Hey everyone.. I was recently let go from my new job in IR. I have about 5 years of experience (ICU and cardiac procedure care - pre/post/intra). Earlier this fall took a new job at another hospital. First week on the job, I experienced a pain I had never felt before - my upper shoulder and neck muscles began contracting out of the blue and continuously. It hurt bad…felt like a "charley horse" in my shoulder and neck that just wouldn’t stop. I was escorted to from my unit to the ED to get checked out. After the ED PA and MDs saw me, a CT of my neck was ordered right away, and it showed that I had a C5-C6 protrusion. I was given pain meds and a referral to ortho surgery. By the time I got out of the ED, my shift was over. I returned to work for my next scheduled shift.
I made an appointment as soon as I could with Ortho, on an off day. Ortho doc advised that I not do any sort of strenuous exercise (which was crushing... I am avid backpacker/hiker.. I bike, practice yoga, play tennis, weight lift, run, etc...) and now suddenly could not do anything but light stretching and walks, and was given an order to see PT 3x a week. Being new to the unit, I was transparent about the injury (not the details of the cause... just that it existed….as the cause of the injury was an assault that had happened a couple months back... by an angry family member who was not in their right state of mind… I shared that with the ED and the Ortho doc, but that feels a bit too sensitive to share with my new workplace people).
Moving forward, I stayed flexible with scheduling. I remained cautious and mindful about my neck while I worked. But I still worked. Per preceptor, I was a hard worker. Even though I was not permitted to exercise, my doc said it was fine that I still worked. So, I continued working per usual: including pushing beds, transferring, carrying / shifting weighty tech machinery around, repositioning patients, wearing lead during procedures, etc… After each shift and on my off days, I focused on self care. I rescheduled and put off PT to accommodate my new job ever changing schedule... so that I be consistent and work with my preceptor, follow her schedule.. and also that I could complete orientation in a timely matter despite the missed days.
Fast forward ~6 weeks I hurt my lower back at home… Annoying… something about not exercising for that long has made me clumsier I guess… but, NBD. There was a little bruising and a nagging sensation, otherwise felt that it was not that bad. Then the next day I worked ( on a particularly fast moving, short staffed, bustling & busy day ) I ended up hitting the exact same spot on my lower back (on patient bed rail). It hurt at first, but subsided. I shook it off and I kept working. Later that afternoon, I could feel the spot on my lower back swell .. and grow... and it became more painful. I asked a co-worker about it. She took a look and suggested that I get it checked out asap because it looked like a hematoma. I approached my manager, explained what happened, and went to the ED. CT of my lower back confirmed a hematoma. I was given a doctors note and was instructed to take it easy the next few days so that the area can heal and not get worse. I kept my manager updated via text and calling, and immediately provided a copy of the MD note.
I returned to work a few days later as instructed. I was eager to get back to work and was feeling much better. Near the end of the shift that day, my manager pulled me into the office, and called HR. With me, my manager present, and HR on the phone, HR stated that as a new hire I am on probationary period, and during that that time, it is expected that employees be at their best. The number of unexcused absences has made them feel that I am not a good fit to work there anymore. Reasons were irrelevant... She said that at the end of the day, the number of unexcused absences was concerning, so much so that they felt they could no longer keep me as an employee. I was terminated. Just like that.
I am still stunned... It's not like I caught a cold or didn't feel like coming to work... It's not like I just went to the ED on a wim and nothing was found... Is this really grounds for termination? Is there any way to fight this? I followed advice of co-workers, I followed MD instructions, I kept my manager updated, and thought that I was doing the best one possibly could in keeping that balance of being a diligent worker and caring for self. Should I have done something different? Is there anything that I can do now? I am really at a loss...
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
33 minutes ago, LC0929 said:
I have been in similar situations due to having Crohn's. Some days are fine...some, not so much...when you’re ready to walk out the door for your shift, ON TIME, and your stomach says, “just kidding”, making you late, that doesn’t fly with employers. I’m only a 16 year veteran RN and what I can tell you that I’ve learned, the ROCK HARD way, is that healthcare has become a business, period. Maybe likening it to working as a car salesman will help. If you don’t produce, (good JCHAO scores, positive surveys, packing 20 hours of work into a 12 hour shift, and God forbid, not responding to every patient’s EVERY single need immediately) you’re out. Done. See ya. And NO ONE in your hospital will lose a minutes sleep over firing you. Not even on Christmas Eve. It’s a business. They will make money by any means necessary.
