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Hi first timer here. Having a really bad day!!! Have been in psych substance abuse nursing for 24 years, nary a write up , maybe a few med errors but that is the extent. Last Wednesday I went into work and was immediately attacked verbally by 2 really aggressive males who know no boundaries. I walked away. The NurseManager & I (Charge) decided to discuss some things that had happened on the night shift the night before that had to stop. We tried to do this after the AM mtg. It went horrible. Some walked out, one of the guys against me made extrememely rude comments and gestures. By the way, I've also been threatened 3 times on this unit by a 6'3" 17 y o that he will "kill me here or outside". I went into the nursing station and burst into tears. (ashort hx - we have been running short staffed for over a year, every one trying to pick up what we can, we are all burning out). So I talked with a SW in the back room and my Nurse Manager and said I just can't stay today, I can't do this today. It's not safe, I"m sorry but I cant do this right now. I have to just get out of this place for the day. So she called the Nursing Supervisor, talked with her and then passed the phone to me, I told the NS the whole story and said it is just getting to me and i realy need to go home. She said can't we talk about it? I said "Why, it will all be the same, nothing will change, no one will help or recognize the hazordous jobs we do here. We are always short staffed and taking patients who do not belong on our units. Half of them belong in prison or DYS. So the NS said: OK, Well I guess so." I said thanks and hung up. I left the unit with the nurse manager there, the med nurse there and 3 counselors. Today I was FIRED for ABANDONING my unit!!!!!

I still can't get over this. What is going on!!!!! Abandonment is leaving a unit without a competant nurse in charge. I left 2 there with the NS permission. (which of course she now denies, but was so conviently not able to meet with me at that time. I was escorted off the property and could not even go to my unit to pick up my license or any personal effects that I may have left there. I am so adrift. soooo upsset. I cannot believe this has happened to me. I'm 58 years old. What am I suppossed to say to someone who might (and that's a BIG might at 58 years old) hire me why I left the other job (which they will surely check out and be told the fired me)

Please, please, I know I am knew, but I really could use some feed back and some support. If you've gotten this far, thank you so much. Teh

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
Welcome to the site, enjoy your stay and best wishes to you! :lol2:
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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

Thread moved to the Psychiatric Nursing forum to improve member support and feedback.

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Do you have a lawyer yet? I'd get one ASAP if I were you. I'm sorry this happened to you, but maybe it will ultimately be a good thing. It sounds like your facility is a disaster waiting to happen (or on the way to closing down). Please let us know what happens.

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Lucianne: Thanks for your support and response. I've contacted my insurance coverage as they help with this sort of thing. They have their own lawyers on call for RN/LPN, so yes today after calming down a little bit I did send a detailed explanation of what happened and what my rights are.

I want to know if I can sue for something.....slander? lies???...whatever. I just can't take this and do nothing. So again, thank you for your reply and I'll keep you updated.

Teh

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

Just a reminder: the board here is not a legal advice board....seek this through your attorney.

Thread to move on to continue support to member.

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Thunderwolf: I'm sorry, I wasn't actually seeking legal advice, just talking about doing it. If that makes sence...anyway, I won't mention legal again, sorry. Teh

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

Thank you.

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providence works in strange ways but that unit sounds sick++++++ and you're better off out. unfortunately supervisors ( with a number of notable exceptions) often tend to abandon the lower ranks if they are hammered from on high. maybe your supe copped it for not being elsewhere in the place and so passed it on. it doesnt really matter why, the best thing is you've got out alive and live to fight another day.

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Leonogist: It's beginning to look just that way! I am glad to be out of such a sick situation 1 RN, 2 or 3 Counselors and 19 patients, some on 5", rest on 15" checks, patients that really belong in a prison setting. After being threatened 3 times by a 17yo with a long hx of hard jail time (a&b on police office just one offense) I must agree with you, I'm out alive and can lieto fight another day! Thanks so much, Teh

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Hi Nanaie4ever,

Just want to echo some of the comments already made about your own welfare being far more important than any job. The advice about a lawyer was also well said, given the scenario you paint, chronic understaffing (which through your own payslips you should be able to demonstrate), and lack of support to staff who are being threatened I cant for the life of me see this facility being able to defend firing you for abandonment. Its the sort of story that if it makes the papers soon gives the facility enough bad press to encourage closer investigation by the relevant authorities, not that Im suggesting that.. no not at all.

regards StuPer

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Hi to all of you: I am so thankul for your responses. I have finally come out of the shock of it all somewhat and have started with head hunters to find another job. However, today I found out that if they actually put "abandonment" down as the reason for firing me that they are "bound by the state" to report me to the Nursing Board. So I contacted my insurance company and they are going to handle all the specifics so we are prepared in case they do report me. But there is the slim chance that since they know they don't have a leg to stand on that they haven't actually put in writing in my file the word abandonment. So, it's wait and see. I have been so lucky. Usually when something this hurtful happens to me I close up and go in a dark room and just isolate. I feel good that this time I have reached out to family, friends and forums of new friends and have been blessed to receive so much support and understanding. Thanks so much to all of you again, Teh

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