Hospice Advice

[HospiceRN1234]

I've been taking care of several hospice patients at an assisted living facility for the last 6+ months. I had great rapport with everyone and good communication. I enjoyed my patient visits and their families. I was there 3 of my 5 days a week. This week they called my director and asked I not come back or they will not refer patients to us anymore. They wanted an old nurse back.

Not only am I hurt, I'm completely blindsided and confused. I never had any issues there. I can't seem to just let it go.

 

[Davey Do]

Rejection is never easy as it is, and when we are in the dark to the reason behind the rejection, cognitive dissonance can result, and we have difficulty in letting it go.

As Daniel Gilbert wrote in his book Stumbling on Happiness, we always feel better when we have someone to blame for our pain. Learning the reason for our pain is a two edged sword in that we gain understanding, but often the reason for the rejection is often based on personalities and not principles.

Having experienced rejection by clients and administrators, and not handling it well at the time, I learned that those in control are going to act with behaviors which make them feel more comfortable. I had to come to the realization that I was just a means to an end and that I was always expendable. I didn't have to like it, I only had to accept it.

It is said that the best revenge is living well, and part of that philosophy is being okay with what we do and who we are. True happiness comes from being at peace with ourselves.

However, justification from an employer's reason for termination can be sought through applying for unemployment benefits. When an application for benefits is filed, the employer must show a just cause for termination and the employee can contest it. An adjudicator hears both sides of the situation and makes a determination.

Having been terminated from a couple of places for unjust reasons and finding that the employer acted unfairly not only gave me benefits, but also some peace of mind.

Good luck and the best to you, HospiceRN.

 

 

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I am sorry this happened to you, especially in the very close relationship with hospice patients I'm sure you developed a level of attachment. Since you don't have any more information, and may not get any, don't assume that this is 100% because of something that you did wrong. There are MANY dynamics at play in such a situation, and facilities will often side with patients and families with no room for a nurse or staff member to make any rebuttal. I know that we had one good aide at the LTC I worked at be let go because she washed and styled a patient's hair one day and the family came in and didn't like how it was styled, complained to management and the aide was FIRED! Ridiculous, but if the wrong people say the right thing, bad things can happen. I hope that this just means something better is intended to happen for you. 

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

Perhaps the prior nurse wants to be there and had a friend do this. Sounds like the most likely scenario