Placed on Performance Improvement Plan - What should I do?

Dear Nurse Beth Advice Column - The following letter submitted anonymously in search for answers. Join the conversation!

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I would look for another job in a different hospital right away. It may take some time to find another job and there is a real possibility that you might be fired if you are not in a union. Even if you are in a union find out if there is a period when you are first hired when they can fire you for no reason. My first job out of RN school in 1978 was on an EENT floor. There was a 12 month time period when management did not have to have a reason to fire me. My head Nurse was always coming to me with complaints about my work and even though I didn't agree with her, because it was my first job as an RN I had no reference to go by. There was such a negative atmosphere that I quit after I found another Job after 10 months. After I quit I talked to a wife of a friend of mine who was a RN on the same unit I was, She said that the problem was the head nurse and not me and that I had been fine. She also said that there was a clique on the unit that included a LPN and the Head Nurse who had been a NA on my floor only 1 year prior to my starting date. The LPN didn't like me and resented that I could tell her what to do. I would do everything that Nurse Beth suggested as it is good advise but I would actively look for another job and try to get one. It seems that no matter what you do it isn't good enough and that is a bad sign.

I would look for another job in a different hospital right away. It may take some time to find another job and there is a real possibility that you might be fired if you are not in a union. Even if you are in a union find out if there is a period when you are first hired when they can fire you for no reason. My first job out of RN school in 1978 was on an EENT floor. There was a 12 month time period when management did not have to have a reason to fire me. My head Nurse was always coming to me with complaints about my work and even though I didn't agree with her, because it was my first job as an RN I had no reference to go by. There was such a negative atmosphere that I quit after I found another Job after 10 months. After I quit I talked to a wife of a friend of mine who was a RN on the same unit I was, She said that the problem was the head nurse and not me and that I had been fine. She also said that there was a clique on the unit that included a LPN and the Head Nurse who had been a NA on my floor only 1 year prior to my starting date. The LPN didn't like me and resented that I could tell her what to do. I would do everything that Nurse Beth suggested as it is good advise but I would actively look for another job and try to get one. It seems that no matter what you do it isn't good enough and that is a bad sign.
This is right on. So sad. Sounds like the last place I worked. Cliquish, unprofessional managers. They are everywhere it seems. THey listen to gossip, don't treat people fairly.
Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.
I thinking keeping a written record is an excellent idea. I have been a nurse for 30+ years and have seen this witch hunting repeatedly over the years. A friend of mine kept a record and it saved her in the end. She ended up suing the facility for harassment and won. In your written notes, I would also keep a record of any rudeness toward you from others. I know you kinda just got this position recently, but I would be on the lookout for another one. Once management starts this harassment power game it never stops. Move on. But in the meantime keep notes. I know of a few more nurses who sued for harassment and won, being able to retire before age 50 on the lawsuit monies. One of the managers got fired too as a result of years of harassing this nurse. Keep those notes.

Yes. The value of documenting things cannot be overstated. Names, dates, what was said, etc for all the meetings. Get copies of your write ups as well. Read up on departmental and facility wide policy as well.

I kinda wonder what you all would do in a slightly different situation. I, myself have been in a predicament where I too was called into the managers office to review my performance. No specifics were mentioned except that "someone was worried about your performance". I even asked for an example and got a blank stare... I never had a PIP or anything like that, no goals were gone over to reach. Nothing was specifically said that I needed to improve. Since then, I have heard nothing from managements side and everything seems to be going well. However, I get that vibe sometimes I am being watched/whispered about. The only other thing is everyone talks about everyone, and I mean EVERYONE. So maybe I am being whispered about but is that just the name of the game? Maybe it is my self-confidence but where do you go from here? Does it sound good, bad, ugly?

Dear love & loss,

I've been in healthcare for a very long time and for some reason if you're not being talked about then something is wrong! Just watch your back and be vigilant. Sounds like someone has put a bug in the manager's ear but had no specifics. A long time ago as nurses we worked together and had everyone's back but these days things aren't like that. That's where the phrase came "Nurses eat their young". Hang in there and go back to your manager periodically to just "check in" to see if they have any further concerns about your performance. Be transparent and willing to do whatever it takes to maintain a good relationship with your manager. Try not to let this undermine your self confidence! If you are so inclined, keep a journal of your work so that if anything comes up you'll have the documentation to CYA!

