I have 32 years of nursing experience. For the past 5 years I have worked as the charge nurse on 3-11 on a very busy 34 bed med surg unit. My manager was the kind of person who just allowed sleeping dogs to lie, thinking that with time problems would either go away or just solve themselves. I am not that kind of person. I believe in rapid, direct response to issues when they occur, especially when related to patient safety. Let me state that in my 32 years I have never been terminated or demoted from a job. In my current position, I was always given glowing evaluations and have only two write up's in my file. One of those was for going around the chain of command to try to get badly needed wall suction devices for the floor to place at the bedside for patients on aspiration precautions. Can you imagine not having wall suction available in the hospital?
Late last week my manager pulled me off charge and this week, during a meeting with her and the director of nursing, they explained that "this was not disciplinary action. They were just worried about me and my stress level. It is ok to get pulled off charge. It happens to a lot of nurses and it is no big deal.". They offered me a staff nurse job on my floor even though there are no vacant positions. I declined and resigned effective immediately.
As I have been sitting here the past few days filling out job applications and reflecting on these events, I continue to wonder why managers are often so threatened by staff members who bring them problems. Not one time in the 5 years I was there did the manager EVER sit down with the charge nurses as a group and ask us what our problems were and how can we solve them together. She would never sit down and take any disciplinary action against an employee unless her hand was forced. Everything with her was always fine... no problems. When I was a manager I met with my charge nurses and nurse managers on a regular basis to discuss issues and solutions. When I had a nurse with talent I used that nurse to assist me with projects and to help with problem solving. I was not threatened. So, perhaps it was time to go, to do something else.
But I absolutely LOVED the hospital and the people I worked with. They were like my family and it is very hard to leave them.
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.
If my husband and I can afford it I am going to take the summer off. Going to finish some home projects and get my sewing projects done. He said I should wait until the right job comes along. Not just take the first thing just because I need a job. God bless this man.
dianne227-I am 59 and came back out of retirement. I got lucky. My DON is at least my age and does not have a problem with my decades of experience. When she called me to offer the job, she was afraid I wouldn't accept the pay rate that was offered. I was so thrilled to be offered a job. I have been employed almost 3 months now and could not be happier. I plan to stay until my body gives out. There is no perfect job, but i love mine. Here's hoping you too find a place where things are as good as it gets! :-)
If you have your BSN, please check with the local schools of nursing. They're always looking for clinical instructors and this could be a great fit for you. If you find you enjoy teaching, you can get a master's----and yes, people go back for their master's in nursing well into their sixties so age should not be a barrier. (And if you are already employed as a CI, your school might help you pay for the master's if you decide you enjoy teaching.)
I wish you well in whatever you decide. I am so sorry this happened to you. It is the hospital's loss of a damned fine nurse.
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.
You know I do have teaching experience in one of my former jobs as the clinica instructor in the ED. I do have a BSN. But all these schools tere require a masters degree and I cant afford to back to scjool right now.
I'd call and ask some of the schools if you need a masters for teaching clinicals alone.... I know my state requires a masters for teaching, but allows BSN clinical only instructors for ADN students. Just a thought. Another route is if you are enrolled towards a master's they let you teach for up to 5 years. I did one 3h credit class a semester, until I was done.
Kudos to that man of yours too! My late dh was on a management track (not health care), and came out to walk the picket lines with me when we were on strike.
Specializes in Peds, PACU, ICU, ER, OB, MED-Surg,.
Many schools "require" a MSN but will take a BSN if you are willing to work towards your masters. Do it! I've seen what some of the schools are putting out and we need some instructors with morals and drive to be teaching the nurses that will be caring for you and I.
I respect the fact that you spoke up for yourself. The new style of management of live and let live, irritates me too. I've seen "nurses" texting during their shift while the call lights were going off. I watched a new "nurse" ignore a parent standing in front of them and continue their personal call on a cell phone. Nothing is done about this anymore. Management can get two of these nurses for what our experience costs them, so they let it be. I can remember when nursing was a calling and now all it seems to be is a job.
Good luck to you. Take your time, find the right place that wants and needs your experience.
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.
Well, I just got my first job rejection. Not qualified for an outpatient clinic job even though I used to be a director of two of them. I HATE job hunting. I am going to have an exit interview on Tuesday with HR and the director of nursing and will have a chance to review my employee file. I think I will check out the nursing colleges so just see what they have available.
I'm really sorry to hear you're going through this. My mother went through something similar a few years back. Her boss was a more extreme (and less stable) version of what yours sounds like - the woman seriously went into her office, got into the fetal position under her desk, and went into hysterics during a stressful meeting! However, after my mother was pushed out (for being competent and therefore a threat to her looney-tune boss), she found a job in the same field doing what she loved after a few months of searching. She was in her mid-50s at that point and her field had an abundance of young grads competing for a reduced number of positions. It may take a bit for you to find a good new place, but don't give up!
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.
Well, some new news. Over the past week that I have been off I have had a lot of time to reflect over the last few months and to evaluate the job and my stress level. As I thought about it I can to understand I glad I was that I did not have to go back to that charge nurse job and came to realize that I WAS very stressed out. That may manager had done for me what I could not do for myself. Admit that I was done. I had come to the end of that job and to the end of my stress level and my ability to deal with it. I went over and had a long talk with the HR employee resource person and she and I talked for almost an hour and she offered me a lot of insight into this situation.... a lot of things that I was not aware of. I have made a decision to ask to resend my resignation and to return to the unit on the 7p-7a shift as a staff nurse. The staff has been very supportive and they have made me feel that I have something to offer, even if I am not the charge nurse. I hope the hospital will allow me to do so. I guess the lesson that I have learned here is that when you let your ego get in the way of logical thinking, you might make the wrong decision. I should have taken a greater period of time to decide what to do. And I should have spoken with HR sooner. I think that I learned a great lesson in this.
What you say in your post is very wise, but unfortunately most of the time we are stuck with our rash decisions or the rash decisions of those above us. I certainly hope that you are able to return and get things straightened out, but I would be surprised if it goes that way. Best wishes though, however, it turns out.
diane227, LPN, RN
1,941 Posts
If my husband and I can afford it I am going to take the summer off. Going to finish some home projects and get my sewing projects done. He said I should wait until the right job comes along. Not just take the first thing just because I need a job. God bless this man.