This might get a little long, and windy. I am sorry. I'm going to start off by explaining last Sunday that I worked, as I feel this is the main problem. It was the 4 or 5 really bad shift for me. We started with 8 patients/nurse (very very extreme for our floor). And ER started calling for admits. The oncall MD was rounding, and I made the offhand comment to him that it was too much to deal with, and I didn't feel it was safe for the patients. This put him in an uproar. Next thing I knew he called the ER doc, informed him he would not except any more admits to our floor, and he also called the admin on call, who he demanded come help us. She had worked the previous night due to call-ins.
Now, the friday before was my yearly eval. I was graded as a "role-model" employee, and my manager offered no compliants at all about my performance. I was also given a 5% raise due to my high quality work. I was also told my co-workers enjoyed working with me, and patients had good things to say about my care.
Now, let's fast forward to Tuesday, my first day at work since "black Sunday" as we are calling it. It is a much better day. Four patients that I can pet and pamper all I want. And I'm happy. At 4pm I was called to the DON's office. There sits the DON, and both assistant managers, including the one that just praised me Friday. These are the things I was told
"A large majority" of my co-workers on my floor complain about my poor attitude, and state I always complian
"All of the ICU nurse" hate to have to call me about a patient, because I never take care of the situation, and I am rude.
I had received numerous complaints from patients. When I pushed further, they were only able to name one patient's WIFE, who was only in room with the patient for twenty minutes after his admit. She informed me when I first entered the room that we were terrible nurses, and she would be talking to the DON--all before I ever opened my mouth. I immediatly informed management.
I was told the MD from weekend had informed them I was rude, and constantly complianed about the worked load. Well, maybe I was a little ill, and maybe I did complian. So did the other two nurses and everyone else on shift. Who wouldn't complain with 8 patients, 4 total cares, and not a tech in sight to assist?
Also, was informed I had no right to complain about "bad shifts" that were shortstaffed because its wasn't the norm. Those days were to be expected.
Made the comment that "some people will complain if you give them two patients. We think you might be one of those people, and it will not be tolerated".
Also stated "all the unit sec" said I was "snappy" when they called to report patient needs". We only have two sec, and one is my mom. The other says she has never complianed about anyone, much less me.
Now, since then I have spoken to many of my co-workers, including 5 ICU nurses. They have all been shocked by what was said, and stated they have never had a problem with me, and never heard anyone else complain about me. The MD stated he informed them I was "nervous and frazzled" which "wasn't my usual", and he was concerned about the staffing level, and he expressed that he was not happy with them leaving us like that.
Also, I have complained very rarely to management. The only other time I have complianed about staffing was a couple of weeks ago when we had 7 patients with no tech, and the supervisor had not attempted to find any help. Our manager helped us, and I thanked her--we even give them a thank you card for their help.
This just really upsets me. I have always been more then willing to help when I could. I have worked my tail off to be the best I could be, even when shorthanded. And I get along with everyone; I have talked to some about leaving, and they have begged me to stay. I just don't understand why this happened. I felt attacked, and I felt like my character was picked apart. It was very degrading. I have worked there 4 years without a single problem. I'm just a little lost right now.
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I didn't read all the pages of this, but this is the stuff htat makes nurses bitter. Management always blames the nurse even when they fail intheir duty to provide adequate staffing and resources.
Jessi, I hope you are looking into getting a new job. It's just not worth it to stay. The people who advocate for their unit and it's conditions seem to always get the brunt of managements irritation and get blackballed. Save your sanity, your license and get the hell out of there. Yes, you could file a rebuttal but would it be worth it? Probably not. It's best you leave on your terms and not their's. Start putting in applications, go for any interviews, when you find yourself another job, put in your two week notice and just keep your head off the radar for your remaining time. Good luck.
Yeah it's best to leave on your own terms, I agree:D....but a rebuttal and going somewhere else is an even better idea if you ask me. The original poster I bet is looking as we speak.....
In my opinion after many years (48) in Nursing, some of which were in an administrative position, it seems that there is no organization at your workplace, no functioning "chain of command", and doctors who want to do staffing and have power issues.
Do you all know to whom you should report your immediate concerns? Yes, the charge Nurse (who I realize may have been busy when ER's call came in), and there was this handy doc who probably agreed with you.......... However, charge Nurses have priorities, and safety is at the top of that list.
If he/she didn't haver a pool of Nurses to call in when situations such as that which occurred on "black Sunday", that should be done immediately for future similar occurrences. (Yes, I know that since the advent of "caller ID", the call can go unanswered.) However, if an incentive of on-call pay was allowed, that phone would be picked up.
Written criteria regarding safe staffing need to be posted, and complaints about deviations to that should be in writing (my favorite is a check off form that indicates the number of patients/nurse and the action taken). The Charge Nurse completes that and emails or instant messages it to the supervisor, so the prompt intervention can be appreciated.
