Nursing is a terrible job!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Geriatrics.

This has been a red letter week! Monday was my birthday, I turned 50. Along with dealing with that, I lost my job.

I had applied for a new position on the preceeding friday, and was told the job was mine, once they got my references. Unfortunately, my references were my unit manager, shift supervisor and a nurse I work with regulary. I was quite shocked when I was informed that I was turned down for the new job due to those references. I knew these people for years. I had spoken to them about looking for a position with better hours so I could go back to school for my RN. They all agreed that would be best and that they would give me a good word on this job. Instead I return to work was suspended for 3 days then fired for petty reasons. In 28 yrs I have been fired 2 times, this makes the third.

I worked in the factories for 23 yrs before going for nursing. Half that time in Quality Control, a job which is high stress and one that leaves you with few friends due to having to correct other peoples work. I have never been as attacked by anyone as I have been since I got my licence.

I have come to the conclusion that nursing is a cut-throat job and the only way to survive is to become as petty, mean, and back-stabbing as everyone else. I refuse to change my personality to keep a job. I am seriously considering leaving nursing. At my age this will not be an easy thing to do, but, my choises are limited. When people I trusted and considered friends, stabbed me like that I just want to go back to where people are nice, considerate, ands compassionate. Not just putting on a show.

This has been a red letter week! Monday was my birthday, I turned 50. Along with dealing with that, I lost my job.

I had applied for a new position on the preceeding friday, and was told the job was mine, once they got my references. Unfortunately, my references were my unit manager, shift supervisor and a nurse I work with regulary. I was quite shocked when I was informed that I was turned down for the new job due to those references. I knew these people for years. I had spoken to them about looking for a position with better hours so I could go back to school for my RN. They all agreed that would be best and that they would give me a good word on this job. Instead I return to work was suspended for 3 days then fired for petty reasons. In 28 yrs I have been fired 2 times, this makes the third.

I worked in the factories for 23 yrs before going for nursing. Half that time in Quality Control, a job which is high stress and one that leaves you with few friends due to having to correct other peoples work. I have never been as attacked by anyone as I have been since I got my licence.

I have come to the conclusion that nursing is a cut-throat job and the only way to survive is to become as petty, mean, and back-stabbing as everyone else. I refuse to change my personality to keep a job. I am seriously considering leaving nursing. At my age this will not be an easy thing to do, but, my choises are limited. When people I trusted and considered friends, stabbed me like that I just want to go back to where people are nice, considerate, ands compassionate. Not just putting on a show.

You have my sympathies. I came from a pretty cut throat industry myself, but I am just about to graduate from NS. Hope I can wiggle my way towards a different situation than what I left.

Too bad you are in this spot. From what I know, past employers are limited to be able to say "This person is not eligible for rehire", and nothing more. More would constitute slander, and institutions have been sued. Sounds to me like your parting of ways should have been amicable.

How about being an entrepreneur? Old people need services. Just an idea, best of luck.

I was quite shocked when I was informed that I was turned down for the new job due to those references. I knew these people for years. I had spoken to them about looking for a position with better hours so I could go back to school for my RN. They all agreed that would be best and that they would give me a good word on this job. Instead I return to work was suspended for 3 days then fired for petty reasons. In 28 yrs I have been fired 2 times, this makes the third.

I would consider speaking to a labor lawyer about this. If they gave falsely negative information about your job performance, you might have legal recourse.

Specializes in med-surg.

OMG! I am so sorry this is happening to you. This is a terrible time in nursing that a lot of us go through. An event such as this can make you question the whole profession.I have been through times such as these and I have come to just seperate work"friends" from true friends so when times such as these happen i am not that upset. You are obviously a loving and caring nurse or you would not be concerned about this incident changing your loving,caring,trusting character.Please do not change! We need truly caring nurses. You never have to stup to a lower level. In the time you have been there have you ever had a written evaluation?If so you can show a future employeer that. A caring nurse such as you is doing the work of a higher power..no one can stop that!You will get another job and it will be fabulous!:nurse:

Specializes in critical care.

Very sorry. Yes I know what it is like to be fired from a nursing job, and to have people TURN on you. Yes Nursing is cut-throat, it is difficult to do your best for your PATIENTS, when you are constantly pulling the knife out of your back.:banghead:

Good luck.

I have experienced the mean-spirited, petty, back-stabbing co-workers you speak of. People who would ask you to cover for mistakes (no I would not), but would hang you out to dry to make themselves look better. I left my hospital position last summer to work agency. I love it! I specified only MD offices-no hospitals. I work when I want and if I don't care for the office, I request to not return. This saved my nursing career. I am happier now than I thought possible in my job. Try it. It may save your sanity!

Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

Hello gentlegiver!

Sending hugs to you :icon_hug:as I am so sorry that you're getting treated this way. Nursing can indeed be cut-throat but other careers have similar problems. I'd look into legal recourse if I were you--like another poster suggested. The new job offer was rescinded after your references were checked---sounds totally unfair.

Am I correct in assuming that you are at least an LPN? I gather that since you referred to a license. Perhaps try a doctor's office for positions( it provides variety and the days and hours were great when I worked in one). Geriatrics(assuming LTC) can be exremely stressful.

Lastly, happy 50th!:balloons: (I, too, will turn 50 on 11/15) I sincerely hope the next few weeks prove better for you.

i'm so sorry, gentle.

i really like shelly's idea of going agcy.

wishing you much peace.

leslie

Specializes in LTC/SNF, Psychiatric, Pharmaceutical.

Too bad you are in this spot. From what I know, past employers are limited to be able to say "This person is not eligible for rehire", and nothing more. More would constitute slander, and institutions have been sued. Sounds to me like your parting of ways should have been amicable.

IMO, just saying a person is not eligible for rehire is damaging enough, as most potential employers will be able to deduce just from this statement that the candidate was not perceived as toeing the line drawn by management.

I feel for the OP; that was an incredibly cruel blow, and I've been there before myself. Health care will come to a sorry state indeed when all the nursing care from treatments to medications to assessments is performed by techs because all the nurses have walked away.

Specializes in med surg, LTC, ER , OB, PSYCH.

I'm so sorry this happened to you, sounds like they were jealous to me !Please don't give up, I believe there are a lot more great nurses out there than the type you trusted.I will never understand how people who got into nsg to help others can be so mean to their co-workeers, Hugs to ya

Specializes in medicine and psychiatry.

I agree with speaking to a labor lawyer. It may not only assist you in dealing with your present situation it may well prevent this same type of abuse toward another nurse. Yes, I agree that the environment nurses work in is very cut throat. It's a lot about personalities which makes for some very unprofessional behaviors on the part of nurses.

Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

Sometimes bosses don't like the idea of losing an employee they may find hard to replace. They will deliberately give bad references so you can't move on to another job. The references may not have been given in truth but a roadblock to keep you from leaving. Managers are usually not supposed to give scathing references but only to confirm your employment record. Off the record they can say pretty much what they like. It would be nice to able to look at these references to try to respond to them and give your side to any vague reports. Good luck.

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