Quit or be fired?

rnmi2004 · Jan 30, 2005

I'm sorry you were fired by this facility, Wendy--but it is their loss. You are a good employee & a good parent, and you put your family first. If they can't be accepting of that, then they don't deserve you.

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 30, 2005

I am sorry if upset anyone here. I mean no offense....honestly.

BUT----. I still say, I will NOT EVER WILLINGLY leave my kids alone under any circumstances, for days on end, under 18 years of age. I think it highly inappropriate and wrong to do so. Others think I am wrong. Hey, that is ok with me. :)

As for my emergency plans? Well, I do have plans and people who WILL help me should an emergency arise. These plans, my friends, DO NOT INCLUDE LEAVING MY MINOR CHILDREN UNATTENDED for what COULD BE DAYS ON END at home. If that makes me a poor employee, or poorly-prepared in someone's eyes, so be it. I will not put my kids at risk for any job. I got out of the military so that I may never have to leave my kids for an extended time. I intend to live up to that, now as a civilian .My husband is still military; my work knows it. He has even less notice or time to respond to an emergency, making it an imperative I have plans in place should they need me. They just might have to wait til I could respond, til my kids are safely ensconced. If I had to call out, cause my plans fell through and I tried everything to get my family looked after, I would do without hesitation.

My supervisor and coworkers also know I will come as soon as I can in an emergency, AFTER my kids are looked after properly. I have made that clear and in WRITING, as a matter of fact. Family first, community next, work, after that. That is how I feel. I am not calling anyone a "bad parent" or anything like that. I am just saying I felt personally, I would have needed to think twice before leaving minor children alone for what could be several days in a dangerous storm. If you feel your kids would be fine, so much the better. I am glad. To each his or her own.

Good weekend to everyone. Hope no one is upset by what I said. No intent is made to do so. I feel strongly, just as some of you do!

PS----------------this all means, I am still on YOUR side, Wendy. You did the right thing.

mattsmom81 · Jan 31, 2005

Hugs to you Wendy...I lost my babysitter once when my kiddos were small and had to give notice...was able to bring them with me too initially (slept in an empty room)then was told I could not...hubby was suddenly required to be out of town on business, his was the primary job, and I had no family/friends to help out Not all of us have the resources others have available to them in these situations..

Thus my notice was only one week...best I could do (it was a weekend position) and of course they badmouth me to this day about it. GRRR.

You go girl...put your family first and you will always sleep at night. No way would I have left my kids alone in the situation you describe so i understand your feelings.

Also agree with posters who note this new management team is likely 'cleaning house'...not unusual to see a new team do this, unfortunately and it can be difficult for even model employees to survive the boot if the manager wants everyone under here to be brand new.

CEN35 · Jan 31, 2005

Bottom line, if you have never called in like this before, and your prior atendance/tardy record show it.........screw them, call off. If the company is that desperate to threaten that, then you don't need them. I would guess you can find another job, as easily as they can fire you. When the new place asks why you were fired, tell them. Your current company has no right to do that, kids first job second. Also I would check and see what kind of attendance/tardy policy your facility has, and copy it.

Personally, I would be looking for a new job. they are telling you this, most likely because they don't have enough staff. there is usually a reason for that........

P.S. - It is against the law to slander, libel a past emplyee for any reason. Worst comment they can make, is "no comment". Otherwise, it's lawsuite city.

javanurse2000, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2005

Hey guys. Yeah...I've kind of just been wandering around today. Ice didn't form on the power lines until late yesterday evening...before that it was sleet/snow so the roads wree pretty bad. I called my work today and found out that my supervisor (and good friend) was made to work in my place even though she has a medical note that states she is not to work the floor (she had a recent fall at work and her shoulder muscle separated). I haven't forgotten about the funnel cake recipe - haven't been able to find it but I'll keep hunting. I'm going to the agency tomorrow-the roads are clear. As the ice storms go around here this one wasn't too bad...could have been a lot worse. I hope you all have a great week and thank you again to everybody for going through this with me. -Wendy

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Jan 31, 2005

Hey guys. Yeah...I've kind of just been wandering around today. Ice didn't form on the power lines until late yesterday evening...before that it was sleet/snow so the roads wree pretty bad. I called my work today and found out that my supervisor (and good friend) was made to work in my place even though she has a medical note that states she is not to work the floor (she had a recent fall at work and her shoulder muscle separated). I haven't forgotten about the funnel cake recipe - haven't been able to find it but I'll keep hunting. I'm going to the agency tomorrow-the roads are clear. As the ice storms go around here this one wasn't too bad...could have been a lot worse. I hope you all have a great week and thank you again to everybody for going through this with me. -Wendy

