Hi! I was written up recently at work for workplace negativity and unprofessional. I've been an RN at my job for almost 2 years and in that time I've actually become one of the more senior nurses on my shift because there is so much staff turnover. I really don't feel I'm negative at all, I vent of course like most nurses do and maybe people misinterpret that. Here's my write up but for my privacy I'm calling myself Gale and I've changed the date.
On 9/7/15 the DON met with Gale to address complaints that she was extremely negative and unprofessional on the unit. Despite this meeting there continue to be complaints that Gale is "Rude, unprofessional and has an "overall bad attitude." Reports include concerns that Gale "lacks compassion" towards her patients. These complains have been reported by multiple peers. Gale must demonstrate immediate and sustained improvement. All interactions must be professional and the negativity must stop. Failure to make these improvements will result in termination. This is a last and final warning.
I was shocked when I got this. The following paragraphs have more details for context, but I honestly just feel like I'm being picked on. Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with this or what to do to protect myself?
I was talked to a few months back for being negative while training someone who ended up quitting before they even completed their training. They were essentially blaming me for someone quitting when I'm pretty sure he made that decision all by himself. On the day I trained him I was pretty negative for multiple reasons. My assignment was unclear until about 30 minutes into my shift and I had to call my supervisor and DON to sort it out. I had over 20 patients with no secondary support nurse, and I had to train this new nurse. To top it off, a few days ago I had requested to not be put on the unit I was on that day anymore because I did not like that unit, it was too stressful for me and the DON at the beginning of that day's shift told me she couldn't promise me anything. I guess I was too overwhelmed that day to even remember to ask for help, but both the supervisor and DON were probably pretty aware of how crappy my day had started and they didn't offer any help either.
As for the real reason I feel I got the write up the head case manager at my job wrote my DON a letter instead of going through the chain of command and talking to me or even my immediate supervisor. The head CM was working later one day and I had just gotten some phone orders from a doctor. My new patient rolled in and the CM introduced herself to the patient and let me know the patient was there. I acknowledged what the CM said, but continued to write the doctor's order because I didn't want to screw up the order. I'll admit I wasn't all warm and bubbly with the patient, but part of that was my irritation with the CM and the fact that she went to me instead of any of the other nursing staff to welcome this no patient to the unit. I should have been nicer to the patient, but I don't feel my behavior warranted an e-mail to the DON.
The DON said that multiple people say I'm rude and negative and aside from the two above example I really feel like people are either being oversensitive or the DON is making stuff up because she wouldn't give any details on what exactly I'm doing wrong, just that I'm "negative." I have no idea what to do at this point other than keep my head down and carry on.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
So first you had a meeting that you were unprofessional and rude. Then after the meeting you got multiple complaints that you are rude and unprofessional. Really the first complaint may be an outlier but the second shows a pattern. Here are the two options. Either you are in a toxic environment (really unlikely) or you really are rude and unprofessional.
You obviously show a pattern of being negative. You had a trainee leave because of your negativity and then later were called in and then had "multiple" complaints. We all can have a complaint now and then but again you were called in to the office and then still had complaints against you after that! I give people the benefit of the doubt but it seems like you are toxic. What can you do to protect yourself? I guess sue but really anyone can sue now a days. I really suggest moving on and changing your attitude. You have burned the previous bridges to the ground and if you continue to do that you will burn bridge after bridge.
Actually, all I know is what you have been accused of. Without specifics, it's really hard to know if the complaints have validity. Although you yourself admit you should have "been nicer to the patient".
The fact that the place has a high turnover is a big clue. It probably is a toxic workplace. And I think it's pretty rich blaming you because someone ran away screaming. They need to take a better look at themselves. But they won't.
Which brings it back to you: how bad do you want this job? Do you want it bad enough to try to achieve a personality makeover? If you are feeling chronically stressed and overwhelmed, and your employer's response is to nail you for being "negative", maybe it's time to re-evaluate. Maybe this whole thing is a message from the Universe that you need to be somewhere else.
At this point it doesn't matter if you are being negative, or they're unfairly accusing you. This job isn't working for you.
Sadly you appear to be completely unable to accept that the problem you are being counseled on might actually exist. Everyone has a bad day and feels negative from time to time. You have demonstrated a pattern, one that will be very hard for you to get away from in your present working environment. You need to do some soul-searching and determine if you even like your job and if you can maintain there. If not, you need to start looking for something else ASAP. If you think this is the place for you, show it. You need a complete attitude make over, hard- but not impossible - this will not end well otherwise.
I think you should follow the footsteps out the door and look for a better place. It will save you a lot of stress and grief than trying to please everyone with a fake happy front. I really don't think its worth it to your peace of mind to stay and try to overcome these complaints. They look like they are planning to fire you anyway and would most likely contest your unemployment. Find a new job ASAP and put this behind you.
Remember at work you really can't trust anyone, keep your negative feelings to yourself and use all nurses to vent. At least it's safe and anonymous here!
