Happy -?- Anniversary

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2011

Hugs to you and wish you all the best.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2011

:hug:

this too shall pass. the hospice folks follow people for 13 months, to cover the year and the first anniversary of the death. you are in mourning too.... may fall bring you a whole new set of circumstances and a better future.

LTCangel, ADN, BSN, LPN · Aug 8, 2011

Dear No Stars In My Eyes,

I too was fired from my hospital job of 14 years on 03/24/2011. That date is burned into my brain and I know I will never forget it. My termination was a culmination of write ups due to being late. I'm talking 1-5 minutes late not hours. You see, I have been battling Fibromyalgia for about 5 years now and getting sleep and getting up on time and to work became a job in itself. I am a very good nurse and had been on the same unit for 13 years and was considered an expert in my field (Orthopedics/Joint Replacement). I had a former Nurse Manager who was very empathetic of my issues tell me to file for FMLA so that when I felt particularly bad I could call in and not be penalized for it. Of course this does not cover being tardy. This facility did not have a grace period for clocking in. They had stopped that a few years prior. When I first started there we had an 8 minute window to clock in before being considered tardy. My NM was in the Army Reserves and got called to active duty and the powers that be put a woman in her place who had never managed a Nursing Unit before and when she took over it seemed as though she made it her mission in life to watch my every move.

If you would have looked at my employee file you would have seen an employee who had for 12 years never had a bad mark. No patient complaints, worked well with others, excellent nursing skills, excellent charge nurse, good at maintaining a calm atmosphere on the unit, got along well with her peers, worked extra when the unit needed help, etc. It wasn't until I went to dayshift (which seemed to correlate with my fibromyalgia diagnosis) that I began to have trouble with tardies and absences. I tried to work with my new NM. I went back to night shift and this really seemed to help. My tardies became less. But instead of working with me and giving me the benefit of the doubt, I was written up again, and again, and the next quarter I was suspended 5 days without pay. I told my coworkers to take a good look at me because she was going to fire me if it was the last thing she ever did. The next quarter came and I was terminated for having 5 tardies. You were only allowed 4 in a quarter. The 5th one was due to my driving to work during a thunderstorm and there were trees down and hail and slow drivers on the road. I called and told them I would be late and I was by 5 minutes. This was 2 days before the end of the quarter. It didn't matter to HER, I was terminated, although she did tell me she hated to do it and that I was a good nurse. The Hospital also denied me unemployment and on appeal sent 3 people in to fight me over it. I applied everywhere, looking for another job. The only place that called me back were Travel Agencies and a Nursing Home. I scheduled an interview with the Nursing Home and got the job. the DON listened to my whole story of woe and said she thought I had been picked on (ya think!). She herself admitted that she has Fibromyalgia so maybe that's why she could be empathetic. I took a 7$ and hr paycut and I have to pay for my insurance premiums but Bless God I had a job. I never thought I would be in LTC again, you see that's where I started as an LPN 15 years ago. But I had come full circle. I am now an RN,BSN and have been working on my Masters in Nursing Education because I hope to be a Nursing Instructor one day. 13 on Orthopedics has literally ruined my back. I just passed my 90 days at this facility and I must say it's not that bad. I have a very good schedule, I am learning to love my residents, and they seem happy to have me. I have come to look at it as a place to hide out and lick my wounds for they are deep. What happened to me left me deeply depressed, questioning myself as a Nurse, and wondering about my self worth. Yes, I am in mourning and I understand what you mean by that. When will I stop mourning? I have no clue. I feel I have been beaten up. I gave that place the best years of my life and ruined my health there and it was all for nothing. Just so some woman could prove herself to Administration. I will pray for you, as I too have had to lean on God to get me through this and I'm still not really healed. I don't know how long that will be.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 8, 2011

I had a strange parting of the ways when I ended up on disability- the good thing was that my DON saw it as disability. Otherwise, I'd be under a bridge somewhere.

But it still hurts. I loved working as a nurse. I loved the contact with humans. I loved feeling like I was worth something. I miss it. I'm also thankful for AN. This is the first time I've been able to talk to nurses as peers in over 7 years. I've talked to plenty as a patients- LOL But that's not the same.

Hugs to all who got taken away from what they loved to do :)

