Published Sep 5, 2008
meadow85
168 Posts
I have been working at my current workplace, a hospital downtown, for a little over a year now as full-time. As of Monday I will transfer to part-time because I am starting a new job closer to home. Both managers are aware.
This afternoon I received a phone call from my current manager scheduling a meeting with her, human resources and a union representative on Monday. She would not give me any details except that it was SERIOUS, which is what worries me most, and she would pay me for my time (odd but nice). I asked if it was about a patient (which is my #1 concern) and she said no. But that's all she would tell me. I know this will be at the back of my mind all weekend long, stressing me out! This is the first time I've been asked to come in on my day off and meet with people other than her. Any ideas what it could be about?
Although I don't think this behind the reason and if it was I will tell her the truth. I called in sick yesterday. I don't call in often ... maybe a handful the entire year. This time it was legitimate, I had schedule conflicts at both workplaces and couldn't find anyone to pick-up my shift. It left me with no choice. I can't be at 2 places at once. I called in really early so they a good amount of time to call or a replacement.
Vito Andolini
1,451 Posts
How nice of your "nice" boss to have you worrying for 3 days. Call her right now and tell her you need to know the topic because you don't want to spend the weekend worrying. No way it's good. Get information from HR if you can't reach your boss.
Of course she is going to pay you. She has to. This is a command appearance. Wake up, little Sis.
Who's the union rep? Can you talk to that person right now? Odd that the boss arranged for the rep to be there. I would think that it is the employee who has to arrange that.
Keysnurse2008
554 Posts
I am glad you have another job, bc this is the classic scenario of "how to fire an employee". A job,....no matter how well you like it......doesnt define WHO you are. So....dont stress.....the USA is filled with tons of nursing jobs out there.......and unfortunately most states are at will states meaning they can fire you for no reason, good reason or bad reason and it is all perfectly legal. So....remember.....the job doesnt define who you are.....you do.I hope I am wrong about this!
DusktilDawn
1,119 Posts
How nice of your "nice" boss to have you worrying for 3 days. Call her right now and tell her you need to know the topic because you don't want to spend the weekend worrying. No way it's good. Get information from HR if you can't reach your boss.Of course she is going to pay you. She has to. This is a command appearance. Wake up, little Sis.Who's the union rep? Can you talk to that person right now? Odd that the boss arranged for the rep to be there. I would think that it is the employee who has to arrange that.
In agreement here. There is nothing "nice" about a boss that calls you in to a meeting telling you its "SERIOUS" than doesn't give you clue one about what it's about. The fact that included in this meeting are HR and a Union Rep indicates that this is serious. The fact that they don't want to tell you what this is about smacks of an ambush that they don't want you prepared for. If this is a disciplinary type of situation, than yes Vito, I can see HR and her boss arranging to have a Union Rep present. In fact they would have to.
I agree with Vito that if you know who the Union Rep is, try contacting them or contact your manager and tell them you need to know what this is about. Bear in mind you may not get anywhere and yes, this could have something to do with you calling in ill to go work another job. If this is the case you may want to consider carefully how you approach this.
dauschundlover
49 Posts
I have to agree with everyone that your boss is a true example of what is wrong with nursing management. Any real manager would have called u in right away and taken care of the issue not put it in the manner she did and have you worry all weekend. It's easy to say don't stress but I'm sure difficult to do. If a union rep is there then you at least have someone on your side in the room. R u changing hospitals? Did u give two weeks notice? Take it in stride and be glad your moving on.
mdfog10
177 Posts
Unfortunately this happens all the time. The nurse is worried , stressed and miserable until the meeting date. They may have a serious complaint or it is just bs and someone has mandated they call the union and "follow the book". In the mean time you are stressing big time. Once you find out why they called the meeting you and the union rep can leave the room to discuss it. This is just the first step. Don't let them intimidate you. Also you should call the union rep now and find out what management has told them.
Good luck
gr8rnpjt, RN
738 Posts
Did you call in sick or did you call in and tell them about the scheduling conflict? If it was the latter then it's not hard to guess what this is about.