I kinda wonder what you all would do in a slightly different situation. I, myself have been in a predicament where I too was called into the managers office to review my performance. No specifics were mentioned except that "someone was worried about your performance". I even asked for an example and got a blank stare... I never had a PIP or anything like that, no goals were gone over to reach. Nothing was specifically said that I needed to improve. Since then, I have heard nothing from managements side and everything seems to be going well. However, I get that vibe sometimes I am being watched/whispered about. The only other thing is everyone talks about everyone, and I mean EVERYONE. So maybe I am being whispered about but is that just the name of the game? Maybe it is my self-confidence but where do you go from here? Does it sound good, bad, ugly?

Boy, does this sound familiar! This is exactly like where I work! Is this just how it is if you work at a hospital? I'm not "young" but how do you not lose a little bit of confidence? I know I second guess myself constantly.

Boy, does this sound familiar! This is exactly like where I work! Is this just how it is if you work at a hospital? I'm not "young" but how do you not lose a little bit of confidence? I know I second guess myself constantly.

Nurses eat their young, their old, their vulnerable. It makes me wonder about the quality of care they give to vulneralbe people when they are so mean to one another. But I do wonder about the managers who feed into this witch hunting and gossip, etc. I was a manager and I put a stop to that behaviur on the part of my staff. I would not tolerate gossip and story telling. I brought staff together so the accused could face their accuser . Usually the accuser backed right down when they knew I would not protect them and let them hide in anonymity making the accused guess who they were. At law, an accused has the right to know who their accuser is. But in the warped world of nursing, it appears this basic human right is trampled on by unscrupulous, unethical managers.

The nursing field is turning into a big game of chest and a kindergarteners place ground. There is too much political stuff going on.

The nursing field is turning into a big game of chest and a kindergarteners place ground. There is too much political stuff going on.
What s a game of chest? Do you mean chess? Also, there is no such word as kindergarteners. Use of the spell check function on your computer or using an actual dictionary would be helpful to you. The deterioration of usage of the English language is so depressing.
Boy, does this sound familiar! This is exactly like where I work! Is this just how it is if you work at a hospital? I'm not "young" but how do you not lose a little bit of confidence? I know I second guess myself constantly.

A lot of managers I have known do the blank stare very well. I suppose that is the only management skill they have. They may have been good bedside nurses (or not) but that does not translate into being a good manager. Just because someone puts in the time that doesn't warrant a promotion to management. I have heard that a lot of managers get their jobs based not on what is between their ears but rather what is between their legs. I guess that is why do blank stare so well.

Dear love & loss,

I've been in healthcare for a very long time and for some reason if you're not being talked about then something is wrong! Just watch your back and be vigilant. Sounds like someone has put a bug in the manager's ear but had no specifics. A long time ago as nurses we worked together and had everyone's back but these days things aren't like that. That's where the phrase came "Nurses eat their young". Hang in there and go back to your manager periodically to just "check in" to see if they have any further concerns about your performance. Be transparent and willing to do whatever it takes to maintain a good relationship with your manager. Try not to let this undermine your self confidence! If you are so inclined, keep a journal of your work so that if anything comes up you'll have the documentation to CYA!

Hang in there? Seriously? Why? So she can let the manager torture and abuse her before she throws her under the bus? I agree with the poster who stated that one of the other nurses does not like her and the manager has bought into the witch hunt. Just wondering if there might be something more to it, like discrimination. I encountered a situation at work last night where someone was being treated badly by co-workers, written up, etc. and then one of my staff made a racial slur against the employee. Just wondering if being part of a minority is part of the picture. If so, then she can open the door to human rights issues and violations.

Just wondering if a game of chest means like the CEO or other big boss is trying to get at nurses' breasts and that is how the managers get their jobs, by giving into sexual harassment. That indeed would be a game of chest and other possible body parts.

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