Inappropriate to call?

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So, long story short...I worked at a skilled nursing facility for almost three months. I was hired by an awesome DON only to see her leave and be replaced by an awful one a few weeks after I started. By "awful" I mean that she just generally treated employees poorly and made them feel replaceable and exploitable. So, I put in my two weeks, and contacted my company's float pool. I was hired by float pool and my new boss is wonderful. So, I don't know why I did this, but after working for float pool for about a month, I got a "wild hair" and called the former facility where I used to work during night shift hours to say "hello". I used to work second shift and I really liked the night shift people that worked after me. Well, shortly after saying "hello" I realized I shouldn't have called and said "I know you're working, I will let you go." The conversation lasted a total of about a minute. Anyway, I am worried now because I STILL work for float pool. Was it inappropriate to call? I haven't floated to this facility since I left. What's worse is that I have some of my former co-worker's cell phones so I could have just contacted them that way. Should I be worried?

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

aNaders_RN:

"Inapproriate" is the key word here. I can see nothing in your actions that could be deemed so.

If I understand you correctly, you are an Agency Nurse and are assigned to different Facilities. Both you and your Agency recieve reimbursement for services rendered. Is my interpretation correct?

I was a Nursing Supervisor for a Home Health/Staffing Agency years ago. Our Nurses were constantly keeping in touch and communicating with each other on Jobs and Cases they had worked. I supported these actions. Faulty communication and misunderstandings of a situation are always great downfalls of our work. Any way to keep that communication energy going needs to be reinforced.

I sense your concern is with the ramifications of your action. Your action can easily be interpretted as a method of obtaining a status report. Getting a status report on a possible place where you may be working should be interpretted as a positive action. You merely want to keep up on things. Good for you.

As far as having the cell phone numbers of Staff, it is up to them if they answer their cells while working. If there's not a policy against using cell phones during a shift, then everything's okay. If there is a a policy against using cell phones while working a shift, then the responsibility falls on the reciever of the call. Cells can always be turned off.

Please let me know if my perspective is a correct one. If my perspective is not correct, then I just may have to change my comment.

See ya.

Dave

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

It's called networking, and in nursing it's strongly encouraged. These kinds of calls happen all the time and in my experience raise the morale of all involved. Unless there's more to it than you're telling, but it doesn't sound like that's the case.:up:

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Specializes in PACU, OR.

I certainly can't imagine why it would be regarded as inappropriate; we regularly have former staff not only phoning to say hello, but also dropping in for the occasional visit! Neither the NSM nor our UM have a problem with this, unless the person concerned left the company "under a cloud."

If the current manager of your old facility is a nasty piece of work, it might not be politic for you to try visiting them, but by all means keep in touch with your friends and former colleagues!

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Assuming you obviously know not to ask about specific residents and you kept the call short you didn't do anything inappropriate. Still it's best to call old co-workers when they aren't at work.

Also you should know that some managers don't like when people who have quit (ie moved on to something better) call to say "hello". In the DON and some employee's eyes you obviously moved on or quit for a reason.

Business is business. Work is work and friends are friends. Don't assume people you used to work with are friends.

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you're a nut, lol.

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Network all you want. Remember you run your world. Keep those you find you want to keep as you move on. Screw those who fabricate reasons not to network. They are ridiculous silly people.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Oh honey, OF COURSE you did nothing inappropriate! They were obviously busy, so don't take their short communication personally. I understand where you are coming from though. It's kinda like calling an ex. They probably love to hear from you, but call your buds on their off time. You will be getting a more personal conversation, and they will no doubt love to fill you in on what is going on.

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aNaders_RN:

"Inapproriate" is the key word here. I can see nothing in your actions that could be deemed so.

If I understand you correctly, you are an Agency Nurse and are assigned to different Facilities. Both you and your Agency recieve reimbursement for services rendered. Is my interpretation correct?

I was a Nursing Supervisor for a Home Health/Staffing Agency years ago. Our Nurses were constantly keeping in touch and communicating with each other on Jobs and Cases they had worked. I supported these actions. Faulty communication and misunderstandings of a situation are always great downfalls of our work. Any way to keep that communication energy going needs to be reinforced.

I sense your concern is with the ramifications of your action. Your action can easily be interpretted as a method of obtaining a status report. Getting a status report on a possible place where you may be working should be interpretted as a positive action. You merely want to keep up on things. Good for you.

As far as having the cell phone numbers of Staff, it is up to them if they answer their cells while working. If there's not a policy against using cell phones during a shift, then everything's okay. If there is a a policy against using cell phones while working a shift, then the responsibility falls on the reciever of the call. Cells can always be turned off.

Please let me know if my perspective is a correct one. If my perspective is not correct, then I just may have to change my comment.

See ya.

Dave

Dave,

Your interpretation was correct. I was concerned with the ramifications of making a personal call to a business, especially considering that the present DON isn't kind or concerned for employee welfare. Anyway, after consideration, I realize it was OK; it was a very short phone call. I don't plan on calling again to that facility directly. :)

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