I have been in your shoes, my friend. You and I are very similar. You see, I used to have a hot-temper and a trusting nature, too. I used to vent my frustrations to my coworkers that I trusted and thought were my friends. I thought everything was fine. Then, I started getting repeatedly written up and called into the boss' office for things that I was accused of saying or doing. Eventually, I was forced out of a job that I held for 4 years. My so called friends turned out to be just a clique of mean spirited, catty coworkers that took advantage of my trusting nature and the gullibility of the unit's clinical leader.
Yes, Charlotte- they are out to get you. You will continue to be written up for any and all sorts of trivial, stupid, and insignificant things.Your coworkers will snitch you out if you so much as, fart at the nurses desk. Don't trust anyone and find a new job. The best thing that you can do now, is leave on your own terms. Find another job, and turn in your notice before they can fire you.
I learned the hard way that the best things to do at work are: say as little as possible, stay quiet, keep to yourself, and most importantly, do not to trust anyone. Chalk this experience up to a hard lesson learned and move on. After all, it's their loss, anyway.
I have been in your shoes, my friend. You and I are very similar. You see, I used to have a hot-temper and a trusting nature, too. I used to vent my frustrations to my coworkers that I trusted and thought were my friends. I thought everything was fine. Then, I started getting repeatedly written up and called into the boss' office for things that I was accused of saying or doing. Eventually, I was forced out of a job that I held for 4 years. My so called friends turned out to be just a clique of mean spirited, catty coworkers that took advantage of my trusting nature and the gullibility of the unit's clinical leader.
Yes, Charlotte- they are out to get you. You will continue to be written up for any and all sorts of trivial, stupid, and insignificant things.Your coworkers will snitch you out if you so much as, fart at the nurses desk. Don't trust anyone and find a new job. The best thing that you can do now, is leave on your own terms. Find another job, and turn in your notice before they can fire you.
I learned the hard way that the best things to do at work are: say as little as possible, stay quiet, keep to yourself, and most importantly, do not to trust anyone. Chalk this experience up to a hard lesson learned and move on. After all, it's their loss, anyway.
So, you were the innocent victim, there was no way that all your "venting" was a source of negative energy in the unit? Just a bunch of "mean" people picking on someone who had no room for improvement or who might have overestimated his coworkers' tolerance for "venting"?
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I have been in your shoes, my friend. You and I are very similar. You see, I used to have a hot-temper and a trusting nature, too. I used to vent my frustrations to my coworkers that I trusted and thought were my friends. I thought everything was fine. Then, I started getting repeatedly written up and called into the boss' office for things that I was accused of saying or doing. Eventually, I was forced out of a job that I held for 4 years. My so called friends turned out to be just a clique of mean spirited, catty coworkers that took advantage of my trusting nature and the gullibility of the unit's clinical leader.
Yes, Charlotte- they are out to get you. You will continue to be written up for any and all sorts of trivial, stupid, and insignificant things.Your coworkers will snitch you out if you so much as, fart at the nurses desk. Don't trust anyone and find a new job. The best thing that you can do now, is leave on your own terms. Find another job, and turn in your notice before they can fire you.
I learned the hard way that the best things to do at work are: say as little as possible, stay quiet, keep to yourself, and most importantly, do not to trust anyone. Chalk this experience up to a hard lesson learned and move on. After all, it's their loss, anyway.
So they were all out to get you because of your "hot temper and trusting nature"? It couldn't possibly have been that even your friends got tired of vitriolic rantings and volatility? The clinical leader was "gullible" because she took the word of your colleagues that you were difficult to work with?
People who are volatile, emotionally labile ("hot temper") and given to venting their frustrations tend to be not well liked because they aren't really all that easy to get along with. Someone who is slammed at work and is having their own bad day lacks patience for hearing all about your frustrations. Even your friends get tired of that. Could it be they were your friends until they got fed up with your negativity?
Someone who is well-liked can get away with a lot more at work because they are well liked. Even big errors tend to be forgiven more easily and your management and coworkers will work with you. Someone who isn't well liked will get into trouble more easily for smaller ("trivial, stupid and insignificant") errors because it's more difficult for most of us to cut you some slack when we don't like you. It's also more difficult for most of us to LIKE someone who is consistently "hot tempered" and "venting frustrations." If that is you, you will find yourself getting into real trouble for something that Susie Sunshine got away with.
What you don't understand is that if you get hounded out of a job because of your persistent negativity, it's YOUR loss, not theirs.
TriciaJ, RN
4,328 Posts
Actually, all I know is what you have been accused of. Without specifics, it's really hard to know if the complaints have validity. Although you yourself admit you should have "been nicer to the patient".
The fact that the place has a high turnover is a big clue. It probably is a toxic workplace. And I think it's pretty rich blaming you because someone ran away screaming. They need to take a better look at themselves. But they won't.
Which brings it back to you: how bad do you want this job? Do you want it bad enough to try to achieve a personality makeover? If you are feeling chronically stressed and overwhelmed, and your employer's response is to nail you for being "negative", maybe it's time to re-evaluate. Maybe this whole thing is a message from the Universe that you need to be somewhere else.
At this point it doesn't matter if you are being negative, or they're unfairly accusing you. This job isn't working for you.