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 med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.
I have had this happen to me as well and agree with all of the above. I would like to add one more thing....each time I have had a meeting like this (twice), at the end, TPTB handed me a paper that listed everything I'd done wrong (allegedly), and I was told I had to sign it. If they do this to you, DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING! If they force the issue, either write "signature under duress" or write that you disagree with what the paper says and then sign, if you sign at all.
I do not work in a union. I gave 2 weeks notice at an old job and was told by this loo-la of an NM, "You know you have to give 3 weeks, right?"
I knew I didn't and showed her where it said so in the contract.
She then said, "I'd be real careful going home tonight if I were you, traffic can get real NASTY about 1900."
I told her then and there that that would be my last day.
They had the gall to call the next morning and ask where I was.
Specializes in ER, ICU, Neuro, Ortho, Med/Surg, Travele.
I got the same kind of call on Thursday, only could I come in on Fri. morning (interesting how I work Fri. night) only 2 things different. Not a union facility and I had given my resignation 3 weeks earlier. Here we are mandated to give a month's notice. I go in thinking it's an exit interview but NO!!!. It's a she said, she said (and I have to say it AMBUSH). No complaints about patient care but complaint about reading a book. Now mind you this is night shift and during down time also everyone reads or studies (including the she saids). Long story short, I felt attacked and maligned. I've been a nurse for over 10yrs and I have never gone through anything like this. This felt like a personal attack. So I let them know what I felt including that this was a pack of lies and a personal attack. That the individual involved likes to gossip and back stab coworkers. This is why I am starting to travel, I currently live in KY and the back stabbing, bad mouthing stuff is unprofessional. I agree with the other writers in that you need to be prepared and not to let this worry you. There are facilites and managers out there who will appreciate you and your skills. This is when I miss the NE. At least people told you off to your face and then it was over and done. None of this smile to face and then stab you in the back. When are we as a profession going to but an end to this kind of behavior? Until we do others will have to go through the same thing.
I never sign anything I don't agree with and they can't make u even if they say signing doesn't mean you agree with what's being said your only signing that it was shown to you. DON'T SIGN. I
I never sign anything I don't agree with and they can't make u even if they say signing doesn't mean you agree with what's being said your only signing that it was shown to you. DON'T SIGN. If anything just write a rebuttal, but never sign their version. Ask for a copy which you are entitled to. I would also say that if you feel attacked and alone with no support in the room including your union rep, ask for the meeting to be rescheduled at a time when you can bring along someone for support, federal law allows this. I can't remember the name of the law but your union rep should if they are worth anything. Again good luck to you.
Okay let me get the facts right. Your presently working 2 jobs, one fulltime, one part time. You were scheduled to work both places and choose to call out sick to the full time job. If these facts r right then this is my opinion.
You shouldn't have started the part time job until your obligation to the full time job was fulfilled unless you were willing to fulfill your obligation to both, which seems difficult. That being said why did you give a months notice. Although I think most would believe two weeks notice would be adequate, or whatever time you have left for vacation some people use as a rule, ie if you have 3 weeks vacation, give three weeks notice. My rule of thumb since have been recently shown the door is that I look out for what is best for myself. If I find another job and I feel no obligation towards my previous employer I give one weeks notice. Now I know I'll hear a lot about that but remember most in most states you are an employee at will which means without any just cause your employer can tell you to pack your bags. So seeing as an employer has no regard for my financial obligations I now do what is best for me. That includes not worrying if they have a relacement for me as I need to worry about my peace of mind and my families welfare.Enough said there.
Now if you called out sick in order to honor your obligation at the other work place you may be in trouble but my question would be do they know this or are they going on a fishing expedition. In saying that when you go into this meeting be careful of the questions they ask you. If the question doesn't refer to exactly, and I mean exactly what happened you can answer honestly in your favor. For instance, did you call out sick? If you did then you have to answer honestly yes. If they ask did you call out sick in order to work your other job? Then you have to examine the question is that truly what you did. Or was one job an am shift that you called out sick to and by the time the pm shift came around you felt as if you could go to work then you could honestly answer no to that question. Many would say this is lying but it's not it's dissecting the question prior to giving an immediate answer. I myself have called out sick because I felt to exhausted to go into work that morning, but after having slept in for an hour or two longer felt as if I could now go to work. I've even been tempted to call back and say you know what I just needed a few more hours of sleep I feel much better do you need me. Of course I didn't, because that wouldn't have been understood. So anyway maybe this mess you caused yourself because your trying to satisfy to many people. You should have negotiated your start date with your new employer based in your notice date with your old employer, and again I'm sure I'll hear about this, without any regard for your old employer unless of course you felt you would one day return there. There is nothing wrong with putting your needs first, in fact that unfortunately is becoming the american way.
Good luck and remember only answer the questions and don't expand on your answer unless prompted to. Keep it to yes, no, only.And if the question isn't asked correctly you can answer no without any guilt feelings.
Hello - you have some valid points, some of which I had not thought of yet. First, and lately, one that is becoming more important to me after more than 2 years of seeing my Cardiologist every 2 months, enough BP and cardiac meds to choke a horse, and probably having to adjust to the fact that for so long I worked 2 jobs, for a LONG time and didn't consider what was in MY best interests at the time. Hopefully I'll learn this one before it's too late.
Another good point is to give them the answer to the question asked, not more, to not elaborate or expand on the answers unless necessary. I tend to forget this and have verbal diarrhea.
I have called in to a nursing job, while I was working 6 12 hour shifts a week for quite a while, not just flat out said that it was because I was tired, but I will not, if I feel very strongly about it and that I could possibly make a mistake or an error in judgement that may harm a patient, I do not go in because if I did and I harmed or killed a patient due to an error I could have prevented - the SBON would not be happy and some facilities would hang a staff out to dry.
Anytime your manager wants to meet with you and HR, it is a SERIOUS situation. My guess is that this is not about calling in. They may have some other issue with you, possibly from gossip from those nasty little coworkers we all have to tolerate at work. You have a union rep, that's great. But you might also want to have a witness. On the other hand, since you are working prior to the meetiing, that indicates a lessor serious level than if you had to meet with them prior to the next shift.
I just got ambushed by a meeting, held at a very bad time for me so that I was at my worst and could barely function when they shocked me with details. Asked ahead what it was about & also asked if I needed to take a witness or attorney but they wouldn't tell me squat. Should have walked out once I knew the issue and not dealt with meeting without consulting with an attorney first.
Others have said don't sign anything. Why? What is wrong iwth signing with the statement that you do not agree with the listed info, or some such statement? Why do they push you so hard to sign? They have a witness so they have proof that they "discussed" the issue, when in fact what they usually do is "tell" you the issue and not listen to your side. Isn't that needed to be considered a discussion?
Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.
What???? That's AWFUL! Who does she think she is - a member of the Mafia or something? Sheeesh?
I have no idea, but it scared me and it made me mad to boot. How DARE she?!?! I was smart and did not retaliate, which she wanted me to do, so that she would have something to say to the DON. I just hit her where it hurt the most and left. I had a witness, a signed statement by that witness of what happened, a copy in the DON's box, and a copy for myself and the witness, who locked hers up so it would not "get gone".
After the phone call the next morning, which my DH handled, I never heard another peep from them.
Specializes in ER, ICU, Neuro, Ortho, Med/Surg, Travele.
The truth of the matter is that administration feels that they can threaten nurses rather you work in a union facility and especially if you don't. Do we work in a career that has life and death issues, absolutely. But that does not mean that you belittle your staff or intimiate them. It is my humble opinion that if management would spend more time on the unit/floor getting their hands dirty and less time in meetings then problems would be dealt with quickly and more professionally. The atmosphere that promotes gossiping and generally poor behavior is unacceptable in our profession. Too often we are put in a position that makes us feel threatened and worried about our livelihood. Ego's need to be checked at the door. If we have difficulites with staff members or with an incident that may or maynot have occurred then they need to be discussed in a positive not negative manner. I have seen, too often, that it is or could be about power. Which is stupid to begin with. I have had the unfortunate opportunity to see new nurses come on to a floor/unit with the "I'm here to save the day" attitude. And yes this is the attitude that often drives more experienced nurses "nuts". There has to be a solution. My opinion is that when we all stand together and take control of our profession then things will change. There has to be something we can do to protect ourselves and our fellow nurses. And yes I know that most managers are nurses, but it just seems that once they leave floor nursing, with our work loads and schedules that their attitudes change and usually not for the better.
The truth of the matter is that administration feels that they can threaten nurses rather you work in a union facility and especially if you don't. Do we work in a career that has life and death issues, absolutely. But that does not mean that you belittle your staff or intimiate them. It is my humble opinion that if management would spend more time on the unit/floor getting their hands dirty and less time in meetings then problems would be dealt with quickly and more professionally. The atmosphere that promotes gossiping and generally poor behavior is unacceptable in our profession. Too often we are put in a position that makes us feel threatened and worried about our livelihood. Ego's need to be checked at the door. If we have difficulites with staff members or with an incident that may or maynot have occurred then they need to be discussed in a positive not negative manner. I have seen, too often, that it is or could be about power. Which is stupid to begin with. I have had the unfortunate opportunity to see new nurses come on to a floor/unit with the "I'm here to save the day" attitude. And yes this is the attitude that often drives more experienced nurses "nuts". There has to be a solution. My opinion is that when we all stand together and take control of our profession then things will change. There has to be something we can do to protect ourselves and our fellow nurses. And yes I know that most managers are nurses, but it just seems that once they leave floor nursing, with our work loads and schedules that their attitudes change and usually not for the better.
I just have one comment for you -- THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! ThHANK YOU!!
At the hospital where I work, if you resign and miss a day at work before that date, you lose all sick and vacation pay when you leave. They may want to explain that your last check will not include those days.
:yeah:
AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN
2 Articles; 1,291 Posts
I have had this happen to me as well and agree with all of the above. I would like to add one more thing....each time I have had a meeting like this (twice), at the end, TPTB handed me a paper that listed everything I'd done wrong (allegedly), and I was told I had to sign it. If they do this to you, DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING! If they force the issue, either write "signature under duress" or write that you disagree with what the paper says and then sign, if you sign at all.
I do not work in a union. I gave 2 weeks notice at an old job and was told by this loo-la of an NM, "You know you have to give 3 weeks, right?"
I knew I didn't and showed her where it said so in the contract.
She then said, "I'd be real careful going home tonight if I were you, traffic can get real NASTY about 1900."
I told her then and there that that would be my last day.
They had the gall to call the next morning and ask where I was.