More than 10 years with the hospital, always good yearly evals. New manager. So, out with the old, in with the new, on the charge of not following the "values."
I'm so hurt, and angry, and scared. No insurance. Unemployment is not close to enough to pay the bills. And who wants an old RN?
They own the county. I can't handle LTC. So, I am applying at the stores and pharmacies for anything full-time, but think that the only thing that I will probably be offered will be a "greeter" position.
I guess I am just looking for validation as a decent human being, and as a good nurse.
I'm nearly 50 and this is my first year as a graduate nurse working a job. I've been at it about 3 weeks now. I'm haunted by the comments made by one of the younger nursing students who said, "I don't know what these older nursing students are thinking. They are never going to get a job." I keep hoping that isn't true. I'm in a bad situation right now on my first job-run in with a grossly insubordinate CNA at our LTC facility. I work the evening shift and was told going in that the CNA's think they run this shift and they would try to test me. The other nurses who work this shift have been fired so almost everyone in the building (nurses) are new on the job within the last year (except the CNA's, of course). I was told by management when this happened on my second weekend that I didn't need to argue with the CNA, just write them up and bring in the form in the morning (I'm working over the weekend), and it would be dealt with. Okay. So that's what I have done. But, the reception I got was shock that I had any problem with this individual. And, my reaction to that is REALLY? This girl reeks of attitude. It's unmistakable. And she's a large girl (6 ft) who feels no one is going to tell her anything, as she repeatedly said. Basically, I haven't been backed up on this issue by management yet. They claim she is out of town for a family emergency and they can't look into it yet. Right. Let me add this issue also crosses racial lines. I live in the south, and in my facility, I am the minority. And those other fired nurses? Well, they were the minority as well. My point here is that CNA's have the power to ruin the careers of nurses. They are legally under our direction, but if management does not inforce the standard when a CNA challenges it, then they really aren't under our management on a shift. And, if CNA's are encouraged to actively work with management to oust certain nurses, then management is undermining any chance of the nurses effectively managing delegation on their shift. This was supposed to be about the patients, not the politics of healthcare. We need effective delegation to provide effective care. We cannot delegate to CNA's who feel we aren't their manager and have no right to direct their activities during a shift. If management does not back me up in this issue, then the CNA was right- I am not her manager. And, additionally there will be no working this job because the message send by management will be that you can loudly complain and threaten your nurse if she dares to give you a task or point out your gross negligence in performing your duty, and she will have no authority to make you quiet in the hall, send you home, or stop your disruptive behavior. (This CNA "talked trash" on the floor for at least a half hour after I dared to question her as to why she didn't perform her duty. She said things like, "This woman's trippin, she be crazy if she thinks she can say something to me, she better watch her step, she's the one who is gonna get written up." on and on it went. I informed her if she did not quiet, I would have to write her up. That set her mouth running, loudly for the first 20 minutes. Instead of arguing with her, I left the are and called my manager (but could not reach her). I tried to get back to my job at that point I had meds to pass. When Icame around the corner a half hour or so, she was still running her mouth loudly on the floor, telling the story to another CNA. When I told she needed to be quiet on the floor, she didn't stop. She told me I didn't have the right to tell her anything. I informed her that I was her manager on the shift and she told me I was not. I calmly told her the RN/LPN are managers of the CNA's on the shift, she continued to argue so I told her I was calling the DON. She told me to call her and kept running her mouth. So I took the phone walked away and called her. She had nothing to say except "I'll take care of it in the morning." She didn't say, "Let me talk to her" or "Tell her to clock out and go home." And when I made a special trip to turn in the write up the next morning, the DON wouldn't even discuss it with me or explain some of the wild remarks the CNA had made which threatened my job. Nothing. So I called back to the facility and spoke to my unit manager and told her I would be quitting because of the lack of support from the DON, lack of feedback about my job status (had been told I was parttime, and the DON told me I was not, and did not confirm my status at all) So, my direct unit manager talked me out of quitting. But I feel bad that I am in this situation at all. I feel even worse when I read threads like this and I begin to question what job opportunities there are for older nurses like myself? I'm not 'expensive' yet due to my lack of years of experience, but I'm still 'old'. And, I notice the red carpet isnot rolling out for me. Do I threaten because of my life experience? It certainly isn't my nursing experience. I think age is definitely a part of the equation.
I dont' mean to hijack your thread with this post, but I see the CNA/management connection and the whole age issue very clearly a as relevant cause of the ruination of the careers of older nurses.
It sounds like you are in a no win situation. My advice would be to get out as fast as you got in. I had some trouble with CNA's when I first became a nurse(I had previously worked as an aide at the same facility), luckily the DON, nursing staff, and other departments backed me up. In your case it doesn't sound like you're going to have that to your advantage, so I would try to move on and use the experience to your advantage in looking for a new position. You may also want to keep a private journal or note of events for yourself, just in case something does happen, so you have written documentation. This will have far more credibility than "she said, she said" kind of here say.
