LUCKY! to have a job

joanncm109 · May 20, 2009

Regarding bonuses for managers who keep their costs down:

I had a manager who would come in every morning on her way in to work and she would not know what we had going for the day and she would automatically ask if anyone wanted to go home. Most of the time we needed all of our scheduled staff. She seemed not to care. Very seldom did she send us any help from another unit either.

It got to the point that she would say she needed someone to take the day off, not if someone wanted to. We

also heard that she got a bonus for keeping her budget under control. We had to take paid time off if we wanted to get paid for that day. It got to the point that some people didn't have any time to take to get paid.

anoro · May 23, 2009

Sorry to hear that. Hope your income returns, whether or not in nursing.

MaritesaRN · May 29, 2009

During these hard financial times, I have heard management repeatedly tell staff 'you are lucky to have a job'. Now whilst we appreciate we are indeed fortunate to have employment being told this repeatedly to control a bad working environment is in my opinion bullying, in truth they are getting away with during this period of hardship amongst our community.
What I find worrying is that this type of control which is being utilised during this time, will be difficult to overturn once things return to 'normality', because even the nurses who will speak their mind, stand up for what is right, support their less fortunate colleguees are now quiet and the silence is deafening.
Nurses work hard, we demand respect from our management, fellow employees, other members of the multi-disciplinary team, pts and family members, yet we struggle to actually achieve this.
Most nurses when questioned really just want respect and acknowledgement for a job well done and sometimes it seems we are swimming up stream to achieve any sort of recognition.
Throughout the years we have been labelled as 'Angels', 'Handmaidens', 'Battleaxes" and 'Whores' (nurse education today vol 4, pages 121-127) I dont know which one you are but I cannot relate to any of these labels.
I would see myself as provider of care, pill pusher, drug enabler, punching bag, furniture mover, phone sales person, scriber, pack horse, bed maker, family counciller, security guard, mind reader, housekeeper, but most of all Lucky to have a job!

:cool: This is intimidation and a form of harrassment. I woudl like to see this place being sued for this. Ask a lawyer and he will add other things that tack w/ this place. This is like beating a horse when it is already down. a class action would be lovely, so they have to pay for their arrogance and eventually stupidity. :angryfire

rockwell108 · May 30, 2009

Hello , I am so sorry that this happen to you but it is happening to other nurses... nurses need to stand together .. Did they hire a new younger nurse in your position .? cheaper wage , train her there way .. WE NEED A RN UNION .. WE HAVE TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR PATIENTS ... I BECAME A NURSE BECAUSE I CARE FOR MY PATIENTS .. NOT UPPER MANAGEMENT PENCIL PUSHERS..they need to get on the floor and do real nursing ..take care

God will lead you to a god job prayer is powerful... good luck

lilysam · May 31, 2009

this "bullying" is occurring at my facility right now too. this is terrible!

pennyaline · Jun 1, 2009

I think unions work well but I had heard that even a sniff of them mentioned and you are fired. This bothers me and does make me fearful. Here in AZ I dont think we are allowed Unions no matter what profession, I know if we were I would be interested in starting one up or being involved

Each and every workplace in any corner of the United States is allowed to unionize if that is what the majority of the rank and file wants. It is illegal for an employer to discriminate against or terminate an employee that suggests/supports unionizing, but in the paranoid climates of modern healthcare corporations and their super-papertrails, it is difficult to prove discrimination and/or unlawful termination as they have the in-house legal guidance and wherewithal to turn the tables on employees quickly.

Legislation is in the works that makes it more difficult for employers to hijack the unionization process.

Unions have their place, especially in times of bad economy. Research carefully and chose a union with a good track record for not just collective bargaining but for fighting tooth and nail in its members' defense when management gets porky.

Ketisha79 · Jun 2, 2009

I agree, Lucky to have a job, but we still deserve respect!!!

NursieGirl199 · Jun 2, 2009

I was the fat that got trimmed

Me too ! I just turned 60 and my cohort is 20 and came a few months after me. She covered 9 residents and I had 17. She was done early on the floor and bopping around and getting her notes done and helping to take off scripts while I was working hard to keep up. Plus I had 2 Jpeg tubes to flush and take care of.

