sdugan07

Being a few days out from this I think I have a better understanding of what happened here now. Last week I asked one of my supervisors and 2 of the providers for references as I was seeking new employment. I think my DON (who started over the summer and hasn't liked me since I refused a mandate to pull a 16 hour shift due to a medical condition) caught wind of my job seeking. What happened on Friday really wasn't anything. I have spoken to several nurses about it and they were surprised that it was even brought up for questioning let alone, write up/termination. I hadn't thought about Friday's event since I finished my note about it on Friday. Usually if it is something, you might think about it. The only reason I would want to do anything is to protect my reputation, not my job, I have no interest in taking it back. However, I'm not even sure that my reputation is going to be damaged by this that much anyway, I have seen some fabulous nurses fired from this facility and the turnover rate is out of this world. I guess it would just be better to leave it behind me.

I wasn't called in to review my file. I went in to see it for myself so I could understand it. I had a meeting arranged for Wednesday and they decided to meet with me yesterday because I was there. I don't want to give details on what happened Friday, but I can honestly say that I don't believe I did anything wrong, and if it happened again I would do the same thing.

Wow, this is very hard to take in. I was just fired for something that I didn't even know I did wrong. I used my nursing judgement in Friday when a patient did something and I wrote a note about it. I even checked with 2 other nurses (sitting at the desk with me) to make sure a general note was adequate not an "expanded note" and they said that's all they would do too. In any case it's the "termination process" that's killing me here. I was advised by a supervisor over the weekend to check in with someone from administration to review my "file" on Monday. Monday morning I get a phone call from another supervisor about Fridays incident, I explained in full detail. On my way in on Monday I get another phone call about Fridays "incident," I explain in full detail, said that it's all in my note and asked if I had anything to worry about. We arranged to meet Wednesday. I told her I was on my way in then anyway, she said not necessary. I went in to review my file. My DON saw me, glared and went into her office. I went to see an administraitor I had a good connection with and told her that I wanted to sit down with her and review my file in private. We ran around for 10 minutes until I was told that the DON was ready to see me. I said that I wasn't here to see her and we were meeting Wednesday. Didn't seem to matter. I went in. DON at her desk. Supervisor who called me at a table taking notes. They told me that I was suspended and I wasnt supposed to be there. Nobody had told me I was suspended before this. We had only aggreed to meet on Wednesday. They asked me to explain Fridays events where I did nothing wrong. I explained. I was criticized. I defended. They yelled. I started sweating, shaking and told theme that I had only come in to see my file. I left the office. I was pulled into HR. They showed me my file. HR went to see my DON. The administrator I "trusted" came in to see me. I tried talking to her about my write ups to understand them because I didn't and then she started asking me about my wedding, insisting we lighten the mood and talk about that instead. HR returned and said I needed to go back to the DON's office. DON, Suservisor, HR and me. I was told that I broke policy. I asked what one and if I could see it, they said no. I asked HR to advocate for me, she said that she has to advocate for everyone in the room, including the DON and Supervisor. I was handed a paper that said I was terminated. I told them I did what I was trained to do, they need to re-educate the people who trained me. They said this isn't about them, this is about you. I got up and walked out. HR followed my yelling "I'm going to need your badge!" I tried to step into an office she said " you can't go in there!" Then "don't forget to bring back your badge!" I don't know I'm mixed up. I was looking for other employment and I'm about 90% sure I have another job. But this termination process seems very weird. I have felt like my head had been on a chopping block for weeks and I think they were looking for anything to kick me out. Should I do anything about this? If so, what?

Thank you all for your very helpful suggestions. I do have a detailed journal of each hardship I have had since starting employment (its approximately 20 pages, typed.) I need to learn my rights in this situation which I am working on. Luckily I will not be here much longer, but I would rather quit than be fired. And maybe all I really need to do is tell my supervisor that I plan to leave this spring, I'm just afraid that she might be trying to hurt me. I can understand not wanting someone with uncontrolled seizures (I've been trying to control them for years) working with patients, but at the same time my employer knew about this since my job interview. It's just incredibly frustrating and I don't want future opportunities to disappear from this experience.