When my loved one needed rehab at a nursing home I checked the nursing homes out on the govt website. Very interesting some places had high turnover of nurses and others had high turnover of aides, one or the other, not both, wondered why.
I'm nearly 50 and this is my first year as a graduate nurse working a job. I've been at it about 3 weeks now. I'm haunted by the comments made by one of the younger nursing students who said, "I don't know what these older nursing students are thinking. They are never going to get a job." I keep hoping that isn't true. I'm in a bad situation right now on my first job-run in with a grossly insubordinate CNA at our LTC facility.....
Oh my....does THIS sound familiar? I bet a lot of nurses here know all to well what that is like. I worked supervising a few times in LTC and it is a common problem- insubordinate CNA's...but they really don't *usually* do much to stop the behavior.
Back onto the topic of older nurses just starting out at their first jobs or trying to obtain them...that is an interesting topic. I am thinking that you won't have as much problem finding new positions as an "older" nurse who has been a nurse a while. Not saying it will be easy, just probably not as difficult, IMO...as a guess. I think they see experienced, seasoned older nurses as a double problem...wanting more money AND being more savvy to mistreatment. If you are a new nurse that is older, I think they feel they can still mold you more and pay you the same as a 20-something getting out of nursing school. So, it makes sense that you won't have quite the same problem as seasoned older nurses, from my deductions.
When my loved one needed rehab at a nursing home I checked the nursing homes out on the govt website. Very interesting some places had high turnover of nurses and others had high turnover of aides, one or the other, not both, wondered why.
The comment about the HUC and CNA's being used to report the nurses:
This was a large part of the scene. CNA's were enlisted, encouraged to report the RN's. Especially the RN's who expected the CNAs to do their jobs... that's another whole story.. There were STELLAR CNA's on my floor.. and there were CNA's that really liked being in the manager's pocket. I really loved my job.. I took the students for the day, I precepted the new nurses, I was one of the resources for the computer, and the docs, after all this time, liked and respected me.. Apparently, they were angered by my termination, as well, but this is considered to be a "nurse issue," so what the docs think about this doesn't matter...
I said I loved my job, and my patients and most of my co-workers.. but the place, I don't know, hostile environment, elitist... going for Magnet in a big way, and I guess I just didn't fit the mold that the new manager wanted.
I don't know if this is because you are an older nurse. A lot of this is possibly that you saw through the facade and saw some problems. That would be an issue with their values whether you are 60 or 22. The culture where I work is so hositle sometimes. I think older nurses, whether experienced or not ( MOST ARE NOT EXPEREINCED ) are less likely to tolerate constant manditory overtime, working short , insubbordinate cnas etc. I don't think this is just where I work. I think sometimes people with more experience in the work place( any work place) are more likely to speak up or acknowledge that there are problems. Management DOES NOT LIKE THIS or appreciate it. Once they know the game is up with you , you might as well pack your bags. At least where I work. Then there will be a lot of new grads to take your place. Whether they are 22 or 52. We have had literally both the last few months. It is a revolving door. The ones who have lasted longest are the ones who can keep their mouth shut on everything, even when it harms them and patients. It is disillusioning. Although it is important to note that age does not always coorelate with expereince. The oldest on my unit are NOT the most experienced. I don't think management cares that there are shifts where no one has more than 5years experience or even 2. After all a 15 year veteran gets the same patients and expectations that a 15 week experienced new grad gets.
Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
More than 10 years with the hospital, always good yearly evals. New manager. So, out with the old, in with the new, on the charge of not following the "values."
I'm so hurt, and angry, and scared. No insurance. Unemployment is not close to enough to pay the bills. And who wants an old RN?
They own the county. I can't handle LTC. So, I am applying at the stores and pharmacies for anything full-time, but think that the only thing that I will probably be offered will be a "greeter" position.
I guess I am just looking for validation as a decent human being, and as a good nurse.[/quote
So sorry this happened to you. Please consider hospice nursing. You have the experience. I have been doing it for two years after spending 16 years as a hospital nurse, and, believe me it is a lot less stressful. Check the hospices in your area. I know plenty of nurses who are 50+ and looooove hospice. Good luck to you.
More than 10 years with the hospital, always good yearly evals. New manager. So, out with the old, in with the new, on the charge of not following the "values."
I'm so hurt, and angry, and scared. No insurance. Unemployment is not close to enough to pay the bills. And who wants an old RN?
They own the county. I can't handle LTC. So, I am applying at the stores and pharmacies for anything full-time, but think that the only thing that I will probably be offered will be a "greeter" position.
I guess I am just looking for validation as a decent human being, and as a good nurse.
I'll give you validation.