Guest505077 · Aug 9, 2011

Dear No Stars In My Eyes,
I too was fired from my hospital job of 14 years on 03/24/2011. That date is burned into my brain and I know I will never forget it. My termination was a culmination of write ups due to being late. I'm talking 1-5 minutes late not hours. You see, I have been battling Fibromyalgia for about 5 years now and getting sleep and getting up on time and to work became a job in itself. I am a very good nurse and had been on the same unit for 13 years and was considered an expert in my field (Orthopedics/Joint Replacement). I had a former Nurse Manager who was very empathetic of my issues tell me to file for FMLA so that when I felt particularly bad I could call in and not be penalized for it. Of course this does not cover being tardy. This facility did not have a grace period for clocking in. They had stopped that a few years prior. When I first started there we had an 8 minute window to clock in before being considered tardy. My NM was in the Army Reserves and got called to active duty and the powers that be put a woman in her place who had never managed a Nursing Unit before and when she took over it seemed as though she made it her mission in life to watch my every move.
If you would have looked at my employee file you would have seen an employee who had for 12 years never had a bad mark. No patient complaints, worked well with others, excellent nursing skills, excellent charge nurse, good at maintaining a calm atmosphere on the unit, got along well with her peers, worked extra when the unit needed help, etc. It wasn't until I went to dayshift (which seemed to correlate with my fibromyalgia diagnosis) that I began to have trouble with tardies and absences. I tried to work with my new NM. I went back to night shift and this really seemed to help. My tardies became less. But instead of working with me and giving me the benefit of the doubt, I was written up again, and again, and the next quarter I was suspended 5 days without pay. I told my coworkers to take a good look at me because she was going to fire me if it was the last thing she ever did. The next quarter came and I was terminated for having 5 tardies. You were only allowed 4 in a quarter. The 5th one was due to my driving to work during a thunderstorm and there were trees down and hail and slow drivers on the road. I called and told them I would be late and I was by 5 minutes. This was 2 days before the end of the quarter. It didn't matter to HER, I was terminated, although she did tell me she hated to do it and that I was a good nurse. The Hospital also denied me unemployment and on appeal sent 3 people in to fight me over it. I applied everywhere, looking for another job. The only place that called me back were Travel Agencies and a Nursing Home. I scheduled an interview with the Nursing Home and got the job. the DON listened to my whole story of woe and said she thought I had been picked on (ya think!). She herself admitted that she has Fibromyalgia so maybe that's why she could be empathetic. I took a 7$ and hr paycut and I have to pay for my insurance premiums but Bless God I had a job. I never thought I would be in LTC again, you see that's where I started as an LPN 15 years ago. But I had come full circle. I am now an RN,BSN and have been working on my Masters in Nursing Education because I hope to be a Nursing Instructor one day. 13 on Orthopedics has literally ruined my back. I just passed my 90 days at this facility and I must say it's not that bad. I have a very good schedule, I am learning to love my residents, and they seem happy to have me. I have come to look at it as a place to hide out and lick my wounds for they are deep. What happened to me left me deeply depressed, questioning myself as a Nurse, and wondering about my self worth. Yes, I am in mourning and I understand what you mean by that. When will I stop mourning? I have no clue. I feel I have been beaten up. I gave that place the best years of my life and ruined my health there and it was all for nothing. Just so some woman could prove herself to Administration. I will pray for you, as I too have had to lean on God to get me through this and I'm still not really healed. I don't know how long that will be.

I'm a big believer in "things happen for a reason", "one door closes and another one opens". I know it's is easy for me to say (because I'm not in your shoes), however, try to focus on the good things- you are working, you have a good schedule, your residents are happy with you, you're working on your Masters... these are all quite good... let go of the past... you have to move forward..focus on your future.. it will get better :)

No Stars In My Eyes · Aug 9, 2011

Thank you all, so much, for your responses....it does help to know that I have somewhere to turn where folks understand how it feels when the rug is pulled out from under you.It hurts alot to be forcefully removed from your heart's work. I spent alot of time yesterday on AN; it does feel, like xtxrn said, good to be a part of a community of nurses, while being sidelined to the periphery for whatever reason.

Not dumping on my husband, but when I told him it was exactly one year ago I got fired and turned in, he had NO response. Not even a hug. I know he doesn't really understand why I can't just get a job and start earning again. Well, neither do I, except actually, I do understand. I experience it in my life every time I put in an application and get no interview calls. I understand it every time I come on AN and read how many are trying to hold their heads up and keep the faith, knowing their abilities and worth, while it seems like others (employers) don't.

My mother always said, 'when one door closes, another opens' and I know she is right, but I have been running up and down this hallway searching for that door, so far to no avail. I also do believe things happen for a reason; one of the reasons, I'm sure, was to remove me from that situation where it was three steps forward and four steps back! I do feel there is a place for me that will make better use of my strengths and abilities and time, where I can be effective and appreciated.

While I am searching and waiting, you all bouy me up so that I don't sink so far into the soup of depression and despair that I want to give up. Before I found AN, I really did consider saying 'screw it', and giving up my nursing license. But the dedication and love of others for this work we do made me understand that one #*^%@!#% facility and those administrators do not really KNOW me, nor should they be allowed to negate 40 years-worth of success.

Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers,hugs, words of wisdom, information, and for just being there to share:mad: bad times and:) good times(.....and especially for your HUMOR!!!!! )

:heartbeat:redpinkhe:redbeathe

LTCangel, ADN, BSN, LPN · Aug 9, 2011

Thank you dragonfly55 for your kind words, I really do appreciate it and it makes me feel good to know that there are kind people like you in the world. I actually just got a FB message from a former co worker at this facility who was just let go under almost exactly the same circunstances as I except she was offered the option to resign. It seems they are head hunting employees who file for FMLA for whatever reason and my heart hurts for her because I know how she is feeling. To NoStarsInMyEyes, please except some (((hugs))) from me and prayers that God will send something your way so that the world can experience your love of being a Nurse once again. I'm so sorry your husband doesn't understand. I've been lucky that mine does. When I was in LPN school, I had an instructor who told us on the first day that when we were finished with the class and graduated we would forever more think of ourselves as Nurses because it becomes who you are not just a job. Even those who are unable to work still think of themselves as a Nurse. It's just who we are. When someone or something tries to take that away, our spirit rises up and says NO! I am a Nurse! Yes I am glad that I have a job and I intend to grow where God has planted me. It's not what I had envisioned for myself at this stage of my life but that's life, right? So I will go to work tonight and do my best to take care of my residents to the best of my ability. I will be 42 next month so I have many more years ahead of me, and I am excited to see what God will do in my life. Good Luck and God Bless!!

No Stars In My Eyes · Aug 10, 2011

Side note: Found out what hubby was upset about, just last night--He wants me to have a full-time job with benes so the $36/wk doesn't come out of HIS paycheck; tho' I don't know if he thinks that's 'free money'....to me it would mean another $144/mo. with which to PAY BILLS! :uhoh3: As my Grampa used to say "It'll all comeout in the wash" ( If I found that much money in the laundry every month I'd be one laundry doin' fool, I tell ya!)