Most recent problem (VERY LONG)

[JentheRN05, RN]

Okay, most of you know, I was on my second job, working on an ortho/neuro floor, nights. I loved the patients, hated the working nights. Been sick since I've been on nights.

Anyway - okay, lets go back about 1 month or so. I had my 3 month eval. It went wonderfully. Everyone had awesome things to say. I had to come up with 2 peer reviews. One I had worked with, one that had followed oh and one of myself.

I was given awesome compliments such as 'really cares about her patients' 'will make a wonderful nurse' 'patients have really said she's an awesome caring nurse' and so on. Also mentioned that I was well organized, and timely and that patients always came first. So basically a shiny beautiful eval. Only negative thing that was mentioned was that I seem to be anxious alot of the time. Which is true, but it doesn't affect my performance. I had been keeping in constant contact with my boss over the last month since the eval. I had been injured on the job 2 days before christmas, and I had not been well since I started on nights. I had probably emailed her 6-7 times with 'how soon will I adapt to nights (I had been on nights for 2 out of 3 months) because I am constantly sick, and on antibiotics. Will it ever get better?" As well as frequent correspondence about my back injury, and restrictions that were placed on me because of the injury. Having to weekly go see a Occ med doctor d/t the injury and frequently immediately following work. Her response was always very short and sweet. Something like "I hope you get to feeling better" after me asking when will I ever adapt to nights and stop being sick.

Anyway - things were just getting worse. I ended up with pink eye 3 weeks ago and just woke up with it the day I was supposed to work. You must be on antibiotics for 24 hours prior to returning to work with pink eye. So I had to call in. I was told not to work for about 3 days d/t my injury (2 of which days I wasn't scheduled) so I didn't collect points for those days. Just the one day with pink eye.

Then one day I after I was off for 1 full day and was on my second day off in a row I took my son to the doctor. They wanted blood tests run. So I went next door and as he sat in the chair, I told the phlebotomist, "ya know if you want I can do that for you." she said, are you a nurse? I said yes, but I was also a plebotomist a while back too. She went on to tell me about a job that was brought to her attention right next door. So after my son was finished, I went right over and talked to the nurse manager about the job. I wasn't dressed appropriately but I was dying to get off of nights so I did talk to her anyway. We sat down. She mentioned the office uses complimentary therapies in their work. I said, well thats awesome by me, I'm a holistic practitioner. She high fived me and said, 'girl let me make some phone calls, and we'll see if we can't get you in here." So I left. I heard from her that night, the owners wife (doctors wife) wanted to meet me right away. But I had to work nights the next night so I couldn't until the following week. Days went by, and I didn't hear from her. So I called her. She had just been too busy she to call so she and I came up with a date and time.

Went in on the predetermined date and time and met with the doctor, his wife and the nurse manager. Gave them my resume, filled out an application and gave them copies of my nursing license. They offered me a job on the spot, but only offering literally half what the hospital was paying me. And no benefits. I told her I'd have to think about it. The office manager followed me out the door and said, your disappointed with the pay aren't you? I said, well honestly, yes, that the pay they were offering wouldn't even cover my husbands insurance since I would lose insurance, but I told her I would think about it.

On the way home, I decided I just can't do that to my family so I decided I would turn her down. That was a Friday. By the end of the weekend, I had changed my mind. Thought well I'll work part time at the office and still do the nights to keep my insurance. This went on for 2 weeks. Days and nights.

I still was sick. During the first week I had bronchitis (on antibiotics) and a sinus infection (on antibiotics) I couldn't breath when I was at the hospital, and one of my patients picked up on me being so sick. She asked what was wrong and I told her, not to worry about me, that she was the patient and I am here to take care of her. She said, no really what's wrong, I know you aren't feeling well. So I went on to tell her of how I had been sick since I've been on nights, but not to worry, I am and have been on antibiotics since pretty much a week after being on nights so I am not contagious. She said, you really shouldn't be here if you are so miserable. I said, your right, I probably shouldn't be, but with me being miserable every time I come to work, well I wouldn't have a job. She was very sweet, none of this was taken as a hit on me for caring for her when I was sick, because she knew that although I was sick, I was on antibiotics and so safe for her.

Fast forward to the next night I was on.

Had a patient with terminal cancer. Did not have DNR orders and spoke to the family about them. Got the orders and was in the room every 15-20 checking on said patient because the family was very concerned. Now keep in mind I had 5 other patients on top of this patient, but because of the situation turning bad very fast (unbeknownst to the shift prior to me since his vitals hadn't been taken since midday and it was now 7pm) I had no problem following up with each and every families wish.

By this time, I was on restrictions, but I had the aides help me turn him, which the family was requesting every 30 minutes or so.

The next night I cared again for this patient. Everything was the same as the first night, checking him very frequently. I was becoming very close to the family and the family said I was the best nurse their father had had. Which I thought was very sweet and thanked them.