10 years worth of good reviews, new manager and you get fired?
Uh, I would be filing a lawsuit for age discrimination if I were you.
Make sure you have insurance. The one year I did not have it,they downsized and fired several rn,s over nothing and lied about it to others. Had witnesses. Discrimination. If only I had my insurance! Better things came my way and God gave me the strength to move on and succeed, finish my degree and be happier. A union would have helped too!
Happened to me too.. In 2006, I was FIRED by my manager for 'unsafe patient care' after ONE incident. No progressive discipline at ALL! was never even written up for other 'documentation' she claims to have had on me. I WISH I would've pursued legal representation.
Well, Karma got her because SEVEN YEARS after she had me fired? the organization FIRED HER and Security escorted her out. Last I knew, she was working part-time in a small community hospital's ER! HAHAHA!
MotherRN
192 Posts
I'm nearly 50 and this is my first year as a graduate nurse working a job. I've been at it about 3 weeks now. I'm haunted by the comments made by one of the younger nursing students who said, "I don't know what these older nursing students are thinking. They are never going to get a job." I keep hoping that isn't true. I'm in a bad situation right now on my first job-run in with a grossly insubordinate CNA at our LTC facility. I work the evening shift and was told going in that the CNA's think they run this shift and they would try to test me. The other nurses who work this shift have been fired so almost everyone in the building (nurses) are new on the job within the last year (except the CNA's, of course). I was told by management when this happened on my second weekend that I didn't need to argue with the CNA, just write them up and bring in the form in the morning (I'm working over the weekend), and it would be dealt with. Okay. So that's what I have done. But, the reception I got was shock that I had any problem with this individual. And, my reaction to that is REALLY? This girl reeks of attitude. It's unmistakable. And she's a large girl (6 ft) who feels no one is going to tell her anything, as she repeatedly said. Basically, I haven't been backed up on this issue by management yet. They claim she is out of town for a family emergency and they can't look into it yet. Right. Let me add this issue also crosses racial lines. I live in the south, and in my facility, I am the minority. And those other fired nurses? Well, they were the minority as well. My point here is that CNA's have the power to ruin the careers of nurses. They are legally under our direction, but if management does not inforce the standard when a CNA challenges it, then they really aren't under our management on a shift. And, if CNA's are encouraged to actively work with management to oust certain nurses, then management is undermining any chance of the nurses effectively managing delegation on their shift. This was supposed to be about the patients, not the politics of healthcare. We need effective delegation to provide effective care. We cannot delegate to CNA's who feel we aren't their manager and have no right to direct their activities during a shift. If management does not back me up in this issue, then the CNA was right- I am not her manager. And, additionally there will be no working this job because the message send by management will be that you can loudly complain and threaten your nurse if she dares to give you a task or point out your gross negligence in performing your duty, and she will have no authority to make you quiet in the hall, send you home, or stop your disruptive behavior. (This CNA "talked trash" on the floor for at least a half hour after I dared to question her as to why she didn't perform her duty. She said things like, "This woman's trippin, she be crazy if she thinks she can say something to me, she better watch her step, she's the one who is gonna get written up." on and on it went. I informed her if she did not quiet, I would have to write her up. That set her mouth running, loudly for the first 20 minutes. Instead of arguing with her, I left the are and called my manager (but could not reach her). I tried to get back to my job at that point I had meds to pass. When Icame around the corner a half hour or so, she was still running her mouth loudly on the floor, telling the story to another CNA. When I told she needed to be quiet on the floor, she didn't stop. She told me I didn't have the right to tell her anything. I informed her that I was her manager on the shift and she told me I was not. I calmly told her the RN/LPN are managers of the CNA's on the shift, she continued to argue so I told her I was calling the DON. She told me to call her and kept running her mouth. So I took the phone walked away and called her. She had nothing to say except "I'll take care of it in the morning." She didn't say, "Let me talk to her" or "Tell her to clock out and go home." And when I made a special trip to turn in the write up the next morning, the DON wouldn't even discuss it with me or explain some of the wild remarks the CNA had made which threatened my job. Nothing. So I called back to the facility and spoke to my unit manager and told her I would be quitting because of the lack of support from the DON, lack of feedback about my job status (had been told I was parttime, and the DON told me I was not, and did not confirm my status at all) So, my direct unit manager talked me out of quitting. But I feel bad that I am in this situation at all. I feel even worse when I read threads like this and I begin to question what job opportunities there are for older nurses like myself? I'm not 'expensive' yet due to my lack of years of experience, but I'm still 'old'. And, I notice the red carpet isnot rolling out for me. Do I threaten because of my life experience? It certainly isn't my nursing experience. I think age is definitely a part of the equation.
I dont' mean to hijack your thread with this post, but I see the CNA/management connection and the whole age issue very clearly a as relevant cause of the ruination of the careers of older nurses.