Let go after three days? Seriously?!?!

Published

Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.

I have a thread going in MDS about being burned out and going back to the floor, so I got a job at a LTC home in my area. During the interview the DNS stated she was very impressed with my experience and offered me the job on the spot.

I was told I would get 5 days of orientation, with more if needed and today was to be day 4. I was fully prepared to take the cart and do the med. pass alone, asking for help as needed, since I had most of it down, except for being a bit slow passing the meds. since it has been awhile since I worked a med. cart.

Anyway, the DNS called me at home and told me she didn't think I was going to work out :confused: When I asked why she said that the nurse I had been with the past two evenings told her I was a bit slow with the med. pass and that she didn't think I would last since I had been an "office nurse" for so long.

So I said to the DNS, "You're only giving me three days after you promised a full week, and even said I could have more if needed? You knew I had been a MDS Nurse for years and are only giving me 3 days to become acclimated to the med. cart?" She pretty much said they need someone who can take right over so they didn't think it was the job for me.

I had the paperwork/computer charting down pat and all I needed was to get to know the residents. I was going to be assigned to the rehab. side and would have loved it since there are so many acutely ill rehab. patients with a plethora of "issues." Right up my alley. I am a darn good nurse and have experience in many, many aspects of patient care. The patients loved me and told the DNS they specifically wanted me taking care of them after only three days.

What did I do wrong? Can someone shed some light on this for me? I need a job desperately... :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Oh wow, that is awful. I am so sorry to hear that. It might be a blessing, do you really want to be with a company that puts so little into their employees.. I would expect anyone coming into a new place to be slow at first. I don't know if a refresher coorifice would help or not but it might be something to think about. Good luck in your job search, hope something comes along quickly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.
Oh wow, that is awful. I am so sorry to hear that. It might be a blessing, do you really want to be with a company that puts so little into their employees.. I would expect anyone coming into a new place to be slow at first. I don't know if a refresher coorifice would help or not but it might be something to think about. Good luck in your job search, hope something comes along quickly.

Thank you.

I was completely blind sided and am still in shock. I have heard some bad things about the company, but when I was given the tour I thought it would be a very nice place to work, and that the rumors came from disgruntled employees. I was going to make up my own mind. Then the nurses started telling me about how badly they treat them and that the money they pay is not worth it but again, I was going to make up my own mind since as a rule, I usually don't go by what others say.

I was told the Administrator, who oddly enough makes the schedules out, schedules nurses and CNAs to work 6-7 days straight with one day off, so I looked at the other nurses' schedules posted on a board. Sure enough she has them working 6 days straight with one day off. Somehow she works it out between pay periods to where they do not get OT, or if they do, they might get one day OT.

I'm saddened but relieved at the same time if that makes sense? I need to find something very soon though.

I suppose everyone finds their niche sooner or later. I guess I can't blame them in a way since they want someone who can jump right in apparently, but it just seems so unfair.

I really don't have anything bad to say about the home itself, but I can see why they have such a high turnover rate with nurses. My husband said he didn't really want me working there anyway since it is in a bad part of the city.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ambulatory Case Management, Clinic, Psychiatry.

It sounds like it definitely wasn't you-- yes you may have been slower then they'd have liked, but they knew your background going in and they hired you!! I think that is very unfair and unprofessional. Sorry you had to go through that!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.
It sounds like it definitely wasn't you-- yes you may have been slower then they'd have liked, but they knew your background going in and they hired you!! I think that is very unfair and unprofessional. Sorry you had to go through that!!

Thank you.

I do understand their reasoning to a degree, but to be told I would have an entire week and more if needed was, apparently, a way to get a warm body in there since they are so desperate for 3-11 LPNs. I honestly thought I was progressing like any other LPN who had been out of LTC for so long, but it seems I was wrong. Obviously the good Lord has other plans for me. I was really looking forward to using my skills since it was the rehab. floor with so many different types of rehab. patients.

If this is the way LTCs operate these days, I think I will look in another direction. Too bad it has become more about the bottom line than actual patient care. Too many good nurses are being used and abused in LTCs and patient care is suffering. It needs to stop.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MDS/Office.

Maybe you would want to consider an MDS Position with another company....Perhaps working in a bigger facility with 2 or more MDS Coordinators....I worked in 3 different facilities as an MDS Coordinator before my current position.

Like I told you before, don't beat yourself up....This nonsense is so common in LTC.

You don't need to work in a Toxic place like that....They did you a favor, you just don't realize it yet....

Good Luck & keep us posted. :cool:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.
Maybe you would want to consider an MDS Position with another company....Perhaps working in a bigger facility with 2 or more MDS Coordinators....I worked in 3 different facilities as an MDS Coordinator before my current position.

Like I told you before, don't beat yourself up....This nonsense is so common in LTC.

You don't need to work in a Toxic place like that....They did you a favor, you just don't realize it yet....

Good Luck & keep us posted. :cool:

Thank you Bella. Obviously I need to seek another MDS job where they will hire a LPN or some type of office job, maybe even Home Health or a clinic. Right now I'm just devastated because I need to work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MDS/Office.

Since you have MDS 3.0 experience, you should have no problems finding another MDS position.

MDS Coordinators are in demand.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.

I hope so Bella...I truly hope so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If the DON was being truthful, it could be that other nurse has a friend who needs a job.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.
If the DON was being truthful, it could be that other nurse has a friend who needs a job.....

I thought of that as well. I worked as a MDS Nurse in a facility where the DON gave me holy heck everyday because she wanted her best friend to have the job. I was there for over a year and did not ler her defeat me. I resigned on my own.

Anyway, the "orientator" did talk about a friend who had been wanting to leave her job to come to work there, but it never dawned on me that she would turn on me. She knew, just like the DON, that I had been off the floor for a few years and needed time.

At least the DON called me at home, saving me gas and time. I haven't been let go before and it was humiliating enough over the phone. I can imagine what it would've been like sitting in her office behind a closed door, walking out after being terminated, only to have people staring at me and whispering.

I wanted to add that the DON wasn't nasty with me at all. She sounded like she really hated to give me the news and did apologize. She seems like a good hearted person. It's just business as usual I suppose. I can't fault her for doing her job. It's a job I wouldn't have if I was a RN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am sorry this happened to you. I am thinking there may be some things going on behind the scene that you are not privey to, such as the friend wanting the job ect.

You dust yourself off and move on. There is a reason you are no longer there and bigger and better things await you! Best of luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion