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.
Specializes in ER, ICU, Neuro, Ortho, Med/Surg, Travele.
I have worked both union and non union facilities. If you have a strong union, with nurses who are involved and give a darn about each other it's great. But, the bigger issue is that there are alot of us who have been through similiar situations. The sad part is that too often instead of hanging together and supporting each other, we start to turn on each other.
There are those of us, who are been in this profession long enough to have seen quite a few changes. Some good, some not so good. What I don't like is how hospitals and admin. feel like they can force us to change our documentation. I have seen it happen also. I have seen good nurses talked about behind their backs, and negativity be so bad that these individuals leave rather then put up with it.
I need to stop reading this thread too. It has evoked alot of emotion, most of it less than positive.
Anyway, for those of you stuck in impossible situations, hang tough. Remember, what goes around, comes around.
Reading over many of these posts leads me to the beginning of an understanding why nursing lacks the respect it should get.
The OP has the not unreasonable excuse of being young and inexperienced.
I doubt that's the case with others who are going off on the room mate and manager.
Few seem to understand that it's unfair, putting it mildly, to expect another to lie for you, as the OP did with her roomie. If the lie is discovered, the person telling the supporting lie is also branded.
No one, it seems, has bothered to stop and think about who gets extra work when a nurse doesn't make a scheduled shift. A replacement often isn't as used to the floor, etc, and that means more burden on the regular nurses. They may not get more patients, but they get more acute patients, do all the admits, discharges, etc.
Managers have a duty to establish and enforce workplace rules and policies. I'll bet that most everyone on the floor at the time in question assumed that the OP wasn't sick, and was simply using a false excuse to go to her preferred job, leaving the staff and patients w/o her services. This was as obvious as the heavy drinker calling in with the "flu" the day following an after-hours birthday celebration.
To let such a charade go is to invite more, leaving aside entirely the issue of whether pay is due.
"To let such a charade go is to invite more, leaving aside entirely the issue of whether pay is due."
Not to excuse what I did, but let me explain that this practice is common and has been going on for a long time. I was told as a pre-grad that if I wanted a day off I should call in sick. But I didn't do that. If I needed time off I would request it in advance or if the schedule was already made I always tried to find someone to pick-up my shift, if I couldn't I would have no choice but to reschedule personal affairs. I have had to do this on several occasions. I have sacrificed a lot for this job personally.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, we get sick calls fairly often and even 6 over the course of one weekend. What did the manager do? She told us during a staff meeting that junior staff shouldn't be calling in sick so often (like we have no right to because we are young) and posted a graph showing the spike in sick calls for all to see. During my time there I have learned that people call in sick over the holidays every year. People pick up OT shifts and then call in sick for their next scheduled shift. People do not show up for work and say they forgot they were scheduled or they simply don't show up at all. People pick up day shifts when they are doing a night the day before. People call in sick when they know they have to be resource. People call in sick when they find out they have to work in the SSDU. People call in sick when they find out they have to work with so-and-so in the SSDU. People call in sick because they don't want to work with agency. People call in sick because they do not like their assignment. People call in sick because the floor is heavy. There are certain people who call in sick ALL THE TIME after they have a bad shift, its almost predictable. Yet all these things are/were excused/ignored by the manager. I think she is smart enough to know WHATS UP! It doesn't take a rocket scientist. This practice has been going on for so long and yes I made a big mistake and I have learned from it, but I honestly believe that I was made as an example for everyone else. The junior nurse who is leaving for another job is made an example of for all to see. This practice has been going on for such a long time, even before I started working there and the manager just brushed it under the rug. She never makes follow-up phone calls. In my case she did. I am sure no one will be calling in sick anymore once they find out I was fired for doing the exact same thing they do.
I doubt my co-workers were upset that I called in sick. I do not call in often they know that. Once in a blue moon when I really need it. They know I am a good nurse and a team player and if I call in sick it is probably for a good reason. Not because I am hung over. I know what it is like to be short-staffed and not be replaced and have to carry an extra patient load. I remember that day clearly, it was the day I had a break-down in the supply closet. I worry my co-workers will be short-staffed if I call in and that's why I suck it up and show up to work everyday as scheduled and that's why I called in so early the night in question so they had the entire night to find a replacement. I have received phone calls and emails from former co-workers that support me wholeheartedly. Although I do have the suspicion that yes there may have been 1 or 2 that were none too pleased that I had another job, for whatever reason, and they have a "special" relationship with the manager. The point is my replacement was a senior staff member who is exceptional at his job. I have worked when we are short-staffed because someone called in sick and was NOT REPLACED and I did not hold a "grudge" against them. I held a "grudge" against my manager who chose not to replace that staff member in order to save money or didn't close the beds.
I know you must be waiting in suspense. I was terminated today and reported to the college. They will take further action as necessary. I was surprisingly OK throughout the whole meeting. I didn't even cry, imagine that. Emotionless. I cleared out my locker beforehand so I wouldn't have to face all my co-workers. I want to forget this nightmare and move on.
i was just catching up on this thread....
alls i can say what a buch of douche bags... reporting you to the college??? what?? you aren't in school anymore.... you have nothing to do with the school... i have never heard such a thing.... what do they expect the college to do??
go find a better job and put it behind you... i am sorry this happened to you....
alls i can say what a buch of douche bags... reporting you to the college??? what?? you aren't in school anymore.... you have nothing to do with the school... i have never heard such a thing.... what do they expect the college to do??
go find a better job and put it behind you... i am sorry this happened to you....
The College there in Canada is like the Board of Nursing here...
neurorn6
223 Posts
I have worked both union and non union facilities. If you have a strong union, with nurses who are involved and give a darn about each other it's great. But, the bigger issue is that there are alot of us who have been through similiar situations. The sad part is that too often instead of hanging together and supporting each other, we start to turn on each other.
There are those of us, who are been in this profession long enough to have seen quite a few changes. Some good, some not so good. What I don't like is how hospitals and admin. feel like they can force us to change our documentation. I have seen it happen also. I have seen good nurses talked about behind their backs, and negativity be so bad that these individuals leave rather then put up with it.
I need to stop reading this thread too. It has evoked alot of emotion, most of it less than positive.
Anyway, for those of you stuck in impossible situations, hang tough. Remember, what goes around, comes around.