Manager Seeking Revenge on New Nurse

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Nurse Beth,

I started my first RN job almost exactly 3 months ago. It's at a SNF and isn't a bad place to work but, I had to face it... my true passion and interest is in acute care nursing; I want more experience in IVs, critical care, etc...So I applied for new graduate programs, got interviewed, and landed an ICU position.

I'm blessed and humbled and never thought I could get this opportunity. The program is starting soon soi put in my 2 weeks notice with my current nursing manager who got very upset with me and turned into a whole new person. She threatened if I didn't tell her that I got a new offer, she'd tell any place calling for a reference that I didn't work there or would ignore them. She also let me know I wouldn't be needed anyway because they have enough coverage, and now she's been cutting my shifts with various excuses.

RNs at this SNF are very limited... and she's usually calling to ask if we can work double...so when she told me she was cutting my shift because we're overstaffed and I saw night nurses working day shift, my intuition told me something is wrong. Is this worth going to HR over? Can I justify this as harassment? I know I'm leaving anyway but I really needed that money (a week's pay) and would rather her just let me go so I get paid instead of texting me every morning to say she canceled my shift. I'm relieved to be leaving, sad it's ending like this.

---

Dear SNF to ICU,

Congrats on getting accepted to a residency!

Your manager takes passive-aggressive to a new level. She's angry that you are leaving after 3 months and striking back. The only retaliation she has is to affect your pocketbook. The rest are idle threats.

Know that in any job, once you give notice, you are subject to being immediately released from employment. Employers have no obligation to keep you on although it is professional and expected to give notice.

HR is not going to back you up here. First of all, the manager has the right to call people in and call people off. She is not violating policy unless it is written somewhere that call-offs have to rotate among staff. Even so, HR is not going to get involved. To them, you are an ex-employee and a short-term one at that.

It's best to cut your losses and put this in the rearview mirror. Let it go and look forward. Soon you are going to be in ICU, immersed in your new, exciting job, and learning so much.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

Author, "Your Last Nursing Class: How to Land Your First Nursing Job"...and your next!

[llg, PhD, RN]

Congratulations on the new job!

Now ... put this old job behind you and be happy you are not going to have to work for that person anymore. Don't "stir the pot" and make anything worse for yourself. Just go quietly and move on to a better life.

And remember: HR does not work for the employees. They work for the employer. Protecting and otherwise serving the employer is their main function -- not helping employees.

[Oldmahubbard]

You have dodged a bullet and congrats

[AnnieNP, MSN, NP]

You have dodged a bullet and congrats

This 100%! Congratulations on the new job.

[The Nurse Farmer]

I agree. Not only that, in the long run, her behavior will eventually come back to haunt her and possibly the organization. I always say that people who behave this way will eventually 'self implode'. Good luck with your new job!

[monkey205]

I personally would advise HR of her threats as they can haunt your career. I am glad you are leaving (I have had a few crazy managers myself) but she can tarnish your reputation. Good luck on the new job.

[Nunya, BSN]

I personally would advise HR of her threats as they can haunt your career. I am glad you are leaving (I have had a few crazy managers myself) but she can tarnish your reputation. Good luck on the new job.

Right. And when she does self implode and they start asking who else did she do this to you can say that she did it to you, and have a complaint made AT THE TIME to back yourself up. HR won't do anything about the missed shifts not they certainly should do something about the threats.

[vegaJ]

Congrats in your new job good luck

[vegaJ]

Sorry to hear that get a good legal advise. I was hurt bad set up by a superviso. Still in probation

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

I don't know in what state you live, but in Minnesota, an employer is required to only share dates of employment and salaries, they aren't allowed to share anything else for just the reasons you mentioned - legal risks.

It might be wise to check with Human Resources to see what they are legally and policy-wise allowed to share. If they ask why you are making the inquiry, tell them.

[monkey205]

In NJ they are not allowed to share salary any more.

[C.Love, MSN, NP]

I think the HR department needs to know in case other people have problems with her abuse. She may be this way toward other people who don't have another job lined up.