Performance Review Gone Wrong!

[dorselm]

Hello all, I need help on this subject. Recently, I received my performance review. It was the worst review I ever received. I sat down with my unit director and we went over the topics. She couldn't tell me why many of the negative comments were included in my review. I earned my BSN and my med/surg certification but neither were included in my review. I told her that I want to advance my career to perhaps a clinician, nurse practitioner or patient care coordinator but I need the develop the confidence to do so and she put this in my review saying that I have shown to suffer from low self confidence and that I am not able to focus on the task at hand. She said that I do not go above and beyond. However there were multiple time I was mentioned in our weekly updates as having gone above and beyond. Also, there were wonderful patient comments that about me that were sent to the CNO of our hospital. I let my unit director know all of this. She kept assuring me that I got a very good review because although she put these negative comments in my review, in each section that these comments were listed, I received either a solid or superior performer rating. At the end of my review I did write my rebuttal to the comments that were made but I don't know what good it will do. I told her that I am not going to be able to advance my career because when a prospective employer sees my review they will not consider me for any positions. Any advice on how I can fix this?

[sharpeimom]

I'm not quite sure what options you have legally so that isn't why I'm answering.

Back when I was a brand new RN working at my first job, I received my very first performance evaluation. I had learned a LOT, was well liked by patients, considered to be helpful by fellow workers, and my mentor had verbally stated that I had learned well.

The manager handed me my evaluation. There were lines for examples of what I had learned, what I was currently learning, what I had tried but failed. You get the idea.

Essentially the only words on the whole page besides our names and my hire date, etc. were:

"Katherine does not polish her shoe laces when she polishes her shoes."

I was so angry that I refused to sign it. I called my lawyer mom, who said to sign it and below (but partially into) my signature,

refute what had been omitted. She suggested that I ask for a new review by the manager, not the mentor.

My second review was more what I'd been expecting. Now, the first review is a great story!

[Mulan]

I don't think your next employer is going to be seeing any of your reviews.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I don't see why your next employer would see your reviews. Also you will find that in any review you get they put some BS complaint in there. It's almost as if they have to. I also take into account the manager. Do they play favorites? Do they even know what is going on within the unit? Don't beat yourself up or stress. Continue to work on improving yourself and you'll be fine.

[RLtinker, LPN]

I'm not quite sure what options you have legally so that isn't why I'm answering.

Back when I was a brand new RN working at my first job, I received my very first performance evaluation. I had learned a LOT, was well liked by patients, considered to be helpful by fellow workers, and my mentor had verbally stated that I had learned well.

The manager handed me my evaluation. There were lines for examples of what I had learned, what I was currently learning, what I had tried but failed. You get the idea.

Essentially the only words on the whole page besides our names and my hire date, etc. were:

"Katherine does not polish her shoe laces when she polishes her shoes."

I was so angry that I refused to sign it. I called my lawyer mom, who said to sign it and below (but partially into) my signature,

refute what had been omitted. She suggested that I ask for a new review by the manager, not the mentor.

My second review was more what I'd been expecting. Now, the first review is a great story!

How do you polish shoe laces?

By the nature of a review, the reviewer will look for anything negative to add and sometimes that is not easy. So when something comes up, no matter how insignificant it is thrown in there and made to sound like a bigger deal then it is. All I can say is try to figure out where the review picked up the negatives and not make the same mistakes next time.

[dorselm]

Thanks for the responses unfortunately I work for a major corporation and if I wanted to switch positions the hiring manager would have access to my performance review so I'll just do like you all have said and work on making my review more positive this year

[BacktoBasics]

Performance reviews are just for feedback. Sometimes we don't know how others view us and we're all not perfect. Even though you stated you received positives marks for going above and beyond, your manager may have set higher standards for your unit.

[brownbook]

I was a new night charge nurse. I was asked to write my first performance review on a medical unit clerk. He was very good, actually exceptionally good. Always asking me what else he could do when his regular duties were completed.

I gave him high marks. My boss looked at my review before I reviewed it with him. She said, "If you rate him high how can he show improvement when his next review is due?"

Ever since then unless there is something really egregious, I smile politey, say thanks, and forget aout my performance reviews.

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

That doesn't sound like a terrible review. They didn't say that you were incompetent or unskilled. I think, like another poster said, they have to come up with some BS comment to give you goals to work toward. Mine once said I'm always polite but slow to warm up to new people. At first I was like *** WHO WROTE THAT but then I realized it's not that bad in the scheme of things, and also that it's true And if you got solid or superior performer in those categories, maybe they really do just need to write something.

[Katie71275]

For the most part, performance reviews are never 100%. There is always something they put in that you need to work on. And let's be honest, every single one of us has something to work on, none of us are perfect. But it sucks to see things in writing that you don't agree with!

[mlbluvr]

Gotta love the shoelace story- in my school, people were written UP for not polishing shoelaces- and the second time? Were blocked from going to clinicals. I am 'not' kidding.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

You got good ratings, don't worry about the comments. (Except to use them as things you can show did improve before the next review.) I'd rather get the good rating (since that's what the money gets based off of when raises are involved) than get good comments.