The LPNs on when we had team meeting were asked to stay behind. The DON was furious that someone had not given a B12 shot since February. She was really yelling and slamming her hand down. Being a nurse only since

August 2008 was overwhelmed to say the least at this behavior. She looked right at me and stated why was this not given. I addressed the question and said I did not give the B12 shots. I neglected to say that it was a 6 AM shot that I never gave anyway and was only concerned about my 7 AM to 2:30 shift meds. I didnt know any better. After the meeting was over I was called down to the DON office. Alone. I was let go and told I was practicing unsafe nursing. ????? I was shocked, hurt and embarrassed. I gave my residents good care and was their advocate. The Administrator told the DON to fire me because I opened my mouth. True. No one else said a word at the meeting held prior. They all stood there silent. My DON told me that I should have been so upset I should have had a heart attack. I said I did feel like that. She then said dont try and change my mind and it wont work. I said How will I find another job. She said we often hire people who have been fired. I feel like I was set up. ???? I still have not found a job.

A week prior to that I was told I was an excellent nurse and given another day making my two weeks - 9 days. Then the DON when to home office on Friday and Monday I was gone. Not the 20 yr old who came several months after me but moi. I am sooo missing my residents. I tried to do my utmost best. Am I suppose to worry about the meds and Tx given on nights and evenings?? Is this my responsibility?? If the MARs are replaced month after month and the time to give is not placed on there is that grounds for my dismissal??

MaritesaRN · Jun 2, 2009

Me too ! I just turned 60 and my cohort is 20 and came a few months after me. She covered 9 residents and I had 17. She was done early on the floor and bopping around and getting her notes done and helping to take off scripts while I was working hard to keep up. Plus I had 2 Jpeg tubes to flush and take care of.
The LPNs on when we had team meeting were asked to stay behind. The DON was furious that someone had not given a B12 shot since February. She was really yelling and slamming her hand down. Being a nurse only since
August 2008 was overwhelmed to say the least at this behavior. She looked right at me and stated why was this not given. I addressed the question and said I did not give the B12 shots. I neglected to say that it was a 6 AM shot that I never gave anyway and was only concerned about my 7 AM to 2:30 shift meds. I didnt know any better. After the meeting was over I was called down to the DON office. Alone. I was let go and told I was practicing unsafe nursing. ????? I was shocked, hurt and embarrassed. I gave my residents good care and was their advocate. The Administrator told the DON to fire me because I opened my mouth. True. No one else said a word at the meeting held prior. They all stood there silent. My DON told me that I should have been so upset I should have had a heart attack. I said I did feel like that. She then said dont try and change my mind and it wont work. I said How will I find another job. She said we often hire people who have been fired. I feel like I was set up. ???? I still have not found a job.
A week prior to that I was told I was an excellent nurse and given another day making my two weeks - 9 days. Then the DON when to home office on Friday and Monday I was gone. Not the 20 yr old who came several months after me but moi. I am sooo missing my residents. I tried to do my utmost best. Am I suppose to worry about the meds and Tx given on nights and evenings?? Is this my responsibility?? If the MARs are replaced month after month and the time to give is not placed on there is that grounds for my dismissal??

:cool: there were a few things you mentioned that were out of character for me ...such as the DON was only a nurse since August 2008? What was she doing being a DON with veryl little experience and much less tenure as a nurse? Somehow I got a feeling that this place probably hires people who are their friends, relatives or whatever since it does not make sense. Whay was the 20 yearold given only 7 residents??? I too will be done if that is all that I have........something is very wrong in this place, especially when you can not say anthing in a meeting????

Girl , you ran far away from that place ! There are a lot of this type of facility and w/ your experience, you will find another place.:heartbeat

NursieGirl199 · Jun 3, 2009

My reply is below. thank you. Sorry for the double posting.

NursieGirl199 · Jun 3, 2009

I am sorry I was not clear on this post. I am the new nurse since August 2008 so I am feeling my way. And you hit the nail right on the head. 90% of the Administration is family oriented.

There is the Asst. Adm. and the Activities Person - sisters, an office worker and

LNAC who should be an RNAC is the daughter of the Asst. Adm. and niece of the Activities Person, the LPN on third floor is a niece to the Asst. Adm and related to half of the others. I just did not fit in. I have learned quite a bit

but the bottom line is that I really bonded and cared about my residents I took care of and I miss them. So does this harden others to not care as much for those they take care of in fear that it can happen in a heart beat that they are gone from their job? Wow I am still reeling from this reality! The DON said they gave the 20 yr old the lighter side because they did not want to scare her away and she was a new nurse? Go figure ......

The young LPN is attending local Community College for her RN. I am 61 in 2 wks. So I was dispensible.

My world has turned upside down. I know in this economy I am not alone in this ......

kmartin79 · Jun 3, 2009

This last couple of months it has been very difficult finding a job. My last two assignments did not come until 3 weeks before my other assignment was up. I can tell you this much, my recruiter has never let me go jobless throughout the 3 years that I have been with him. If any of you are having problems finding a job, call RN Network.

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