Right to work states

[Travelnurse44]

Reading these forums makes me sad, but brings me hope as well...to say that you can talk to your mgr to explain things you did wrong

WOULD be nice, but in my world that didnt happen. Im a canadian nurse who went to Fl & Az to work for a few yrs, now want to rtn but

am quite excited, but a little scared at the same time. I worked many, many hospitals in Az...got fired in a few...to say that you can

"talk" to the mgr about what u doing wrong is an understatement for sure...so here goes, I NEED ADVICE FOR THE NEXT TRY!!!

1. Worked per diem at one hospital med/surg. Charge nurse said to use her name to split referral bonus. I'd done this lots so no

problem. Waited 3 mos to get my share, went down to HR to ask where or how long it might be...they said she got it 2 mos ago, I

approached her again, she told me, "I told you - I never f''got it" (She was a rough character, but had worked there 7 yrs, me I was just

per diem. Next day I go to work, get cld into mgr's office - was told I 'forced" a mexican pt to speak english...I told them that was an out

right lie (which it was) and that charge nurse owed me $, hence the false accusation. Me w/ mgr etc etc No way did they believe me, I

was fired.

2. Worked in ER, pt going down fast (drug addict) I knew something wrong and kept telling nurse who was orientating me...She yelled

at me, showing me vital signs, saying "you will never make it, she is stable (VS) and just a drug addict. I had been speaking w/ Dr

about her (17 yrs as anRN, u just have a hunch...) Dr walks in says what do you think

min. Me: Fired...I asked Mgr if I could even talk to Dr. No, its just not working out...I also, didnt want to discharge a pt as he wasnt

feeling well, (alcoholic) but was told by same orienter, to "Treat and street" or I wouldnt make it in that ER. I had to pretty well force his

to leave, and when he stood up, seized, broke all his teeth, blood everywhere, Dr walked in and told the other nurse who was "on me"

that she should of listened to me....! There was no resolving anything, these nurses get it in their head, they are staff, u r a traveller,

no chance in hell. That's why they call it "Right to work".

3. Worked in ICU, was told I didnt give an IV abx, as the empty bag was not in the garbage - "Are you kidding me?" fired. "There were

numerous complaints about you...I asked like what? "You didnt give proper report...Please elaborate...no, its just not your fit...

Btm line - I had no problems dealing with the Dr's, Pts, difficult pts and their families, but if a woman RN doesnt like you....you are

toast in those states. I tried to take it up the ladder to no avail....ANY ADVICE? CUZ I'M HEADING OUT AGAIN...MY RN FRIENDS

MENTIONED BOUNDARIES AND SAID they noticed schoolyard bullying w/ me not knowing how to stop it.....thanks for ANY advice!

[DSkelton711]

I've seen agency/travel nurses get treated like the enemy (Of course I've also seen the opposite). Is sharing a bonus with the charge nurse something that is required of you? That sounds crazy. I recommend you always start with a positive attitude and avoid things that would put nurses even more on the defensive. The best advice I ever received about starting in a new place was to avoid the use of "we didn't do things that way where I come from". Also, don't be an island in a new place--be confident but accept help, ask questions. I've seen travel nurses who maintained distance and acted like they didn't ever need help so that when they needed it, nurses felt like "yeah, now you want my help, good luck on that". Even though you won't be there long you still need to build relationships and you are the newcomer. And never discuss wages--$$$ make people act crazy! Good luck.

[Travelnurse44]

Thanks! I need all the help I can get on my communiction skills - hard when you've always worked in a union and only got fired if you are a bad nurse....