I gave notice today...

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

I really used to like my job and my hospital but they've been having bad financial problems so everyone is super cranky...I was worried that the hospital was going to go belly up so I tweaked the resume and just started seeing what else was out there. One of the places called my boss for a reference even after I asked them to be careful with that,because we all know that workplaces can be very petty about that sort of thing.

Over the past couple of weeks since that phone call, the supervisors and some of the staff have been really nasty. I've been doing fine up until this point(still kind of a new nurse) now all of a sudden, I'm getting reprimanded for stupid things and in some cases, what I'm getting reprimanded for is an outright lie. One of our techs lost a son in a car accident about 7 months ago and she is not nice to be around(she was abrasive before the accident). Found out today that she was writing down all kinds of stuff about me and running to the nurse manager..Not to be snotty, but since when does a tech do an evaluation on an RN? I was a tech before and it is not the same job. By the nurse managers own admission, she thinks this is a "personality issue" but she thinks maybe I should be more aggressive. Keep in mind I heard not one complaint before the whole phone call issue.

I decided that life is too short to put up with people who act like they're still in middle school and I will not be scapegoated because the hospital is going through tough times. I do think everyone is afraid to tell the woman who lost her son to knock it off with the attitude ,because they are afraid to push her over the edge. I myself have bitten my tongue because I know she's going through a bad time. But I fail to see why I should be her whipping boy-she torments one of the orderlies too and when he's not there, guess who bears the brunt of her venom? Yep, me.

So I gave notice tonight in letter form and put it in the nurse managers mailbox. I'm still willing to work there per diem if needed and I gave 3 weeks notice. They are going to be in dire straits because one of our RNs is going home to the Phillipines for a whole month. As for me, I have between 3-5 people daily that leave messages on my voicemail offering me a job. I'm thinking of doing travel nursing but staying local until I get my feet wet. One of my friends at the hospital thought I was letting the miserable tech win but I look at it this way, if I can get a better paying job without having to deal with the wench anymore, then it's win-win for me. I had to control myself but the letter was professional. I wanted to take the high road. Plus, if she ever leaves and the dynamics of the place change, then I can always go back there(if the hopital hasn't folded by then! ) Thanks for letting me vent. I actually feel pretty good about the whole thing. Scared silly too, but sometimes you have to take chances..

[slinkeecat]

Good for you!!! It is time for a change!!!! Always listen to your inner voice!!!

Good luck on your new adventures....

[TazziRN, RN]

{{{Witchy}}}

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Not to be snotty, but since when does a tech do an evaluation on an RN? I was a tech before and it is not the same job.

I was written up by a CNA last year. She even had the nerve to accuse me of dressing a skin tear improperly, making the boldly false claim that I used scotch tape on the patient's skin. I used to be an aide, and I can recall that we do not learn about dressing wounds and skin tears... My point is that some CNAs and techs have this personality type, and attempt to tell the nurses how to do their jobs.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Good luck to you!

[anonymurse]

This is a fascinating subject, and really has me thinking. After going back and forth, now I'm wondering if there is either a trick or a legal process that can force them to give the accused a copy of all relevant paperwork.

[furturenurse]

Good Luck! I'm glad you decided to somewhere else.

[Rizpah]

Good for you witchy! Life is too short to be miserable. Good luck! Why is it that facility higher ups have to be so nasty when someone wants to even just check to see what else is out there in the job market? I'll never understand that.....

[withasmilelpn]

I realize you have every right to be unhappy with this tech. Did you ever think about pulling her aside and asking her what is going on? People who are angry like that, especially after such a huge loss, are usually depressed. She probably needs an ear, anyway. People stop talking about your loss about 6 weeks after, when you really need people to acknowledge it about 2-3 YEARS after- I know I was in her position when I lost my son. The world feels like such an unjust place afterwords sp?, small injustices are magnified, you just don't have much tolerence for things, and you can't handle them like you should. Frankly you are fearless when it comes to confronting people, because once you've been through the worst thing in your life, what could be worse? That doesn't mean she is rational about this and does not excuse her behavior. I think someone needs to suggest or ask gently if she is in counseling and that sometimes extra help like an antidepressant is needed. I would put money down that she was probably depressed before this happened, due to her previous attitude you mentioned. At any rate, I do think it's best to confront people when they behave like this, and have a 'grown up' conversation when issues occur (regardless of personal issues.) I think too often in nursing, we choose the passive route like she did, instead of dealing with things head on.

Anyway, Best of luck to you in your new position!

[Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN]

So the tech "wins" in someone's opinion. Big deal. What did she "win" anyway?

I agree with you. Leaving means you win. You get to move on to a situation that is more gratifying and peaceful for you.

Isn't it funny how people think sometimes? Why should you stay and fight that battle? You have so many more options to consider.

Sometimes the best way to handle a conflict is deciding to walk away - another way of saying "pick your battles."

Good luck!

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

I agree - Keep moving on - there is no reason to stay somewhere when you are not happy there. I just started traveling too. Hope you do well no matter what you choose to do!

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

This is a fascinating subject, and really has me thinking. After going back and forth, now I'm wondering if there is either a trick or a legal process that can force them to give the accused a copy of all relevant paperwork.

Get this, the nurse manager had stuff written down on looseleaf paper. That's it, which says to me this tech was keeping little notes and it was such nonsense too. Nothing relating to safe patient care at all. I know as a new nurse I am not perfect and I have much to learn, but I figure, if my mistakes are small ones and don't harm or kill patients, then what is the problem? The charge nurse on evenings makes mistakes all the time-he gave me a vial of Cipro eyedrops and told me it was ok to just go ahead and use them for an ear surgery patient(we had the correct item in the pyxis-I changed it out and I think that made him mad) and I've seen OR nurses who have been here for 20+ years goof up pretty badly. The nurse managers take was that yes, they are being nasty but I need to suck it up and deal with the hazing. Um, nope!!