My personal experience....I had a the CICU director look me right in the face, as she was firing me and handing me my final paycheck, and apologize to me, telling me that I was one of the best nurses she’s ever had on the unit and that she didn’t want to do it but her hands were tied. So there you have it. The kicker of the whole thing?? ALL of the staff, as I was leaving, asked me why I hadn’t done the same thing as them. Apparently, many of the staff, when they got there late, didn’t punch in, they WROTE IN their arrival time ! WAIT!! WHAT??? So if I had been dishonest, I wouldn’t have been fired ?? That’s ridiculous as far as I’m concerned but whatever. I’d rather be honest and take the hit.
My suggestion, from experience, and my own opinion, is that you use this as a learning experience. Moving forward, divulge only the basic, required information. Figure out if you have a chronic injury and do some reading about the ADA. Protect YOURSELF, because sometimes it’s necessary. And understand that nursing is a BUSINESS, and corporations don’t GAF who they have to stomp on on the way to the bank. You can do this. THEY need US more than we need them. We are skilled and our skills are EARNED through blood, sweat and tears. That’s something no one can ever take from you. ????
Stomp on on the way to the bank really made me laugh! Even though it's sad. Just the image of a giant healthcare exec in huge boots holding a giant stack of money stomping on little nurses running out of the way. Maybe Davey can make a cartoon LOL
Stomp on on the way to the bank really made me laugh! Even though it's sad. Just the image of a giant healthcare exec in huge boots holding a giant stack of money stomping on little nurses running out of the way. Maybe Davey can make a cartoon LOL
Its sad because its the absolute truth, even if it made me laugh a little
They lie to you before you get the job and you want to be super honest?, be picky with what you disclose, only major stuff and above all cover your butt because they will cover theirs, (they will lie to save themselves). It's like playing a game of cards and they took all the good cards out of the deck and gave you crappy ones to play with, yet you are suppose to play a fair game of cards.
Thank you. You captured the essence of the hot manure that is business of healthcare very poignantly in your paragraph. People are offering the OP suggestions of euphemisms that in fact embellish the truth then have the moral sanctimony to claim they are being honest. LOL.
1 hour ago, LC0929 said:
Moving forward, divulge only the basic,?
Cherry picking what you divulge is in fact omitting facts and therefore deception. It's like saying you are a little pregnant. Either you are or you are not.
Loyalty starts with the self, not these healthcare profiting corporations. OP, do what you must to gain employment.
I have been in similar situations due to having Crohn's. Some days are fine...some, not so much...when you’re ready to walk out the door for your shift, ON TIME, and your stomach says, “just kidding”, making you late, that doesn’t fly with employers. I’m only a 16 year veteran RN and what I can tell you that I’ve learned, the ROCK HARD way, is that healthcare has become a business, period. Maybe likening it to working as a car salesman will help. If you don’t produce, (good JCHAO scores, positive surveys, packing 20 hours of work into a 12 hour shift, and God forbid, not responding to every patient’s EVERY single need immediately) you’re out. Done. See ya. And NO ONE in your hospital will lose a minutes sleep over firing you. Not even on Christmas Eve. It’s a business. They will make money by any means necessary.
My personal experience....I had a the CICU director look me right in the face, as she was firing me and handing me my final paycheck, and apologize to me, telling me that I was one of the best nurses she’s ever had on the unit and that she didn’t want to do it but her hands were tied. So there you have it. The kicker of the whole thing?? ALL of the staff, as I was leaving, asked me why I hadn’t done the same thing as them. Apparently, many of the staff, when they got there late, didn’t punch in, they WROTE IN their arrival time ! WAIT!! WHAT??? So if I had been dishonest, I wouldn’t have been fired ?? That’s ridiculous as far as I’m concerned but whatever. I’d rather be honest and take the hit.
My suggestion, from experience, and my own opinion, is that you use this as a learning experience. Moving forward, divulge only the basic, required information. Figure out if you have a chronic injury and do some reading about the ADA. Protect YOURSELF, because sometimes it’s necessary. And understand that nursing is a BUSINESS, and corporations don’t GAF who they have to stomp on on the way to the bank. You can do this. THEY need US more than we need them. We are skilled and our skills are EARNED through blood, sweat and tears. That’s something no one can ever take from you. ????
