Is there a difference in a 'negative report' and a 'write up'?

Nurses General Nursing

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I had a meeting regarding an internship this week that I was offered and thought that we were going to discuss good things. Well, apparently this was a time that she said she wanted to meet with me to "coach" me on some things that came up in the background check process. I had previously been a summer aide for two summers prior to getting this internship. I am a friendly person and as a Christian I try to treat everyone (regardless of position i.e. housekeeper, RN, CFO,etc) at the hospital equally and nicely because I believe it takes everyone to make a healthcare institution work and that no one is better than the other. I was devastated to find out that apparently, an old supervisor from summer of 2009 (not summer of '10) had a so called "negative report" on my record for being "too friendly/flirty" ---i know exactly how this came about because there was one nurse that was always trying to get me in trouble with the supervisor and saw me being nice to a male employee and decided to take that and run with it and turn it into something so then whenever the supervisor saw me talking to that employee she assumed I was flirting based on what the nurse said (even though they all knew I was happily engaged [now married]!). I even apologized to the supervisor the one day this came up for any confusion because I was just trying to be friendly to everyone. Anyways, up until my meeting this week this was the first I EVER heard about any negative report on my record and know that I did not sign any kind of document bc I would've remembered. I was heartbroken to find this out because my hard work was overlooked due to someone wanting to backstab me simply because they wanted to get the new girl in trouble bc she could.

In this same meeting, the woman "coaching" me went on to tell me another unit that I had interviewed on after working as a summer aide there, said the "nurses didn't want me" and that whoever they talked to said I didn't "chip in" while there which is completely FALSE! Apparently from what I can tell, nurses from the inpatient side of the unit (who didn't get to work with me but maybe a few days over the summer) were asked about me but not the outpatient clinic workers (which is where I worked the whole summer was on outpatient!). The inpatient nurses didn't work with me but 2 or 3 days and knew I was put on the outpatient side to help. I believe one nurse probably said she didn't like me and some of her buddies joined in. Had the outpatient clinic workers been asked about my work ethic, I know that it would've been a completely different story!

I am still devastated about these things that came up- then on top of that the woman that told me I got the internship didn't like the sweater I wore at my interview for the internship because it was too low cut (i had a nice cami under and my husband even thought I looked professional). But clearly with these negative things that blind-sided me there must be good that I've done since I still got the internship! All this she brought up just made me feel like a failure before I even start.

So going back to what I talked about earlier, since I NEVER signed anything when I worked Summer of 09, does this mean there was still a "write up" or is a "negative report" on my record different?? Still so upset about this.

Isnt this a repeat of a previous post already discussed??

Somewhat, yes. I just wanted to reiterate and give the background of my question. So is a negative report and write up different especially if you never signed anything? I just had a really bad week and am trying to focus on the future and forget about what a few people thought about me from almost 2 years ago that got brought up. I want to focus on positives and put everything in His hands.

Then do just that and move on , I thought the ladies the other day had given you some appropriate words of wisdom. You can only let this affect you in a negative manner if you allow it to. Be positive learn from it and move on.

As long as we continue to grow and learn from our mistakes , we are making positives strides.

Enjoy the holidays with your husband and family and all else will fall into place ...

spacy,

If you are cute, this happens so easily. People are absolutely amazing. Welcome to the BS of nursing.

And to answer your question, yes. There is a difference between an official "write up" and a 'negative report.' Usually the difference has to do with official documentation and the employer following the protocol in dealing with such things. It goes in your employee file at HR. Howver, I have long since known that 'negative report' info. goes in an "unofficial file," which is kept by managers and such. Personally I believe this is wrong, wrong, wrong. What's more many places will deny that such "files" exist. Thus, if an employment lawyer goes looking for records, all they get is what's in the HR file. It's a bit of a shell game.

Again, I think it is complete nonsense. If you have a official concern to address, based on facts and objective information, address it in an appropriate manner, and let that and the rebuttal speak for itself. But see, if they put unofficial information in an official place and address it according to their written standards then the employee has the right to respond/rebutt and put that in his/her file as well. Not somethat that is wanted when they want to use something to stack the cards against you.

This is yet one more reason nurses as professionals need to work under sound contracts. If there is legitimate cause to terminate someone, fine. Let the objective information come forth. But in too many cases, it has nothing to do with legitimate causes for termination, and indeed, according to At-Will-Employment, most places don't need a legitimate cause--"cause or no cause at all." But just in case an employer decides he or she has gotten the shaft and seeks an attorney, it is very nice for the manger/employer to have something in their records--both in the formal and informal records. The informal records won't be about discovery. They will be about subjective stuff that is hard to prove but tends to make you look bad, in order to try to get others from within the institution as well as outside of it to look at you in a negative light--thus, helping them to justify letting you go or you lack of "fit."

Again, welcome to nursing w/ sound contract and the wonders of At-Will-Employment.

Meant to write, in case the employee thinks he/she has gotten the shaft, etc.

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