That was a sacrosanct NURSING problem that to which Nurses should respond appropriately. A cacaphony of protest results in time and energy wasted, people taking sides; and poor care and management results.
While it's nice to have physicians help out, if the roaring doc really wanted to help, he/she could have taken an admission (just kidding, the work they do is different, they're not trained for ours).
So that "black" day might result in improved lines of communication, and become a good day, preventing future similar mishaps. "If it's to be it's up to me" is only appropriate when it's your job you're doing, or a suggestion made in an appropriate setting.
Any action taken as a result of "word of mouth", not a written positively stated report, is action without cause - in my opinion.
It seems to me that most managers have this same problem. I was also surprised that the "can't tell you WHO complained; but, I can tell you how many. No names, dates, times, etc." Also, the great evaluation suddenly turning into a bad one: I've heard this so often.
Is it something managers are taught in leadership classes sponsered by the hospital they work at? Keep the employees down!:angryfire
Specializes in peds critical care, peds GI, peds ED.
Fast Forward 10 days:
Dear Jess
I am usually in PICU world, so I have not read your posts before. I must say I am horrified by your experiences. Unless you are baby-sitting a bunch of corpses who obviously do not need your frequent attention, I can not imagine ever having 8 patients per nurse being safe for anyone. You were right to voice concern over this. It sounds like your management team had already had to cover shifts because you were short. That is their job, to manage the unit and support staff. It was the weekend and they were ******- period.
I agree you should find out whether this "coaching" session was a documented event in your file. If so, I would give a written defense of each point, with concrete examples to support your position. I hope you indeed did receive a copy of your evaluation and use this as evidence. Make sure you document this refute was received by your DON, manager and assistant managers and was placed in your file. Also request a follow-up meeting with everyone who attended the original meeting to ensure you have done due diligence in amending the situation.
Additionally, request hard documentation of the complaint leveraged against you. Do not accept the statement, 'people have complained,' ask the questions who, what, when, why and how. Make sure you also keep track of all the great things said about you from patients and co-workers, again dated and with names or initials. Document. Document and Document again.
In the end, you have to decide if the breech of trust you have experienced is so severe it can not be healed. However, under no circumstances should you leave with your hard-earned reputation in question. Follow the steps above, keep your nose clean and your head high. Focus on what you can control and let others perceptions go- they are worthless. It is your license and the safety of your patients that are at stake. Protect them both.
Document how many staff you have on any given shift. Then document safety issues with your patients.
Document outcomes, secondary to not enough staff, and how the outcome would have been could of been different if more staff were available.
keep a runing log going of this to turn into management and administrators.
If they want patients coming into their hospitals and want their hospitals to be known as patient friendly, safe, effective, a good place to be when your ill....welll they will listen to /facts that have been documented ......Then just maybe your staffing quota will be raised to meet the needs of your specific unit/
Also wanted to add, when managers like this tell you that you have a "bad attitude", I think you should wear it as a badge of pride. it means you aren't afraid to advocate for your patients or yourself.
Once management finds they can "temporarily be short-staffed," they will continue to do this. For after all, "you fail to see the big picture," and "just you has complained." This is the load of crap they tried to hand me. I was also told I had a negative attitude.:argue: I stood up for my patients and my staff. Management took this as a threat to their control or lack thereof. They gave me a choice, resign or be fired. I had no write ups against me. I resigned as I realized I was in a miserable no win situation. Since then I have become a traveller, and make more money. If I don't like a place I don't renew my contract and move on. This is what works best for me. It can for you too. Why be miserable? It's not a surrender. It's an advance in a different direction. Be good to yourself.
I'm a brand new LPN and have had the most similiar experience (with one RN supervisor) and definitely have had the feelings you expressed regarding your character.
Please keep up the good work...you are an inspiration to those that know you for who you are! Hang in there!
Specializes in peds critical care, peds GI, peds ED.
I wanted to respond to the "bad attitude" comment that is being discussed. There is nothing harder than having a horrible shift- the ones where you do not pee for 14 hours, you haven't had time to drink a cup of water, much less eat- and maintaining your composure. I have certainly been guilty of letting the four-letter words fly like a drunken sailor before crumbling into a pile of tears. In the end, I have to pull myself together and just get through the day. Sometimes, this is the best anyone can do.
I have also learned that when we are stressed, our brains let our bodies and our emotions know it. That surge of adrenalin, dopamine and all those other wonderful neurotransmitters put us in fight or flight- neither mode that makes for rational thought or action. Our ability to have a conversation that is mutually beneficial is removed- we literally can not do it. So we dumb-down our words to grunts, curses or silence. Can you not picture in your mind how true this is?
If you are prone to acting out or being negative when stressed, there are some FANTASTIC resources on learning how to deal with those responses. For those of you who retreat into silence (i.e.- just leave, it's not worth it), you might not have as much conflict, but you will all certainly have ulcers.