At the end of the shift, literally 6:30am. The family requested him to be turned again. I told them to please hang on a moment while I go find someone (as I had been doing for the last 2 days - because of my restrictions were no lifting over 10#'s and no bending, twisting turning stooping etc.). So I immediately went to seek out an aide. They were all (and I mean all) getting report. So I went and requested another nurse to help me, and they were busy charting and the charge nurse said "I guess he will just have to wait until next shift comes on"

I went back to the room, for the first time feeling defeated. But I came up with an idea. The patient was quite light d/t his advanced stage. So I went into the room, and told the family that 'since it's the end of shift and the aides are getting report I can't find anyone to help us, but if you can turn him, I will place pillows and we'll get this done together." the wife agreed. As I was finishing my sentence an aide walked in behind me and I noticed her there, I explained the situation (my restrictions and the wife offering to help) and asked the aide if she could help and we turned the patient.

Okay, I was off that day. 2 days later, I was back on, but was put at the other end. I wasn't too happy about it because, well the patient I had gotten so close to and his family were at the other end. But I didn't say anything. Took my assignment and went on with my work. About 11pm the majority of the family of my very sick patient came down and asked me why I was down at the opposite end from their dad. I said, well that's the assignment I was given. They asked me if I could change assignments with the nurse they currently had because that nurse was not nearly as good, or as nice and caring as I was. I said, well I wish I could, but honestly we can't change assignments mid shift. THey accepted that and asked if they could request me and when I would be on next. I said, possibly and told them when the next night I worked would be on.

Ended up with pink eye the next shift so was made to stay home. Next night on I had been lifted to 35# restriction, which obviously appeared to irritate the aides (even though since I had been there I was the ONLY nurse on the night shift who would answer any call light, even if it wasn't my patient, and would help the aides out whenever I could - was even told this by one of the aides).

Okay - so here I am working nights and days (of course not working the day after a shift or the day of a night shift on days) so all was okay, but I still wasn't getting better health wise.

Last week I am on call from 6-10pm. I get a call at 4pm saying I am on call, but they were 'on the bubble' of needing someone so I might get a call. I told them that was fine as long as they made the night shift perfectly clear that I could NOT work past 10pm (I had to work the next day). They said fine.

So I went about taking care of my very very sick son (asthmatic problems, near hospitalization serious). Ended up lying down with him in my bed since neither him, nor I had slept much the night before or that day. My hubby was gone for a little while (getting meds for our son). Came home and said I had a phone call from work. At about 7:40pm I returned the phone call (I guess they called between 7:20 and 7:30pm). They asked me to come in. I said, you do realize I live an hour away right? They said yes, I said you also realize I can't work past 10pm right? yes when can you get here? I said, well I'm not dressed so about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Which would be 8:50 before I could get there. I said is that really worth me driving 2 hours for an hour and 10 minutes worth of work? She said, well I really need you here. I said, well I'm sorry, I just cannot justify that.

Okay, so I know I was wrong there, I fully expected to recieve a point, a talking to or something along that line after that.

Well - THe next shift I went in on nights, all was fine. Went home went to sleep, got up for the next shift on nights. Went to work. Was assigned my patients. Went in to listen to report and was half way through report when my boss came and knocked on the door. Said she needs to talk to me before I get started. Fine I said, I figured heres where i get my reaming. Finished listening to report. Met her in the desk area. Where I overheard the secretary telling my boss that one of the day shift nurses could not come in for the night because she had her kids and her bf was coming over. My boss told her to call her back and tell her to have her bf come and watch the kids and come in and 'play'. Okay, I thought that was strange because we had enough nurses. Then it dawned on me, this is more than a reaming I'm getting. Uh-oh.

So I got in her office and sat down. She asked me to close the door. Okay, I did.

She went on to tell me she is very very concerned about my professional behavior recently. (I was getting written up!!!)

In the write up she cited that I

1. Refused to turn a patient and told the patient he would have to wait until next shift comes on (went on to tell me it was the patient I was taking care of that I was in his room every 15-20 minutes - remember that one?)

2. Told a patient I was too sick to be there.

3. refused to come in.

She went on to tell me that the patient that I supposedly refused to turn had requested that I NOT be their nurse again!?!?!?

What the heck? They specifically asked if they could request me.

2nd one was partly true, but the patient had picked up on it, and it was her that said I probably should be at home 'getting better'

3. well that was correct and I fully expected disaplinary action for that one.

Well - prior to going to work that very day, my husband as I was walking out the door said to me "if you quit this job (night job) we'll be okay, you have another job afterall"

After a close to screaming match about the accusation number 1 episode I told her I was fully prepared to quit. She said, so what does that mean? You giving me notice? You walking out tonight. What? Goes on to state that I had forged my application (I did NOT forge my application, I forgot the actual dates and forgot about a job I worked at for 2 days!!! - 4 years prior!) that I had quit that job without notice and that if I walked out on this job tonight I could guarantee that I would never get a job at this facility again.

I sat there quietly for a couple of moment and I reheard the voice in my head my husband said about quitting that job.

