longtimerRN

I hate to disagree but I have to. This is the text book answer. Sit down and talk with management. management is so bad and paranoid if you asked for a meeting they'd have three people waiting for you, and they'd be worrying that you are going to call Jcahco. Hospitals work paranoid all the time. I am telling you. The best way is to keep quiet and gather your info like they do theirs and always play your cards tight to your chest.

Unfortunately for the nursing industry there are alot of people at the top, so to speak, who lack real management skills and one key trait and that is common sense and also lets add compassion. They forget when the money gets good what it was like to be on the bottom, or at least to be seeking a job. I finds this to be true with so many oldtimer, longtimers. But to be fair they know something and that is, keep a job. Especially in these times. Do whatever you have to do. I have lost jobs trying to keep my integrity when I was around nurses who behaved shamelessly, yet I had different rules applied to me because I was new, registry, or lets say the wrong color in the wrong stream. I say just always remember that it's not fair, and it's not about you. Hospitals are corporations and they work like any other corporation. They make alot of mistakes too, but as you can see from what goes on in corporate america overall the bad folks are everywhere. Always work smart. Don't talk too much, never sit in cliques because nurses gossip. And weak managers manage from gossip rather than investigation. Always show up on time and leave late. If you must do anything go to HR first and ask "general" questions about sick leave, vacation, etc. to guise your question. Yes, hospitals do have do not hire lists however nurses don't do anything about this, you need to call your Board of Registred nursing and congress people and you need to write letters to hospitals and let them know you won't stand for it. You can fight back. And you don't need a union to do it. Remember there are always people at hospitals who are bad but they are protected because they will work triples and quadruples and hospitals like that, but those people endanger patients. Start letting hospitals know you know. Also call the licensing department of state and let them know about the do not hire stuff, find people who can advocate for you.