nurses who self injure

[sax_journey]

hello

i am a RN who works part time in geropsych and part time at another hospital on general surgical ward.

i have scars on my upper arms from previous years when i used to cut myself. recently these were discovered by a co worker, who has complained to the DON about me, stating i am unfit for work, i am "crazy", and has made up allegations of things i have said and done to her that are not true. However no one believes me as i am the "mentally ill" one apparantly. they sent the crisis team to my house (for scars on my arms that are years old, as well as allegations from this other nurse that i am suicidal - which is not the case.) i wasnt home when the MH people came by as i was at my other job. now i dont know what to say to them tomorrow???? no one believes anything i say. It seems it has been decided already that i have lost the plot.

i dont mind if i lose the job, as i dont want to work at a facility where things like this go on, but i am scared now that the DON might ring my other place of work and tell them i am not fit for work. can she do this? can she ring the board and have me suspended because it is her opinion i am "mentally unstable" even tho it is not the case, and there is no evidence of this?? i havent done anything wrong, except a HX of SI years ago...i am on anti depressant meds curently, wiill this make me look bad?? i know people who have been de-registered due to mental health problems, and it scares me that it might happen to me. surely this cant be right! i havent done anything! what can i do to show them i am ok??

[Soleilpie]

Are you suspended on pay or without pay?

That's what I was wondering. If they say they're not punishing you, then they should at least pay you. I would especially demand some kind of retroactive payment if none of the allegations against you are ever proven.

It does look suspicious that you've had psych problems at your previous job. However, it would be wrong for your current employer to assume that this new situation is the same. That would be like saying no one can ever recover or get better. Does your current employer know about the situation with your last job? Unless there's some kind of absolute proof, I don't know how they can get away with trying to force you to admit any wrongdoing. Is it just one nurse making these allegations against you or are there others as well?

[humiliated]

I am against self mutilation in the sense that a person should not be harming herself/himself, however, mutilating oneself does not necessary mean someone is not able to perform their job. We all have battles we face in life, some mental others physical and do not believe you should be fired for hurting yourself. If you are hurting yourself you should get help, or do what you need to do to be stable (other than hurting yourself) and continue working. Sometimes abandoning everything you have can be devasting and worse on the mentally ill pt as opposed to trying to manage your illness while living a normal life. Face the problem at work and make sure you are stable and able to talk about the issue. Because in reality, this will be the true test of wether or not you are in fact ok to work.

Good luck with your job.

[sax_journey]

what is HRM??

suspended without pay i'm afraid. i rang the IRC about this today and apparantly the award we work under is silent about the matter of suspension.....so apparantly they can suspend me for as long as they feel like without pay while they are "investigating" the allegations....as for back pay if i am proven innocent apparantly this is up to the employer to decide if they back pay or not, so i'm taking a wild guess that it wont be happening.....but i dont see how is this not "disciplinary action"??? they rang today and sayd they cant re-instate me until they speak to mental health services....i told them to be my guest as i have nothing to hide....so i gave them the name of the person i was speaking to ....and they claim this person is on holidays for 2 weeks, and apparantly there is no one else they can ask about it, so i just have to wait til this person is getting back from holidays....

current employer does not know about previous problem at other job as far as i know, but several other staff do.

at one stage in our converstaion it was two people who complained, now they are saying 4 people complained. I dont know the exact nature of these complaints, and if all four ppl complianed about everything, or if they all put in different parts of it....the conversation where i allegedly threatened residents apparantly took place on a sun evening about 10pm and there are not even 4 staff on our wing at that time of night, so they cant all be claiming to have been there.........but i was not told very much. everytime i asked questions they would interrupt. i did find out the identity of 2 of the people and am so tempted to call them and ask them what is going on, but i think that would make it much worse.

i have been on the phone to the unions again, and sent back and forth a few times between the two states, but finally explained the situation to someone, who has to discuss with her boss, and she sayd someone would contact me tomorrow, so hopefully i may get some advice at least....

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

HRM = Human Resource Management

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

i did find out the identity of 2 of the people and am so tempted to call them and ask them what is going on, but i think that would make it much worse.

It would be a very bad idea if you're trying to make a case *for* your mental stability. And I don't say that to be flip. Plus, you don't really know who said what - only rumors unless the manager actually said "so and so reported thus and such.."

I'm a little confused by this situation, but at this point, do you really *want* to return to this particular workplace? It sure sounds like there are a lot of unwelcoming people there, for whatever reason.

[sax_journey]

I'm a little confused by this situation, but at this point, do you really *want* to return to this particular workplace? It sure sounds like there are a lot of unwelcoming people there, for whatever reason.

everyone keeps asking me that. but it is a good job, most of the staff are great, and i didnt do anything wrong so why should i leave???? i am good at my job, and it is going to look bad to keep leaving jobs. this will be the 2nd job i've left in one year. given everything that has happened i probably wont return (that is if i ever get off suspension...)....but i will not let them fire me as i have done nothing wrong. i just want my name cleared.

[Soleilpie]

what an unfortunate situation to be in sax. the professionalism by your employer is truly lacking in your case. i could see how they would be concerned if one of their employees came to them with allegations of residents being threatened by another employee. i could also see how they wouldn't want that employee on the ward until the truth has come out. what i don't agree with is your employer seems to find you guilty without all of the facts and wants to force you to admit to these allegations by threatening you. did you employer talk to any of the residents that you supposedly threatened? if they did, i hope they asked them in such a way without mentioning your name specifically because that could be leading. i hope they asked it like, "have you ever been threatened by any of the nurses here and if so by whom." i'm not sure if it's standard practice to approach residents with these kinds of questions though. but in this case, it may help clear up some of the unknowns for them. what kind of threats are you being accused of? i'm hoping for your sake that mental health services will give them info that will be in your favor.

if you are truly innocent, then keep up your stance. just remain professional so they don't get any ammo against you.

[StuPer]

Hello Sax,

First thing I have to say is get a solicitor or a lawyer... NOW! I know others have advised this, and you have concerns over cost, but there are a number of legal agents who will work on a no win/no fee basis. You cannot fight this alone, the organisation can truely have you running in circles and worse WILL affect your mental health, to one degree or another.

Secondly I would'nt be working their again, even if you win, as there will likely be residual resentment on the part of managment for years to come. No, instead I would pursue this as an agrievment, seek disiplinary measures against any who falsely accused you, and recommpensation against the organisation for harm to you and your reputation.

This whole situation stinks to high heaven, either we don't have the full facts, or there are some very disfunctional managers at that particular facility. I work in a general setting mainly, in a mental health capacity, and the frequency with which I see stigma associated to a mental health diagnosis from the 'caring profession' is terrible.

On another point, a person with a diagnosed borderline personality disorder, could represent a risk to patients, simply because people with BPD have great difficulty forming appropriate relationships with those around them, including patients, this could lead to many maladaptive scenarios, putting people at risk. Antidepressants are not a treatment for personality disorder, although they may alleviate some symptoms in a transient fashion. The only real and research proven treatment for borderline personality disorder is Dialectic Behavioural Therapy.

regards StuPer

[catz]

That's why it's a shame that some people automatically assume that those who self-injure must also have an urge to hurt others or can't be trusted to be around others. I think people have different ways of coping...some more severe than others, but not necessarily a danger to others.

exactly!!! i wish that everyone could understand this. dsh is a maladaptive coping mechanism and a person does not have to have a pd in order to use it. it saddens me that this is still the assumption among so many mental health professionals.

sax i hope things work out for u, dont let them get u down.