I have some similar goals. Currently I am just gaining some med-surg experience for a more thorough understanding of how the body works etc. My future goal is to get a doctorate in naturopathic medicine. I have spoken to advisors at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, OR, and they said I can acquire a doctorate there without needing any further undergrad education. If I were you I would start by looking into various holistic programs to find the one that is right for you. Best of luck

Maybe I am wrong, and I am just a terrible nurse. I have epilepsy, and the small town (which I'm not from) hospital doesn't seem to understand that. I started working about 10 months ago. About 6 months ago my unit gained a new supervisor. This was right around the same time I was told by multiple doctors that I need to stop working nights as it was making my seizures worse. I told the supervisor this and she said absolutely not. I asked my neurologist for a note and the change had to be made. Ever since that change I have been pulled into her office about every two weeks for something that I have done wrong (very minor things like switching shifts with coworkers, with approval, or calling out - and finding coverage - on a seizure day.) About a month ago I received my first "write-up," because I didn't go to a mandatory meeting. I explained that I was at home having seizures and it didn't seem to matter. I'm not sure if she doesn't believe me or if she just really doesn't like me. Last week I received a second "write-up" for an error in my documentation. This error was related to a new system put in place a couple of days (DAYS, not weeks or months) before. I had asked my charge nurse and another nurse to review my documentation and they both told me it was fine. Now I am being written up for it. I have tried applying to area nursing homes without success. Unfortunately there are only 3 institutions (I guess 4 with the school,) in this town and I cannot travel because I cannot drive. This is it for a job for now and I'm afraid that I'm going to lose my nursing license working here. Luckily we will be moving this spring, but until then I am stuck here. Two "write-ups" in a month, and this supervisor has threatened my job. I do not want to be fired from my first job but it looks like things might be going that way. I just don't know what to do right now.

I took 8 months to thru-hike the AT. After, I got 2 job offers because of the hike - not because of my BSN.

I am also interested in pursuing a similar path. I have been considering getting a doctorate in naturopathic medicine, there are like 5 schools I the country that offer it. You could also learn about nutrition - the body likes to heal itself, but it can't if you don't give it what it needs.... Hope that helps

Find out if you can get certified through school, many programs give students their cna part way through. It is definitely worth getting for your skills. You should also be able to get per diem work while in school. I did it, and I recommend it

I had two different job interviews yesterday, and I got both of them; what one should I go with? A little background to me first would probably help. I graduated last December with my BSN. I passed my boards in April. Then I started a really long hike, thus forgetting many things I learned in school. I finished the 2,184 mile trek of the Appalachian Trail a few weeks before Christmas. Now I am back in northern Maine, and I have been out on the job hunt. Apparently taking a thru-hike is considered professional way up here, because both interviews I had yesterday basically hired me on the spot. The first interview was at a very small hospital. They offered me a 24 hr position, doing night shifts at $20.05/hr. As a new nurse I know that getting hospital experience is very important. The second interview was at a nursing facility - a pretty large, really nice one. They do not have any open positions, but they extended an offer for a 40 hr position that they will create me; this position is day shifts at $24.00/hr. I do have 5 years of CNA experience in gerontology and I love working with the elderly, but I really don't know if this is the best choice for me to make in the long run. What do you all think?

There is also spring harbor in Westbrook, near Portland. http://www.springharbor.org/ I cannot tell you much about it, but I did have some clinical s there and it seemed like a decent place. They do have a pediatric psych floor.

I connot answer many of your questions because I am a new nurse and I have not worked yet. What can say is that MMC in Portland is a great hospital. It is the biggest hospital in the state, and I did most of my clinicals there. They have everything there that you would expect to see in Boston. I hope that helps...

Thank you Brown Eyed Girl for your input. I am worried about being a charge nurse in a few months without much experience. I know I am not ready for that, and I don't feel that I will be ready for a few years. So I'm thinking that I will go with the hospital, even though the hours, pay rate and benefits are not as good. Once I'm in I can get more hours or move around.

I had two different job interviews yesterday, and I got both of them; what one should I go with? A little background to me first would probably help. I graduated last December with my BSN. I passed my boards in April. Then I started a really long hike, thus forgetting many things I learned in school. I finished the 2,184 mile trek of the Appalachian Trail a few weeks before Christmas. Now I am back in northern Maine, and I have been out on the job hunt. Apparently taking a thru-hike is considered professional way up here, because both interviews I had yesterday basically hired me on the spot. The first interview was at a very small hospital. They offered me a 24 hr position, doing night shifts at $20.05/hr. As a new nurse I know that getting hospital experience is very important. The second interview was at a nursing facility - a pretty large, really nice one. They do not have any open positions, but they extended an offer for a 40 hr position that they will create me; this position is day shifts at $24.00/hr. I do have 5 years of CNA experience in gerontology and I love working with the elderly, but I really don't know if this is the best choice for me to make in the long run. What do you all think?