jean

i am a 53 y/o rn with 21 years of experience in ltc as a charge nurse and the past year as a supervisor, i started a new job as a7-3 staff rn to avoid the headaches of supervisor, my md had started me on toprol xl for htn to be taken in the am. the job had a computerized med system called sigma, no one trained me for the use of the computer ,on my 8th day, they assigned me to an am med pass of 40 residents, it was horrible, i wasn't orientated to that particular unit previously, had no idea of where the rooms numbers were, some residents didnt have wrist id's, and i did not know how to do med administraion with a laptop computer instead of a regular mar book, it took me 3 hours to do the med pass, i didn't know how to put accuchecks or b/p's in the computer, i sat at the nurses station and plugged the laptop in to go over the med pass i had just done, and just stated to the lpn, "it feels good to sit down" at 2:30 i was called into the office by the don and adon to terminate me, they said i yawned too much, and was reported as saying, "oh god, after that 3 hour med pass, it feels good to sit down" i explained to them i had just started on toprol xl for htn, and admitted it made me feel tired for a few hours after taking it, and i would switch it to taking it at nite instead, i had already asked the don for the teaching code password so i could teach my self the computerized med system at home, but they never gave it to me, they said they couldnt tolerate a nurse yawning at the desk, and that they had so many other younger applicants for the job and were letting me go, i asked them if i could keep the job and offered to go to my cardioligist for a clean bill of health, and they said no, i also had found out previously that i was hired so they could fire an rn who caled in sick a lot but had many friends there, i am still in shock and devestated about this

.....ageism much? sounds like trouble to me.

I think I would be talking to a lawyer.

If they are saying they has many other younger applicants for the job and are now letting you go, why did they hire you in the first place? Isn't this age discrimination? It sounds like they were going to watch you closely and find any little thing you did wrong to fire you even if it was a good reason or not. It sounds like they just wasted your time and theirs for some unknown reason.

Sure sounds like age discrimination. Who doesn't have days were they yawn alot. I think that would probably put alot of nurses out of work! I agree with gonzo 1 I would be talking to a lawyer.

Fired for yawning?

Nurses really are treated like crap.

i hear ya...lawyer sounds like a good plan. state surveyors also might like to know their expectations of you without sufficient orientation.

peace

This is why it is never a good idea to share too much information with your coworkers and superiors, better to have said "Won't happen again, you can count on me..".

Regarding your orientation, I would write a memo to the head nurse, ADON and DON and Human Resources that you want to do a good job and you are happy and proud to be a part of the nursing team but you need orientation and help with the following ..... (keep a copy)

end with "I am sure that with the proper direction I will be fine and a valuable member of our team."

It sounds corny or whatever, but better than complaining of your health problems (which no one really wants to hear- sorry!)

I know it is unfair but unfortunately we are not always as empathetic as we should be...

Are you an employment at will state?

This is why it is never a good idea to share too much information with your coworkers and superiors, better to have said "Won't happen again, you can count on me..".

Regarding your orientation, I would write a memo to the head nurse, ADON and DON and Human Resources that you want to do a good job and you are happy and proud to be a part of the nursing team but you need orientation and help with the following ..... (keep a copy)

end with "I am sure that with the proper direction I will be fine and a valuable member of our team."

It sounds corny or whatever, but better than complaining of your health problems (which no one really wants to hear- sorry!)

I know it is unfair but unfortunately we are not always as empathetic as we should be...

i wouldn't REALLY consider that "complaining about your health problems". seems to me she gave a simple, honest, and clear reason as to why she was yawning. why say it will never happen again when it might? i never say i wont do something again, cause we're human.

and it doesn't matter if it was an employment at will state. im assuming you mean one that can fire for whatever reason within a certain time, like we are here in TN. if you state something like "we had plenty of younger candidates" then thats age descrimination, period.

id be getting a lawyer, thats if you really want to continue working there. id be looking for another place. but in times like these, you have to make do. im sorry youre going through this. you sound like a great worker and one id want to work with.

Oh NO! That is so wrong! I'm so sorry this happened to you. Home care pays really well. Low stress. Maybe you could try that while you get your med situation stabilized, and get your energy level back up. You didn't want to work for those mean people anyway.

and it doesn't matter if it was an employment at will state. im assuming you mean one that can fire for whatever reason within a certain time, like we are here in TN. if you state something like "we had plenty of younger candidates" then thats age descrimination, period.

Agreed.

It sounds like the motives had little to do with yawning.

But you know, THEY have your personnel file and THEY can put whatever THEY like in it and you would have no way of proving otherwise....what I mean is, there is no way any employer is going to go to battle regarding age discrimination. They would risk making something up and putting it in your file regarding your performance, or whatever. It's sad, but it happens.