I feel like I’m being targeted please help

[Ms.Frank]

Hi everyone,

I am a new LVN and have currently been working at my job for a couple of months now. I had five days of training which I told them I needed more training, the scheduler told me that he “believed in me” so I was forced onto the floor in my opinion due to short staffing. Very high turn over rate at this job.

So ive been written up 8 times in the month of November, sometimes twice in one day sometimes two days in a row. I explained to the supervisor that I was never taught this and I should not be written up for something that I was never taught. She preceded to write me up..

I was also written up for calling out of work when I caught a flu and had an excused doctor note the supervisor said that it would be easy to replace me if I don’t want to work there”.

I am very frustrated because I didn’t come this far to not love what I am so passionate about. I’ve been yelled at by the director of nursing for asking for help. I feel like I am being targeted.

Who should I talk to about this? What should I do?

Please help me and thank you so much.

[Annabelle, LPN]

Another idea

I personally didn’t feel ready to start a job after 3-5 days orientation, so I offered to go on my own time and train without pay, so that I feel comfortable on my 1st day alone on the floor. I “volunteered” that way another 4 or so days/nights. The facility didn’t mind, as a matter of fact they told me I could do that if I feel I’m not ready. You can use this approach in the future as well.

[Closed Account 12345]

I would send this message via e-mail today. This gives you a paper trail that is timed and dated. It also allows you to formally address that your patient safety concerns/lack of orientation are not a surprise to your manager and have been previously discussed. (It's harder for management to throw someone under a bus when they were aware of concerns and didn't address them earlier.)

On future applications, when you are asked if you have left without 2 weeks notice, it allows you to say yes from an understandable position. ("I did not feel I could safely perform my duties after a 5 shift orientation as a new graduate, but my employer was unable to offer additional training or remediation as requested. I was not comfortable providing 2 additional weeks of patient care without adequate training, so I resigned immediately.")

Dear X,

As we have previously discussed, I do not feel that I received adequate training to perform the duties required of me in the LVN role at XYZ Facility with a 5 day orientation as a new graduate. Patient safety is of the utmost importance to me, and I am not comfortable working in a unit where I have not received a complete orientation. My concerns are exacerbated by the fact that I have been written up for the care I've provided without offers for remediation, additional education, or a performance improvement plan.

For this reason, I am resigning effective immediately. After careful consideration, I feel it is in the patients' best interests to be cared for by nurses who have been fully oriented to the unit and feel comfortable with the existing processes. I apologize for any staffing difficulties this may cause.

I really appreciate this opportunity, and I am thankful for the knowledge I am taking from this experience.

Please mail my last paycheck to 123 Address.

Thank you for your understanding, and I wish XYZ Facility continued success.

Your Name

Keep a copy of this message so you always have evidence of your respectful resignation with rationale, and good luck with your interviews this week!

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

On 12/1/2019 at 12:12 PM, Ms.Frank said:

Yes I’m already suspended before talking to the director. Do you think that I should attend the meeting on Monday? Or just be done with this place.

I don't think I'd go there. I think it's a trap of some kind. YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHART ANYTHING, NOT NOW ANYWAY. MAYBE AT SOME POINT LATER, BUT NOT NOW.

You need to talk to an attorney.

I like the advice that you put in writing that you received only 5 shifts of orientation, were yelled at by ______ if you asked for help, and any other things that show a lack of professionalism by your (former) employer.

I'd get another job right away, leaving this place off of your resume or application if possible. Or let the potential new employer know that it just didn't work out. AND DO NOT SAY WHY. BE TOTALLY NON-SPECIFIC. SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR WAYS TO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS ON AN INTERVIEW. BEST IF YOU JUST DON'T MENTION THIS FORMER JOB OR BEING SUSPENDED.

GET A LAWYER. YOU CAN LIKELY GET A FREE CONSULTATION WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ATTORNEYS, SO DO IT NOW.

[Ms.Frank, LVN]

Faculty Rn thank you so much with your help writing a resignation letter

[Ms.Frank, LVN]

Kooky Korky,

There was so much unprofessionalism I documented everything in a journal and will reach out to an attorney on Monday. Thank you so much for your advice I will use it.

[Closed Account 12345]

On 12/1/2019 at 6:27 PM, Kooky Korky said:

I'd get another job right away, leaving this place off of your resume or application if possible... AND DO NOT SAY WHY. BE TOTALLY NON-SPECIFIC. SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR WAYS TO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS ON AN INTERVIEW. BEST IF YOU JUST DON'T MENTION THIS FORMER JOB OR BEING SUSPENDED.

I disagree.

Yes, once you have additional employment on your resume, you can probably drop this short little blip. You get to pick what you want highlighted on a resume.

However, it shouldn't be left off applications.

Lying on an application, even by omission, can come back to bite you and cause you to lose your next job.

1. What if your med error is reported to the Board, and when they get around to addressing your actions 18 months from now, the required remediation involves your new employer? Ex: Work under the supervision of a designated RN mentor for 2 years, work in areas without narcotics, letter about your clinical competence from your then-manager... Your employer would be none too thrilled about cooperating with these requirements if your application denied previous nursing experience. (For your peace of mind, very few med errors are reported to the Board in the grand scheme of things. You didn't go into great detail about what the error was, or if it was the reason for the patient's hospitalization. I would take a couple of continuing ed courses pertaining to safe med admin before starting a new job. That way, if the Board ever contacts you about the incident, you can show that you learned from your error, took it very seriously, and are self-driven to improve your practice.)

