taking me off the schedule but I can work the rest of this month. I wasn't happy, I asked why she was firing me..she said that she would not tell me until Monday when she wrote it all out... It just all seems very strange. I'm a good nurse, I'm good to the residents..I've been *told* by other nurses this exact same thing and she sits there and tells me she hasn't heard one good thing about me and isn't tellingme on the day she lets me go WHY she's doing it...but then lets me stay PRN until I can find a new job. If I'm such a bad nurse...why keep me? *head spins*

Why would she do this? Is it because they're cutting back budget wise and don't want to be honest about it? Is she just crazy? She's done other things to other nurses that have been..allbeit odd. This is only my second job and never have gotten bad reviews..ever..ever ever.

For your sake, I hope finding another job is a feasible option. That said, I hope you still go ahead with your plan to talk to admin and let them know what is going on and why you are leaving. For my own sake I always ask for copies of my evals and never turn in the original copy of anything...learned that when I had a NM that truly lost everything! You can compare your copies with what ever this or anyone else shows you is in your file. Goodluck!

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I live in MASS and it is a employment at will state meaning they can let you for basically for no reason.

http://research.lawyers.com/Missouri/Employment-Law-in-Missouri.html I think your state is the same.

In SNFs when a new manager comes in they often shake up the staff and bring their friends.

I think you have a good plan, sorry to hear the problems you are having.

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You''ve gotten great advice from others and I'm glad you will be taking this further on Monday. To be clear you haven't been fired because when you are fired you don't get to finish out the month. She has no grounds and knows it so she is trying to get you to quit.

I don't think this has anything to do with you. She wants to bring in her own staff and will fine a way to do it by lying, etc. if need be. It is prob in your best interest to find another job as you will never be comfortable or happy working for her. I'm sorry this happened to you. Definitely meet with administration and DON'T SIGN ANYTHING. If you have excellent evaluations, recent praise from pateints, etc. bring all of that to the administrator with you.

You can say this is a hostile environment as it's true. It's also a word employers don't like to hear because they know you might take legal action. Keep us posted.

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Specializes in LTC.

Oh I plan on it. I'm riled up good. I'm not letting this garnish my career when I'm just fresh out of diapers so to speak.

Allbeit in a very sweet, professional manner :)

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In SNFs when a new manager comes in they often shake up the staff and bring their friends.

Yep, that was my first thought. However, as the company is no longer accepting MD notes for call ins and such, and as you've only been there for just over three months you may be the lowest on the ladder, it sounds like the company is cutting the budget and forcing the change. Sad but true, you're probably just a victim of politics.

But that doesn't make it right. And just because you might be in an at will state doesn't mean an employer can make up reasons to get rid of you. If you're fired, you're fired, right now, not in a couple of days. Your DON's offer of PRN work is an odd one. Why would an employer that has fired you want you to continue to work there?

There is no reason you can't consult with an attorney AND start looking for a new job. Politely decline your DON's offers of PRN employment. Remind her, nicely, the she has fired you and that it means you no long have the duties of an employee and that the employer no longer has the right to expect anything from you. Get copies of every piece of paper generated concerning your termination, and visit the unemployment office on your way home from your exit interview.

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She could have someone else lined up for the job and that's why she's pushing you out....

This is often the reason when there is no good reason. Most DONs bring in one or more of their cronies when they move from facility to facility, and they can't readily do this if their new facility is staffed to capacity.

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For your sake, I hope finding another job is a feasible option. That said, I hope you still go ahead with your plan to talk to admin and let them know what is going on and why you are leaving. For my own sake I always ask for copies of my evals and never turn in the original copy of anything...learned that when I had a NM that truly lost everything! You can compare your copies with what ever this or anyone else shows you is in your file. Goodluck!

Good advice here.

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Specializes in LTC.

I am tending to agree. THanks SO much for the advice..I fully intend to talk to the admin tomorrow...If it is budgets, they have no right to trash me and my nursing skills. I think it's time they heard some of my complaints.

Thanks again everyone! I'll let you know what happens.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
several things she's "heard" about me and complaints etc...i.e I'm too harsh with the CNAs (yes, I can be..I knew this already..workin on it) I'm not assertive enough (My confidence is low..also been working on that) She gave me a *week* to improve these things.

QUOTE]

That sounds like a bunch of BS-what an incongruent statement..It's difficult to tell the difference between an assertive command and a harsh one unless you witness it.

I would hesitate to ring too many bells there before walking out the door-In my area that type of behavior can get you black balled locally. I would go over her head to corporate.She has not followed her own policies and procedures (I'm betting) and that alone should allow you to strike some kind of deal where you quit but leave with a letter of recommendation in hand. Don't let her do anything that will leave a black mark on your resume.

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Specializes in LTC.

I'm not ringing bells and causing a scene..I just want to clarify some things..esp since they said that then going and saying you can stay prn.

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I'm not ringing bells and causing a scene..I just want to clarify some things..esp since they said that then going and saying you can stay prn.

How did you make out today?

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Specializes in Case Mgmt, Anesthesia, ICU, ER, Dialysis.

If you get "blackballed", sue the hell out of them. I know I sound litigious, but unfortunately, this is the only language many employers understand.

When I was a manager, all you were allowed to do was confirm dates worked there and whether they were eligible for rehire.

It wouldn't be easy to prove, but it can be done.

Don't take it lying down. They will push you just as far as you let them.

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