I said, you know what? If it wasn't for accusation number 1 I would probably give you notice, but you know what? I have another job, I don't care if I ever work here again. I carefully placed all of the info I had gathered to do my job on her desk. Cleaned out my locker, took my name off of everything in the area. And saw that day shift was still there. Sought out my charge nurse and told her I was leaving. (Basically covering my behind in case they wanted to do a abandonment charge on me) Everyone was there that it would take to care for the patients, and my boss was in the process of finding someone else already.

I am guessing she was planning on firing me. D/T the phone calls the secretary was making. The fact I had only been there 4 months was ringing in my head, so quitting was better than getting fired in my book.

In either case, I was covered and left.

Now I am at a job I love, they are trying to get me more pay (brand new office space so they are having a hard time financially right now) but even the doctor himself is pulling for me. I just hope they can pull it off.

Okay I have written the longest post I have ever written. Feel free to tell me thoughts, scream at me for the night I didn't go in for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Or whatever. I just wanted to put this out there so I can get a feel for what you all think.

I appreciate all the support I have gotten here. You guys are wonderful :)

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Wow! What a story! I couldn't stop reading and had to go all the way to the end. I'm sorry you lost your job. I think you handled it very cool though. You walked out with dignity. I'd just like to point out, however, that I can't tell you how many times over the years I've had patients go all ga-ga over me and yet hear something quite different from my head nurse. These patients and their families are passive-aggressive. They are nice to your face, but nasty behind your back. The hard thing is that you never know who they are until they pull something like this family did. This is how, over the years, I've learned to be careful what I say to patients and how I word it.

I hope your new job works out. There are a lot of perks to working for a doctor as I'm sure you may have already seen. I would say the main thing is to try to get some kind of medical insurance coverage through him if you can.

Also, I suspect that a lot of the illness you were having was due to just being around sick people in the hospital. Over the years I have seen so many new employees in their first year of working in a hospital just have one illness after another until they develop some immunity to these things. Hope you are all better now. How's your back? I've got mega back problems and I know how troublesome they can be.

[JentheRN05, RN]

Wow! What a story! I couldn't stop reading and had to go all the way to the end. I'm sorry you lost your job. I think you handled it very cool though. You walked out with dignity. I'd just like to point out, however, that I can't tell you how many times over the years I've had patients go all ga-ga over me and yet hear something quite different from my head nurse. These patients and their families are passive-aggressive. They are nice to your face, but nasty behind your back. The hard thing is that you never know who they are until they pull something like this family did. This is how, over the years, I've learned to be careful what I say to patients and how I word it.

I hope your new job works out. There are a lot of perks to working for a doctor as I'm sure you may have already seen. I would say the main thing is to try to get some kind of medical insurance coverage through him if you can.

Also, I suspect that a lot of the illness you were having was due to just being around sick people in the hospital. Over the years I have seen so many new employees in their first year of working in a hospital just have one illness after another until they develop some immunity to these things. Hope you are all better now. How's your back? I've got mega back problems and I know how troublesome they can be.

Daytonite,

Thank you for responding, I was hoping someone would.

As far as the family, I think they were being honest to me. See there is another "Jen" at work, she works days. It is very very possible they were referring to her. I say that because I recall at one point I was taking over that patient, and she said "he wants turned AGAIN, so if you get a chance could you do it?" That's why I think maybe it was her. She also point blank told this particular patient that "keep in mind, you are NOT my only patient, I can't be in here all the time" That's the other reason I think this was the family talking about her not me. But the weird thing about that is, this other Jen really REALLY is awesome normally. She was my preceptor. But I can see how I could've spoiled the patient into thinking every nurse would do what I did. Which during the day shift is impossible. So if I were her I probably would've tried to explain it to the family in a tactful manner, that I have other patients, but I will do everything I can to give him the best care that I can.

As far as being sick. I would totally agree with you except two things. 1. I had the flu shot, and 2. I had been working for 4 months on day shift and with the exception of stomach problems was almost NEVER sick (stomach problems ended up being ulcers d/t first job).

Thank you again for your kind comments about how I handled it. I was trying to handle it with a clear mind, and think before I speak to make sure this didn't bite me in the rear later.

[medsurgnurse, RN]

Congratulations! If more nurses had the courage to do what you did, we wouldn't be treated so poorly. I will never ever figure out management people (no offense.) It sounds like you went above and beyond with that patient and I truly can not believe they reported you. But its happened to me too, the ones who take up the most time are the ones who complain about lack of care. It's all over now, but is it possible that they confused you with the other nurse who didn't deliver care the following nights. And how dare the manager accuse you of not turning a patient when you are on lifting restriction anyway. It took couarge to do what you did. I didn't have the couarge when this happened to me. In the future I will walk away.

[skittlebear]

wow...that was some story. I just couldn't stop reading it. Congrats on your new great job! I think you had a lot of courage to walk away from what sounded like an awful job. That job just sounded like a huge stressor...and that can be enough to make a person sick. Good luck with your new job. Congratulations!

[christvs, DNP, RN, NP]

I'm glad you left that horrible place. I hope you have a better time at your new job. I couldn't believe how your manager acted! That is so outrageous. Let us know how your new job goes.

-Christine :)