2. Nursing is a small world. What if a nurse from your current facility gets hired at your new facility, and she's a talented gossip? ("She quit because she knew she was about to get fired after a med error. She got written up each shift." etc.) Again, that wouldn't look good if your new manager thought he or she hired a true new grad.

There's no reason to practice being sneaky. Lying is unethical, and it often comes back to bite people. I think it looks incredibly suspicious to dodge questions about previous employment instead of just answering them with a well-phrased version of the truth.

Reason for Leaving: I did not feel well-oriented to my role, and my employer was not able to offer the additional training I would have needed to feel safe as a new graduate. (<This is true, yet it doesn't draw attention to any shortcomings/errors.)

If applications ask if you've ever quit without 2 weeks notice: Refer to my initial post.

Any manager worth working for should understand that new grads want to feel oriented and safe, and that can't be achieved in 5 shifts. That's not something to hide.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

On 12/1/2019 at 10:06 PM, FacultyRN said:

I disagree.

Yes, once you have additional employment on your resume, you can probably drop this short little blip. You get to pick what you want highlighted on a resume.

However, it shouldn't be left off applications.

Lying on an application, even by omission, can come back to bite you and cause you to lose your next job.

1. What if your med error is reported to the Board, and when they get around to addressing your actions 18 months from now, the required remediation involves your new employer? Ex: Work under the supervision of a designated RN mentor for 2 years, work in areas without narcotics, letter about your clinical competence from your then-manager... Your employer would be none too thrilled about cooperating with these requirements if your application denied previous nursing experience. (For your peace of mind, very few med errors are reported to the Board in the grand scheme of things. You didn't go into great detail about what the error was, or if it was the reason for the patient's hospitalization. I would take a couple of continuing ed courses pertaining to safe med admin before starting a new job. That way, if the Board ever contacts you about the incident, you can show that you learned from your error, took it very seriously, and are self-driven to improve your practice.)

2. Nursing is a small world. What if a nurse from your current facility gets hired at your new facility, and she's a talented gossip? ("She quit because she knew she was about to get fired after a med error. She got written up each shift." etc.) Again, that wouldn't look good if your new manager thought he or she hired a true new grad.

There's no reason to practice being sneaky. Lying is unethical, and it often comes back to bite people. I think it looks incredibly suspicious to dodge questions about previous employment instead of just answering them with a well-phrased version of the truth.

Reason for Leaving: I did not feel well-oriented to my role, and my employer was not able to offer the additional training I would have needed to feel safe as a new graduate. (<This is true, yet it doesn't draw attention to any shortcomings/errors.)

If applications ask if you've ever quit without 2 weeks notice: Refer to my initial post.

Any manager worth working for should understand that new grads want to feel oriented and safe, and that can't be achieved in 5 shifts. That's not something to hide.

Yes, you are correct. I hadn't thought of all of that.

[Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

On 12/1/2019 at 6:27 PM, Kooky Korky said:

I don't think I'd go there. I think it's a trap of some kind. YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHART ANYTHING, NOT NOW ANYWAY. MAYBE AT SOME POINT LATER, BUT NOT NOW.

You need to talk to an attorney.

I like the advice that you put in writing that you received only 5 shifts of orientation, were yelled at by ______ if you asked for help, and any other things that show a lack of professionalism by your (former) employer.

I'd get another job right away, leaving this place off of your resume or application if possible. Or let the potential new employer know that it just didn't work out. AND DO NOT SAY WHY. BE TOTALLY NON-SPECIFIC. SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR WAYS TO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS ON AN INTERVIEW. BEST IF YOU JUST DON'T MENTION THIS FORMER JOB OR BEING SUSPENDED.

GET A LAWYER. YOU CAN LIKELY GET A FREE CONSULTATION WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ATTORNEYS, SO DO IT NOW.

She should of perfected her 'I quit' walk and listened to me.

[Valcorie34, BSN, MSN, RN]

I have worked at low staffing facilities and great facilities. I would ask yourself is this the job you really want? If it is something you want to put effort in, you are going to have to sit down with the DON and point out 1. They have low staffing and need every body they can. 2. Ask is it better to properly orient and train someone already hired or find a new nurse? Then give them two options they can train and mentor you, or you can leave. You need to point out you are a brand new nurse in a new job, you cant be trained as someone with lots of experience. You want high quality care and patient safety but you need the education to get there.

Keep in mind, there are wonderful places out there that will value you and help you learn and grow as a nurse. They can be rare in some areas. But dont ever be afraid to advocate for yourself!

[Puppy Kisses]

If you are in a SNF setting, you are not targeted. Some are just rude, tacky, and unprofessional. I have heard that the DON and ADON (resigned and tried to come back), where I work, behave just as you described. Look elsewhere.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

23 hours ago, Annabelle said:

Another idea

I personally didn’t feel ready to start a job after 3-5 days orientation, so I offered to go on my own time and train without pay, so that I feel comfortable on my 1st day alone on the floor. I “volunteered” that way another 4 or so days/nights. The facility didn’t mind, as a matter of fact they told me I could do that if I feel I’m not ready. You can use this approach in the future as well.

Working off the clock likely means you are not covered by your own insurance or that of the facility, not covered by Workers' Compensation if you should happen to get hurt, and it is so wrong to have to do this in the first place.

We all ALL really need to start protesting this dreadful mess called Nursing.

They won't listen to anything but the sound of their empty pocketbooks. Wallets. Buckaroos. Money is all the owners of such facilities really care about. It is up to us, the abused, to rectify the matter.

Unionize, Nurses.

[nsoler, ADN, RN]

I'd look for other opportunities. After all, you're a nurse! There's so many jobs out there for you! Don't settle. Along with patient care, YOUR education should be on the top of your priority list.