How do I bounce back?

Published

I've been working in a bullying environment for close to 2 years now. Our regular manager left and a traveler is covering although not assigned to our floor. She's been there for about the last 3 months. Since she came I've been disciplined 3 times over fairly trivial stuff, I did make one minor mistake admitted immediately, docs were aware immediately, no harm to patient. On a second occasion I had used a regulator to hook a pleural effusion patient to wall suction, earlier in the shift I had floated to another floor then was told to come back to the floor, when I came back the nurse I was relieving who then had to float stated " you've ruined everything on the unit" and was clearly pissed she had to float. when she came back she was still angry and saw the patient on the regulator and basically ripped it off the wall, then she filed an incident report on me, sadly she lied in the report, said there was no bubbling in the chamber when there was. So I had missed my compencies when I was out with an injury, came back failed my ekg test (which a 130 other nurses failed) yet I was suspended. I had put in applications to transfer to a different unit, after two months got an interview but yesterday they held a meeting with the manager, hr, a union rep and me in which I was issued a written warning for the chest tube clearly they are believing the irate nurses story over mine. the meeting was held on my unit at change of shift, I believe for maximum impact so that both day and evening shifts could see me going to this meeting and put two and two together. So now I've been told I can't transfer for a year. I'm basically trapped in hell with bullies. I feel humiliated and tainted, even when I go back I feel like I'll be constantly looking over my shoulder and due to nerves be more likely to make a mistake. The travel manager and assistant manager lied about a few things during this meeting, some of it I can prove but I wasnt always smart enough to document it. The union rep was little help, suggesting if they tried to fire me I resign instead even though to me that would be admitting guilt. So how do I hold my head high with vicious coworkers and management thats goi g tk be looking for the least little thing.

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hold your head high!

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I guess I didnt really ask a question. Prior to all this I was a standout for good performance/nursing judgement any place I worked. What are stratagies to deal with the stress. How should I answer my coworkers when they ask. How should I impact my nursing, I just am at a loss from how to go from great nurse to poor nurse? My confidence is so low now.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

You are being routed out, for whatever reason. Start applying elsewhere. You will feel much better leaving on your own accord.

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I suspect its because I spoke out about heavy unfair assignments, and some patient safety issues I reported, I guess its dont get mad get even

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Oh yeah. Sounds like they've started the 'paper trail'.

Time to spiff up the resume.

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Yeah, they called late today for another meeting tomorrow, which would be on my regular day off. At least I got more than two hours notice as I live an hour away. Don't feel like going. My BP's been super high since this started. Union told me to go the interview for the other unit I applied for, and don't say anything about the warning. I don't know what to do and I feel like not disclosing it would come back to bite me later.

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