Got fired today

[VivaLasViejas]

Well, tomorrow will be the first day in almost a decade that I will wake up and have nowhere that I need to be. I got kicked out to the curb today. Fired. Canned. Terminated. I've been busting my butt for months, trying to keep up with the incredible workload, and while I'm relieved in a way---I've known for quite a while that I wasn't handling it well---I don't know how to act. I haven't been fired since I was 26 years old and working in a factory where I was let go for being sick too often during my early pregnancy. I'm not really all that worried about finding another job, not with the nursing shortage here in my little corner of the world, but I feel like I must be a total loser to get fired from a nursing home!!

I mean, they didn't even want me to stay on as a charge nurse (I was the resident care manager) or in any capacity, though they did tell me I was re-hireable if I were to get my medical and emotional problems (read: depression) under control at some point. Of course, it was conveniently forgotten that at least part of my current depressive state can be directly attributable to the stresses I've been under as a result of trying to do the impossible, but what the hell.....at least I'll be able to draw unemployment benefits while I sit here and try to figure out what my next move is. Lord knows I needed a break---I've been working 50-hour weeks for 15 months straight, and I am burned out. I can't afford to be out of work for long, but I am going to take a couple of weeks to relax a little, spend some time cleaning my house, and of course look for another job.

I'm so fed up with LTC that I'm considering going to agency nursing for awhile, until I decide what I DO want to do. Making a better-than-average hourly wage, going to a variety of different facilities, and not having any obligation to stay at one I don't like (or deal with the politics) sounds pretty good to me right now.

Thanx for "listening" to my whining......and if anyone has some other suggestions as what I should do next, please offer them. I feel really lost right now.

[sjoe]

"Take advantage of the free time to do a few nice things just for yourself -"

Always a good idea.

The secret to all this? In the future learn to identify when things aren't working out (and aren't going to), then quit before you get fired. You'll feel better about the situation, since it puts YOU in control.

Be glad you're out of that very unpleasant situation, regardless of how you got out, though. It certainly wasn't doing you any good.

Part time agency work will keep the pot boiling while you decide what you want to do next. Don't settle for something you don't WANT to do, and won't enjoy, IMHO.

For example: Since you have worked as a honcho in LTC, you are aware of the many suppliers these facilities use. Seems to me you would be an asset in the sales/marketing department of one of them.

[Kikumaru]

Dear MJL: you are in the position to be totally empowered! Free at last. Please know that you are not alone. Many of us have been in the same situation. Registry sounds great (just try it a couple days a week and notice how you are not part of the politics). You go girl!

[goddessida]

I was a LTC nurse for 3 years and I know what burn out is. I recently decided to go back to school for my RN, I found out that they were not as flexible as i needed them to be. Even though I made time to work 16hr weekends and three days a week, they felt that they could not bend a little. So I make my decision to move on, even though I hated to leave my residents and co-workers, I hgad to do what i had to do. Now , I am much happier with my current job due to the flexiblity that i needed. So u will find something better, for u.!!!!

[EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN]

I think one of the earlier suggestions was great. Call your local newspaper and see if they're interested in your story. This LTC facility is just contributing to the nursing shortage by overworking their nurses and then firing them??!! You were treated wrongly! Let us know an update on how you are doing...

[Just Angi]

((HUGS))) I got laid off this summer- for the first time in my life. I had been there for three years. I worked in a machine shop. Trained this young kid to take my job. When they canned me I decided to follow my dreams and go back to school to be a nurse. Had to make a lot of changes and do without a lot, but hopefully it will be worth it. Just remember that everything happens for a reason. :kiss

[kavi]

This may sound strange, but maybe they were doing you a favor. Someone 'fired' you so you could collect unemployment rather than forcing you into quitting, where you couldn't.

Not that it helps your self-esteem, but you have to know deep down that they weren't firing your nursing skills. They were giving a tired burned out hard working nurse a rest. And by doing it that way, still letting you bring home some money.

It's a thought. But I was forced and pushed into quitting a Medical Assistant job earlier this year. I quit partly because I was afraid I was going to be fired for the first time in my life. I did everything right above and beyond the call of duty. I worked incredible hours and did everything they asked of me and more. Yet they kept hounding me so I quit. Turned out it was all a political thing (very long story), nothing to do with my skills. Now I wish I would have waited and let them fire me so I could have collected unemployment.

Hang in there, and know that you have lots of support with us here.:kiss

[JNJ]

My thoughts are with you, just like those many nurses who understand and who have sent you their warm and hopeful thoughts. I think that as you were smart enough to share your experience, you are smart enought to get beyond this, perhaps not on your own, but with appropriate help. Good Luck.

[spineCNOR]

My thoughts are with you. I know that you are in pain now, but this situation may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. SOunds like you were in an impossible situation, and it was easier for you former employer to blame ypu rather than look at themselves and maybe do something constructive.

Yes, a great deal of your depression is due to your work situation, but perhaps not all. The above suggestions to talk to you doctor about giving you something at least temporarily, or perhaps talk to a counselor are good ones.

It seems your former employers implied that you were dealing with a mental health problem (depression)-- perhaps they might be in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act, which covers mental illnesses such as depression.

Please take care of yourself. Best wishes with your job search.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

They probably did you a favor-accept it gatefully and look at it ad an opportunity.....Sounds like the float pool in LTC would be nice for you...also-I agree that you should get some legal advice-and in what states can one collect un-employment upon being "fired"?Good Luck-if you can collect-enjoy the time off...

[FTell001]

I just stumbled across this book yesterday..and spend yesterday and TODAY reading it. OH MY! What a wealth of information..that most of us already know...or were had an idea about..but nice to see it ALL in print.

I'm going to look on Amazon..to see if they have it there. Its written by two nurses..and soooooooooooo explains everything!

[sjoe]

FTell001--If you mean the book by Joan Swirsky, it's out of print and unfortunately not in our library system here. If you mean a different book, what are the authors' names, and I'll see about an interlibrary loan.

(added later after a msg from FT) that is the book she meant. The second author is Laura Gasparis.

There could probably be an entire collection of books by that name, just based on the posts here on this BB!

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

This is such great advice. True Support for a fellow Nurse. I add mine to the encouragement.

I agree with the "me time" and unemployment compensation, in addition federal law covers employees for up to 12 weeks medical leave(FMLA). There are contingencies to that eg: employer must have 50 or more employees and you must have worked there 1 year.

Most attorneys will see you for an initial consult for free or for a low amount. Consider this.