That was a blessing in disguise, hun. I quit a job (that I had just started) rather than get fired years ago, after my son (who was three years old at the time), came down with a fever of 104 degrees along with a serious strep and middle ear infection. As luck would have it, my husband was out of town on business, and my baby was too sick to be left with a neighbor or at day care. I was out of work for three days with him, and when I returned to work, the charge nurse gave me hell for being out and demanded that I find someone to care for him in the future. She was so damn hateful that I quit. My husband returned home from his trip that night, and when I told him what happened, he was very supportive. "You'll find something better", he told me...and I did. So WILL you! :)

pmchap · Jan 31, 2005

Well I have just spent the last hour getting to know your story Wendy..... I have a couple simple questions for you - do your former employers know anything about employee relations? - what they have done to you is absolutley shocking) and how far afield are you looking for work? :) I am a Clinical Educator in Australia (just north of Sydney) and I know for a fact that nurses of any qualification are in extremely short supply here. I am currently working with some nurses who would send shivers up your spin in terms of their clinical practice and attitude at work (one is consistenly 30 minutes late) but they wont get the sack. Simple fact - Australia has these laws that make it virtually impossible to fire someone... (even though some should be let go). We also have things like carers leave and leave without pay - so if you are in a crisis and don't make it to work virtually the worst thing that can happen is that they take your pay off you for that day... a trade most parents are willing to make should the situation arise.

So Wendy - if you are looking for a way to escape the Ice, snow and what seems like unfriendly working environment - then consider coming down under :) I don't mean to sound like an advert for Australia - but I don't think that any nurse in Australia would have to put up with what you have had to do - we have a union that deals with nasty administrators :angryfire

Just another thought - here if I left my children at home and went anywhere (including to work) and God forbid something happened - I could potentially be charged with neglect. Is it appropriate legally (let alone responsible) to leave children (regardless of their maturity level) without supervision?

Hope that things work out for the best for you,

Peter

javanurse2000, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2005

Well I have just spent the last hour getting to know your story Wendy..... I have a couple simple questions for you - do your former employers know anything about employee relations? - what they have done to you is absolutley shocking) and how far afield are you looking for work? :) I am a Clinical Educator in Australia (just north of Sydney) and I know for a fact that nurses of any qualification are in extremely short supply here. I am currently working with some nurses who would send shivers up your spin in terms of their clinical practice and attitude at work (one is consistenly 30 minutes late) but they wont get the sack. Simple fact - Australia has these laws that make it virtually impossible to fire someone... (even though some should be let go). We also have things like carers leave and leave without pay - so if you are in a crisis and don't make it to work virtually the worst thing that can happen is that they take your pay off you for that day... a trade most parents are willing to make should the situation arise.
So Wendy - if you are looking for a way to escape the Ice, snow and what seems like unfriendly working environment - then consider coming down under :) I don't mean to sound like an advert for Australia - but I don't think that any nurse in Australia would have to put up with what you have had to do - we have a union that deals with nasty administrators :angryfire
Just another thought - here if I left my children at home and went anywhere (including to work) and God forbid something happened - I could potentially be charged with neglect. Is it appropriate legally (let alone responsible) to leave children (regardless of their maturity level) without supervision?
Hope that things work out for the best for you,
Peter

I have such a big smile on my face....I just saw a TV commercial for round trip airfare to Australia for $999 including 3 incountry trips :0) . I would hate to uproot the kids, they've had it kind of rough since the divorce. Incidently, when the kids are grown I plan on spending my vacations in rural underserved areas in the US and also Central Africa....never thought about Australia but your country looks beautiful. :) I'm going to try and get some sleep--big day tomorrow, going to the agency.

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Also thank to everyone that is posting, you just don't know what your hugs and encouragement mean to me. You guys have really helped me hold together!

allnurses Guide · Jan 31, 2005

Wendy - I think you should copy this thread and give it to your former boss. Just kidding but oh wouldn't it be fun.

steph :)

southern_rn_brat · Jan 31, 2005

Hey wen!

I was just wondering...did anyone else call off and if they did, did they get fired too?

wendy

z's playa · Jan 31, 2005

Hey wen!
I was just wondering...did anyone else call off and if they did, did they get fired too?
wendy

Good question.

javanurse2000, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2005

Wendy - I think you should copy this thread and give it to your former boss. Just kidding but oh wouldn't it be fun.
steph :)

Steph - LOL...thanks for cheering me up!