sissiesmama, ASN, RN
1,898 Posts
I have been working at my current workplace, a hospital downtown, for a little over a year now as full-time. As of Monday I will transfer to part-time because I am starting a new job closer to home. Both managers are aware. This afternoon I received a phone call from my current manager scheduling a meeting with her, human resources and a union representative on Monday. She would not give me any details except that it was SERIOUS, which is what worries me most, and she would pay me for my time (odd but nice). I asked if it was about a patient (which is my #1 concern) and she said no. But that's all she would tell me. I know this will be at the back of my mind all weekend long, stressing me out! This is the first time I've been asked to come in on my day off and meet with people other than her. Any ideas what it could be about?Meadow - Just reading your thread makes me want to SCREAM!! I have had "nice" bosses like that in the past, and ...OMG!!!...Sounds like your boss is offended that she has a really great employee leaving her facility going somewhere else. I sure hate it for her, but she probably have done something to help change your mind, or at least talk with you about it.And, don't you love how considerate she was?!! Took it upon herself to have a union rep. there. Didn't want to give out information except the fact that it was "serious" and gave just enough information to stress you out and have you worry about it before you get there, and she's nice enough to ruin not just part of the day you are supposed to be off, but ruin the whole day instead.Some of these bosses, other staff, ect. is the one thing that actually drove me to the point of selling all my nsg. stuff, including my stethescope on ebay. Quit my nursing job and became a stay at home mom.My dh, who is also an RN, has asked me a few times, "Well, do you miss it at all?" My answer is, well, NO I do not miss the BS and the backstabbing and lying and the ... I could go on and on and on about that aspect. And, yes, I do miss being in the ER and doing what I think was a pretty dang good job of nursing in a very busy ER with daily trauma codes, shootings, stabbings, MVCs, and the like. Even just responding here talking about my old ER position, I still have twinges missing the aspect of patient care in the ER. I have only been a nurse for 17 years and I can remember "the good old days" where the biggest part of your job was actually taking care of the people lying in the beds and stretchers, not the other BS aspect of "taking care" of the DONs and administrators and nurse managers and all the other Indian chiefs. There are way too many chiefs and not enough Indians around here. Everyone wants to be a boss, and they are all too willing to step on someone else's toes to get where they want to be. I went to nursing school to take care of patients, not to brownnose or kiss up, or whatever else you want to call it.I know I sound like I have a bad attitude, but after 17 yrs. of trying to do the "right" thing and getting penalized for not totally conforming to some little "mold" of their little clone nurse or sdomething.Long story short, it makes me think you may be getting the shaft, excuse my language. I had only one former employer do this to me, thank God! I had been off for a funeral, had a close family member pass away, and the whole time I was gone, they were going around stirring up rumors and "fact finding", which almost looked like a witch hunt after he fact. They realized their facts were not so factual, and said so, but I wasn't about to stay there.Good luck, and keep us posted.Anne, RNC
Meadow - Just reading your thread makes me want to SCREAM!! I have had "nice" bosses like that in the past, and ...OMG!!!...
Sounds like your boss is offended that she has a really great employee leaving her facility going somewhere else. I sure hate it for her, but she probably have done something to help change your mind, or at least talk with you about it.
And, don't you love how considerate she was?!! Took it upon herself to have a union rep. there. Didn't want to give out information except the fact that it was "serious" and gave just enough information to stress you out and have you worry about it before you get there, and she's nice enough to ruin not just part of the day you are supposed to be off, but ruin the whole day instead.
Some of these bosses, other staff, ect. is the one thing that actually drove me to the point of selling all my nsg. stuff, including my stethescope on ebay. Quit my nursing job and became a stay at home mom.
My dh, who is also an RN, has asked me a few times, "Well, do you miss it at all?" My answer is, well, NO I do not miss the BS and the backstabbing and lying and the ... I could go on and on and on about that aspect. And, yes, I do miss being in the ER and doing what I think was a pretty dang good job of nursing in a very busy ER with daily trauma codes, shootings, stabbings, MVCs, and the like. Even just responding here talking about my old ER position, I still have twinges missing the aspect of patient care in the ER. I have only been a nurse for 17 years and I can remember "the good old days" where the biggest part of your job was actually taking care of the people lying in the beds and stretchers, not the other BS aspect of "taking care" of the DONs and administrators and nurse managers and all the other Indian chiefs. There are way too many chiefs and not enough Indians around here. Everyone wants to be a boss, and they are all too willing to step on someone else's toes to get where they want to be. I went to nursing school to take care of patients, not to brownnose or kiss up, or whatever else you want to call it.
I know I sound like I have a bad attitude, but after 17 yrs. of trying to do the "right" thing and getting penalized for not totally conforming to some little "mold" of their little clone nurse or sdomething.
Long story short, it makes me think you may be getting the shaft, excuse my language. I had only one former employer do this to me, thank God! I had been off for a funeral, had a close family member pass away, and the whole time I was gone, they were going around stirring up rumors and "fact finding", which almost looked like a witch hunt after he fact. They realized their facts were not so factual, and said so, but I wasn't about to stay there.
Good luck, and keep us posted.
Anne, RNC
uscstu4lfe
467 Posts
this sounds serious, especially when your rep will be there. i can't believe she said it was serious, but would not tell you what it was about - what a drama queen.
NurseCard, ADN
2,850 Posts
I'm curious too as to whether you told them you were "sick" or whether you flat out told them that you had to work your other job.
I hope it goes okay. If you lose this job, just remember that you have that one that is closer to home! You still have a job! :) Try not to stress too much...
Batman24
1,975 Posts
Your boss isn't nice at all. You don't call an employee and tell them they are scheduled for a meeting and not give them any details. She is passive aggressive and this was meant to make you worry.
I wouldn't step one foot into that meeting without being told why it was called. Call your boss, HR or your union rep for the details. If they don't provide them then don't go. They are trying to blindside you and I would have none of it. Shame on them.
nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN
1 Article; 2,043 Posts
Me too. Sounds like they are PO'd you're going to PT, so they are going to find a reason to make you miserable enough to quit, or fire you for some imagined infraction...
And no, that's not just in nursing, I used to see the same crap in computers all the time...."Oh, you've given me a 4 week notice, how nice, you're fired and security's here to walk you out...by the way, we've packed all your stuff up so you don't have to go back to your cube..."