At NTI, they presented the material- "Crucial Conversations" by a group of gentlemen who have worked with professionals all over the world. It absolutely changed my life- not only at work, but at home and with my family. You can read the book or listen to the DVD's or even go to their website- just Google "Crucial Conversations"
Please Please!!! Check it out! I thought it was fantastic!
Thanks for your kind words & advice! I have not let any four letter words go, although I thought them, I have definitely left then cried, and totally totally understand the standing through the shift, no pee break, no food.
Again, I am a brand new (6 mo graduate with 5 mo experience) LPN. It has become a horror story and I am currently looking for a new employer before I become a 41-year-old fired for the first timer too. It has been very discouraging.
This might get a little long, and windy. I am sorry. I'm going to start off by explaining last Sunday that I worked, as I feel this is the main problem. It was the 4 or 5 really bad shift for me. We started with 8 patients/nurse (very very extreme for our floor). And ER started calling for admits. The oncall MD was rounding, and I made the offhand comment to him that it was too much to deal with, and I didn't feel it was safe for the patients. This put him in an uproar. Next thing I knew he called the ER doc, informed him he would not except any more admits to our floor, and he also called the admin on call, who he demanded come help us. She had worked the previous night due to call-ins.
Now, the friday before was my yearly eval. I was graded as a "role-model" employee, and my manager offered no compliants at all about my performance. I was also given a 5% raise due to my high quality work. I was also told my co-workers enjoyed working with me, and patients had good things to say about my care.
Now, let's fast forward to Tuesday, my first day at work since "black Sunday" as we are calling it. It is a much better day. Four patients that I can pet and pamper all I want. And I'm happy. At 4pm I was called to the DON's office. There sits the DON, and both assistant managers, including the one that just praised me Friday. These are the things I was told
"A large majority" of my co-workers on my floor complain about my poor attitude, and state I always complian
"All of the ICU nurse" hate to have to call me about a patient, because I never take care of the situation, and I am rude.
I had received numerous complaints from patients. When I pushed further, they were only able to name one patient's WIFE, who was only in room with the patient for twenty minutes after his admit. She informed me when I first entered the room that we were terrible nurses, and she would be talking to the DON--all before I ever opened my mouth. I immediatly informed management.
I was told the MD from weekend had informed them I was rude, and constantly complianed about the worked load. Well, maybe I was a little ill, and maybe I did complian. So did the other two nurses and everyone else on shift. Who wouldn't complain with 8 patients, 4 total cares, and not a tech in sight to assist?
Also, was informed I had no right to complain about "bad shifts" that were shortstaffed because its wasn't the norm. Those days were to be expected.
Made the comment that "some people will complain if you give them two patients. We think you might be one of those people, and it will not be tolerated".
Also stated "all the unit sec" said I was "snappy" when they called to report patient needs". We only have two sec, and one is my mom. The other says she has never complianed about anyone, much less me.
Now, since then I have spoken to many of my co-workers, including 5 ICU nurses. They have all been shocked by what was said, and stated they have never had a problem with me, and never heard anyone else complain about me. The MD stated he informed them I was "nervous and frazzled" which "wasn't my usual", and he was concerned about the staffing level, and he expressed that he was not happy with them leaving us like that.
Also, I have complained very rarely to management. The only other time I have complianed about staffing was a couple of weeks ago when we had 7 patients with no tech, and the supervisor had not attempted to find any help. Our manager helped us, and I thanked her--we even give them a thank you card for their help.
This just really upsets me. I have always been more then willing to help when I could. I have worked my tail off to be the best I could be, even when shorthanded. And I get along with everyone; I have talked to some about leaving, and they have begged me to stay. I just don't understand why this happened. I felt attacked, and I felt like my character was picked apart. It was very degrading. I have worked there 4 years without a single problem. I'm just a little lost right now.
it is bullying behavior by management when you step forward to report an unsafe situation and then suffer retaliation by management. I would call your local Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Was this review put in your personnel report? All the more reason to call them and inform them - they can advise you on legal recourse. Don't tolerate this - this is why nurses are leaving this damn profession because of jerks like that. It sounds like that doc was sticking up for you and that unit - what does that doc think about the position you were put in? Call your nursing board also... there must be repercussions for management to treat you this way....
For after all, "you fail to see the big picture," and "just you has complained." This is the load of crap they tried to hand me. I was also told I had a negative attitude.:argue: I stood up for my patients and my staff.
Management took this as a threat to their control or lack thereof. They gave me a choice, resign or be fired. I had no write ups against me. I resigned as I realized I was in a miserable no win situation. 
Since then I have become a traveller, and make more money. If I don't like a place I don't renew my contract and move on. This is what works best for me. It can for you too. Why be miserable? It's not a surrender. It's an advance in a different direction. Be good to yourself.
CrunchRN, ADN, RN
4,556 Posts
I didn't read all the pages of this, but this is the stuff htat makes nurses bitter. Management always blames the nurse even when they fail intheir duty to provide adequate staffing and resources.
Hugs to the original poster.