So, I've gotten fired, after 1 year and 1/2 at my job. The "evidence" for firing me was pretty flaky. 2 things that i had no control over and the crowning glory was that I hung on to an item that needed to be wasted. i hung on to it because no one seemed to know how to waste it in the pyxis. Apparently one can only waste once. I wasted partial dose as per policy, then did not give patient entire amount left. I wanted her to keep breathing, imagine that!) I needed to waste it but no one knew how. Apparently my sin was in holding it until i could get direction on what to do. My documentation over it was perfect though, right down to the name of the pharmacist that gave me direction (finally!) on what to do.
Ok so they can me. The place was toxic and frankly a dangerous place to work. Of course I have to inform the program and i dutifully do, then they have to call the person that canned me and this ****** says she "has concerns about my safety to practice" What????? So this now triggers a $1000 evaluation. What on earth for???? I'm not even stuck in this for drug issues, but rather mental health. Why, for all that is holy, do i have to go through all this AGAIN?? What is a hair test and my dang life story going to tell anyone anything????
I think this was manufactured reasons for termination and possibly in retaliation for the fact that I objected to a crappy performance review that was written by a person that is frankly a bully and was very personal in nature and inappropriate (and full of lies).
I don't think the person that remarked this to the program would have said a darn thing if they had not had to call her. nor do I think that she has any clue (or cares) what she has triggered.
i had to do the evaluation, testing of anything they could possibly think of short of my snot, to the tune of $970. After dawdling over it for some 3 weeks, the result was, go back to nursing, nothing new with the contract. Fine. Great. Wonderful.
But...not so fast. Apparently I am not (and have never been approved to take call). Really? It's not in the original contract, it's not in the "ok to return to work letter" or anywhere else. I didn't even thnk it was an issue. As an OR nurse, call is a given requirement of the job. I know enough to minimize how much I take so that I don't overshoot hours and to ensure the supervisory BS is attended to. Nobody will hire me if this is restricted.
I swear, I think this stuff is made up as they go along. What's next, i'm not going to be allowed to ties my shoes without IPN clearance and someone watching?????
darn right I'm going to contest this!! I used to put myself down for stay-late (more often than not, you don't even have to stay) and then adjust my hours accordingly to keep within what is actually in the contract. This only came up because I applied for a job where I would be on a specific surgeons team and only work with him, and i had a question as to whether a physician could do the quarterlys, etc. That was a yes, but then there's this. I loathe call anyway, but I'll never even get a job if I can't take it outright. Besides, that's not fair to the rest of the team.
T he thing I worry about (like I have no other worries..ha!) is that no matter how right I may be, making waves just keeps me in the line of fire. Argue with them, you get targeted. I don't know if that is really true, but it sure seems like it. I got told (warning: cliche ahead...) "fly under the radar." Does that also mean roll over and let yourself be ****** over? Like, I suspect the majority of us here, I am just so tired of fighting them. All I want to do is go to work, move on with my life and forget this ever happened.
These liberties get taken because no one has it left in them (having already been beaten down) to complain. Since this thing has already squeezed me dry, ruined my career and done major damage to my mental and emotional health...what's left? I only keep on it because i don't know what else to do for a living. What I do know is that I regret ever becoming a nurse.
Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.
Flying under the radar is one thing. I get where you are. But adding rules after the fact is another. You do have the right to have everything that is expected of you in writing and no add ons.
If you are this far into your program, why not petition for changes in your stipulations?
The only way I know to do that is to go in front of the BON. I doubt that bunch cares what happens to me. They'll just say to go take it up with IPN. That's like asking the coyote which chicken is tastier.
Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.
I'd take it up with your monitor or caseworker. In my state there's a dispute resolution procedure. Most things can be taken care of by talking with your caseworker.
In most cases, the BON is a wholly separate unit from the monitoring programs. They work together but are independent.
The instance you speak of is one that needs to be brought before someone. You can't follow unwritten rules and shouldn't be penalized for that. All expectations should be put into writing, period.
I get the part about feeling tired of things, but I also know that the squeaky wheel does get the grease. If you are an OR nurse, is that a specific forbidden specialty? Call time is implicit in any job description with that specialty and its not like you aren't around others. If it is not specifically stated, and not taking call is not specifically stated, then if they have a problem with it they need to make a specific addendum to your contract. If they are unwilling to do so, you have nothing to go on but that which you do have in writing. I'd say halfway through a contract is a little too late in the game to be adding conditions for no reason.
Especially after you just got additional evaluations done, and in light of you not even having a substance abuse issue in the first place. You have followed the rules. They need to be told that.
I'm saddened to hear you say you regret being a nurse. I don't regret going into nursing. I just have issues with the peripheral things that create lousy conditions for nurses.
So the response has been "you are not permitted to take call" Have my supervisor call the case manager to discuss it. yeah, that's going to go over real well. New employee trying to make a good impression...oh hey ms. new boss, I know you the position you hired me for requires this certain task, but i can't do it until you talk to my "minder." Not that I'm a troublemaker or anything. Humph.
I'm going to let it lay until whatever job I get makes it an issue. In the job hunt I will presume to be able to as the contract language does not say otherwise. i just can't fight battles on several fronts right now. But this is another thing in which I am right. So thhhppptt....
Soooo....after deciding to let this one lie for now....this morning, I GOT A JOB OFFER!!!!! Huge (900 bed) nonprofit hospital with awesome reputation. Not the charge position i interviewed for but a staff RN job. I'm good with that. I was finding the thought of running the desk in a place that big a bit intimidating.
As for the call issue, the place seems to be extremely well staffed and is Level II trauma. i doubt there will be much, if any call. It will be quite a while before I can take it anyway.
So my "minder" must speak to my supervisor before i am approved to start. Fine, whatever. I have to pull up roots and move halfway across the state, but I'm closer to family, so all good!! it'll be a month before I could start anyhow, because of the move.
Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.
Soooo....after deciding to let this one lie for now....this morning, I GOT A JOB OFFER!!!!! Huge (900 bed) nonprofit hospital with awesome reputation. Not the charge position i interviewed for but a staff RN job. I'm good with that. I was finding the thought of running the desk in a place that big a bit intimidating.
As for the call issue, the place seems to be extremely well staffed and is Level II trauma. i doubt there will be much, if any call. It will be quite a while before I can take it anyway.
So my "minder" must speak to my supervisor before i am approved to start. Fine, whatever. I have to pull up roots and move halfway across the state, but I'm closer to family, so all good!! it'll be a month before I could start anyhow, because of the move.
Whhheeee....
BRAVA!!!!!!!! WAY TO GO! Very pleased with this news! Keep us posted!
catsmeow1972, BSN, RN
1,314 Posts
i had to do the evaluation, testing of anything they could possibly think of short of my snot, to the tune of $970. After dawdling over it for some 3 weeks, the result was, go back to nursing, nothing new with the contract. Fine. Great. Wonderful.
But...not so fast. Apparently I am not (and have never been approved to take call). Really? It's not in the original contract, it's not in the "ok to return to work letter" or anywhere else. I didn't even thnk it was an issue. As an OR nurse, call is a given requirement of the job. I know enough to minimize how much I take so that I don't overshoot hours and to ensure the supervisory BS is attended to. Nobody will hire me if this is restricted.
I swear, I think this stuff is made up as they go along. What's next, i'm not going to be allowed to ties my shoes without IPN clearance and someone watching?????