Ridiculous Suspension Procedure

[brown eyed girl]

I have a question; why would the Unit Manager, the DON, and the ADON come together on a disciplinary issue with a nurse and when asked by the nurse: am i written up, suspended for 3 to 5 days, or terminated?, the response from the DON is: no, your not terminated; where do you all get this 3 to 5 days stuff from? you are suspended pending further investigation, so we'll call you and let you know. Now, in my defense, this has NOTHING to do with care of a patient, medication errors, or supervision of CNA'S. I just came back from suspension sometime in early Jan. for "not adequately assessing a patient." The patient's vital signs were ok the Physician was contacted to which he stated to "monitor the patient, push fluids, and call me if something changes." For this particular incident, i obtained the all vital signs the Unit Manager took the blood sugar which was 76, supplement shake was given with sugar to boost the blood glucose, which it did after 15 min to 96; and at no time was the patient unresponsive or in distress. Unbeknown to myself, I was written up by the Unit Manager and suspended by the ADON (who just happens to be her good friend) an hour later and told by the ADON that if I was a "prudent" nurse, I would have known not to have left the patient for any reason. During that time, I had just been transferred to that unit by the DON 1 week earlier. I found out today when I finally asked why i was moved and did my former Unit Manager ask for the move; she stated to me that there was no particular reason other than it was her decision due to a staffing issue. Tell me what you think please. I'm definitely not delusional to think that i will be employed by them in the next few days.

[caliotter3]

When stuff happens behind your back and you don't find out about it until later, when your signature should have been obtained on a disciplinary document, that is a sure sign that you are on your way out the door. Think you have figured this out. Do yourself a favor and find your next job now. Hopefully you can leave before they decide to force the issue. Doesn't sound like a place where many people would want to work anyway.

[brown eyed girl]

I have been looking for another job since i took my vacation in late november and have continued to do so; i'd be a fool not to. Its hard to find a job here in Atlanta when all you've done is work ltc and no one believes that you can do anything else, plus you have to have x amount of years experience doing whatever it is you want to apply for and no one wants to train you for ANYTHING. For me honestly, its amazing how i come to work on time, never call off (until i had to go my follow up appt the day after the King holiday), work my patutie off to the best of my ability even when i have been severly anemic for the entire time i have been there yet, im getting railroaded. I dont feel sorry for myself and dont expect anyone else to, but the writing is on the wall for me. I honestly hate it there because of the way they treat the staff plus how they treat the patients with regard to lack of basic supplies for direct care and different procedures that need to be performed. Their reputation is so bad within the community that some hospitals wont send patients there; and that came from the mouth of my former Unit Manager. I have never been written up so many times for so many different things ever in my career in nursing. Im used to my superiors and subordinates sad to see me leave or change my status; my problems didn't start until i started working there. This situation is a joke but im not laughing.

[brown eyed girl]

I was taught long ago not to sign "write up" forms because its just like admitting your guilt for whatever you were written up for no matter what your comments are, it just doesnt matter.

[caliotter3]

I was taught long ago not to sign "write up" forms because its just like admitting your guilt for whatever you were written up for no matter what your comments are, it just doesnt matter.

Whether you sign it or not (separate issue), the disciplinary session complete with piece(s) of paper are supposed to occur with you there. Point I was trying to make. Making something up is creating a false paper trail and giving you the means to be successful in a wrongful termination action.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Am I missing something? You got suspended for not staying in the room with a patient whose blood sugar was in the 70s? Normal starts at 80. I don't get it. I am a hard a** and expect my nurses to be on the ball and have good clinical skills, but suspended for leaving a patient with almost normal blood sugar??? Either you've done something else wrong and don't want to say or you're working for a bunch of crazy people!

[brown eyed girl]

I honestly work with a bunch of crazy people. I have nothing to hide; if i missed something I would definitely say so. But that suspension was in early jan. Im on suspension now for something else that is not safety related.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

We start hypoglycemia protocol (read: half glass of OJ) at 70. And we never stay with them. We just recheck their sugar in an hour.

Good luck with this.

CCM, I have no doubt that she may well be working with a bunch of crazy people. I have had that misfortune myself.

[brown eyed girl]

I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. When I was getting my suspension for that incident, I told them exactly that there was no need to stay with her since she wasnt in any distress. I later found out when i came back off my suspension that the Unit Manager and the ADON sent the resident out to the ER and the ER sent her back stating that no indications of a stroke were found. The resident was transferred to another unit in the building.

Honestly, from the moment that I knew that I was being transferred to this particular unit, I knew that it was only a matter of time before I would be suspended or fired. Im currently on my second suspension from this unit. The writting is on the wall, like I said, I'd be fool not to think so.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I would actually consider quitting because these nuts might report you to your BON. Happened to me.

[brown eyed girl]

I'm constantly looking for a job. I had a promising lead with a reputable staffing agency yesterday; the head nursing recruiter loved me and thought that I would be perfect for a medsurg position that just came up and the person would start on Tuesday for a long term contract but because I have nothing but ltc experience, the" confidential client" rep said "no." I found out this afternoon. I couldnt get myself upset because Im used to it now. I cant break into anything new cause I dont have the experience and of course as always, no one wants to train you. I talked to a clinical manager yesterday as well for a dialysis position to see if it was still open. By the tone of her voice she was ecstatic about my call inquiring about the position; as soon as I told her that I didn't have any dialysis experience, her tone quickly changed and she asked if I'd put in an app online. I stated that I had and she said to me "if you meet the qualifications, the recruiter will forward your info to me and I'll give you a call." This is the part I hate about being a ltc nurse; the powers that be feel that you know nothing. I was passed over for another position for a privately owned dialysis clinic for a nurse that'd been nurse for 6 months. Instead of telling me what the starting pay was for the position, they asked what was the minimum pay that I would accept; I told them 17.50 and I never heard from them again. I later found out by my coworker about the nurse they chose and that they paid him 16.00/hr. They told him "you know we have to stay on budget." I cant win for losing. I can do anything if someone would just give me the opportunity you know?

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Are there no other LTCs? And see if you can pick up some per diem hours somewhere.