This is so well said, thank you for sharing. It is all about 1) the money, 2) them covering their own asses (and why we need to cover our own), 3) nurses being replaceable. If I don't like the terms and conditions of that job, they'll find someone who will work it. 4) I have been in similar situations where I was penalized for being (apparently too) honest.
Honestly, the fact that nursing has changed SO much in just the past 15 years is completely disheartening.... I can honestly say that I’m a kick *** nurse, not because I’m full of myself, but because I worked my *** off educate myself as well as receive the respect that I have earned. I’m really sad because all I wanted to do was help people get better, just like many other nurses. At this point, I’m just gonna retire. I just want peace in my life. ?
Thank you. You captured the essence of the hot manure that is business of healthcare very poignantly in your paragraph. People are offering the OP suggestions of euphemisms that in fact embellish the truth then have the moral sanctimony to claim they are being honest. LOL.
Cherry picking what you divulge is in fact omitting facts and therefore deception. It's like saying you are a little pregnant. Either you are or you are not.
Loyalty starts with the self, not these healthcare profiting corporations. OP, do what you must to gain employment.
I understand your point and in no way am I suggesting that anyone lie. As far as “cherry picking”, I’ve worked in many facilities where “cherry picking” is the go to for recruitment. It’s also been that way with non-union facilities. You ask about the patient/RN ratio, etc and the information isn’t true, or it was “cherry picked”, or was spoon fed to me with a smile, but was a complete *** show upon my arrival for assignment. Most of the time you have to take the good with the bad, obviously, but at some point, at least for me, I had to decide how much longer I wanted to be a whipping post. You’ll need to decide that for yourself. ❤️
I wish I was at the age and financial status that I could join you in retirement. Someday...
I’m not really. I’m 55, broke and broken. Had a second rotator cuff surgery that has failed. Have Crohn’s, that was in remission until COVID appeared, but I’ll figure it out. I’ve had a hard and fast lesson of learning to live within my means over the past 2 years. It’s completely doable. At this point, I’d rather be poor and happy than rich and miserable. I’m in the process of building a pottery wheel and look forward to just taking care of and “doing” ME. Peace is priceless. ?
Can someone please explain why a job would show on a credit check? That does not make any sense to me.
Also, due to HIPAA, the previous employer cannot release details of the injury, as she was seen in their ER. Therefore, that is to her advantage.
Can someone please explain why a job would show on a credit check? That does not make any sense to me.
Also, due to HIPAA, the previous employer cannot release details of the injury, as she was seen in their ER. Therefore, that is to her advantage.
Obtain a copy of your credit report and you will see that employer can be listed there. It might be the employer you had six years ago, or it may be spelled wrong, but it can be there. Same as for addresses, and at least with one reporting entity, all the cell phone numbers that were ever in your name (or your sister's name). And your addresses, as well.
Employers, it is said, mainly use a credit report to verify your addresses; basically to see that you have been accurate with reporting information and are not omitting that for sixteen years you were a resident of some state institution of penal reform. (Trying to inject some humor just to illustrate the point).
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
On 12/8/2020 at 8:30 PM, BeatsPerMinute said:
If anyone's here has been fired before, how was it explained to your next employer? Was it a fair or unfair situation?
I was terminated from a community mental health clinic after five tears for "Not fulfilling the responsibilities of (my) position". IDES ruled the termination was unfair and I received unemployment benefits. When I applied to another community mental health clinic for a position as NS over medical services and methadone clinic, the administrator and HR director asked me, "Why did you leave your last position?"
I replied, "It was a consensual agreement", which was true- we both didn't want me working there.
I got the job and worked there for a year when I was, once again, fired.
Wrongway Regional Medical Center was having a job fair and nurses who merely filled out an application got a $50 gift certificate. The director of psych services sat down with me as filled out the job application and asked me, "Why did you leave your last position?"
I replied, "I got fired".
I worked at Wrongway for seventeen years before I got fired.
LibraNurse27, BSN, RN
972 Posts
Stomp on on the way to the bank really made me laugh! Even though it's sad. Just the image of a giant healthcare exec in huge boots holding a giant stack of money stomping on little nurses running out of the way. Maybe Davey can make a cartoon LOL