Terminated over the phone at night

[sweetnurse63, BSN, RN]

I was a prn float nurse working at a LTC facility and I was scheduled to work last weekend and was cancelled both nights, thought something was strange, so I called staffing and i was told that i needed to speak to someone from HR, long story short; recieved a call from a person from HR close to 9pm at night from an unrecognizable number stating that I was being removed from the schedule and that management talked it over and decided that I had weak management skills, I was told that it was not my clinical skills that was the problem, I asked what specifically am i being accused of and could not get a clear answere except a situation that she brought up that occured last year in which i was not at fault, I never received an evaluation and I feel that i am being dismissed unfairly not truly knowing the exact reason why i was asked to leave, it seems like someone should have at least discussed with me the managements skills that i needed to improve upon, no communication between myself and managers what so ever, I am so disappointed in the way i was informed of managements' decision, it is as if i didn't even matter, nothing both coldness. So, I had to encourage myself in the midst of tears rolling down my face realizing that nurses need to have tuff skin to survive such a cut-throat, stab in the back profession while remaining professional with a caring attitude, Not all management is the same, I believe there are some who really care about their staff.

[caliotter3]

Something stinks about this. I would not dwell on it. Instead, invest your energy in finding a better-run facility.

[sweetnurse63, BSN, RN]

Thanks, i feel the same way.

[CathyLew]

that is too bad. If you were prn, they probably don't have to give you any notice or any reason. It may just be budget cuts on their end... and nothing to do with you

[belgarion]

"Poor management skills" is one of those generic reasons some mangers use when they can't find a specific reason to get rid of someone. The telephone termination is a highly unprofessional tactic used by managers who don't have the guts to look an employee in the eye and tell them they are fired.

REAL companies, even health care facilities, have strict rules regarding the way terminations are handled including face to face meetings, usually with both the superisor and an HR person present. The reasons may still be vague but at least there is an appearance of a process in place.

As Caliotter said, something stinks. While getting fired always sucks you should consider that you should consider yourself fortunate you didn't invest any more of your life in a place as poorly run as this.

[kcmylorn]

I am not suprised. That's the way it is in LTC- a revolving door. It's that way in any civilian healthcare institution now a days and has been for the past 4 years. When and how is someone or a department of someone's going to stop this reckless destruction of professional reputations, self esteem and employment. Go to your state's Unemployment office and file for unemployment. Bring any and all your documentation with you. Then make a complaint to your state's Department of Labor. Examine your particulars( age, race- the 5 protected areas) and see if you can file a complaint with the EEOC. Unemployment WILL ask the LTC facility and fine them, keep them on the Dept of Labor radar for excessive and questionable termination. If I have my facts straight- EmployERs now have to pay $15,000/EmployEE in unemployment insurance(this is up from $7,500) and their premium will increase because of this termination- I think the increase was instituted to deter employERs from firing and laying off, getting rid of employEEs during this recession/ adding to the high unemployment numbers. File a complaint with the State Deptm't of Labor will also make this facility be watched. The EEOC WILL investigate- they have to investigate every complaint they get- They will send in their Lawyers( this I know from past experience)If the EEOC can prove the case- they take the facility to court- sweet!! Watch your mail- you may get mistakenly mailed a COBRA letter- I did( I was a per deim and not entitled to health benefits The fools at the hospital LIED to the Unemployment/State DOL, told them I quit. The COBRA letter stated"TERMINATED" I got my unemployment checks!!. My crime- I had a temporary full time position and a per deim position to make ends meet. The per deim found out about the temp FT and fired me Both positions were nursing position one was a desk job and the perdeim was in a hospital. I was being called to come in on days and time the hospital knew I was working the other job. The management/administrators/CEO are BAS+++DS now a days) Good luck and don't be ashamed to go to unemployment. That is what it's there for!!

[kcmylorn]

sweetnurse63- this LTC facility wouldn't happen to be in Burlington County NJ? NJ has a bad reputation for diong this to it's nurses.

[79Tango]

It is not at all unprofessional to Term someone over the phone. Actually getting fired over the phone is a blessing! Ive posted on this subject before but will do it again.

Would you rather have gotten dressed, driven to work and then called into the bosses office for a closed door meeting? You would have all your co-workers whispering and gossiping only to see you coming out in tears and doing the walk of shame.

It sounds like the decsion was already made so it makes no point to argue or fight for your job. If it was up to the agency they probably wouldve kept you there forever.. None of their people would get fired--ever! I know it hurts but try to look at this as a new opportunity.

[Turd Ferguson]

It is not at all unprofessional to Term someone over the phone. Actually getting fired over the phone is a blessing! Ive posted on this subject before but will do it again.

Would you rather have gotten dressed, driven to work and then called into the bosses office for a closed door meeting? You would have all your co-workers whispering and gossiping only to see you coming out in tears and doing the walk of shame.

It sounds like the decsion was already made so it makes no point to argue or fight for your job. If it was up to the agency they probably wouldve kept you there forever.. None of their people would get fired--ever! I know it hurts but try to look at this as a new opportunity.

If you were being told you had cancer, would you like to be told over the phone? Or would you like to get dressed, drive to the doctor's office, and be told face to face behind closed doors? People are going to talk about you either way.

Some things just need to be done in person.

[79Tango]

Hey Turd--Getting Terminated from an Agency job is not the same as being told you have Cancer...

Maybe they didnt want her back on the premises.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

Hey Turd--Getting Terminated from an Agency job is not the same as being told you have Cancer...

Maybe they didnt want her back on the premises.

She wasn't agency, she was prn.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

Yes it's happened to me over the phone.

As to the argument above, whether it's in person or not, let me ask this:

whatever happened to common courtesy and giving people a chance to have a voice or have their say?

In our society today, workers - usually valuable workers - are thrown away like garbage. I myself have worked for large teaching hospitals, given my all, stayed back for the patients and nobody gives a s**t in the end. Nobody even says a simple thank you anymore.

Do not use any of these people as referees. Just try to look ahead to the future re work. Get your resume re-vamped and apply for other jobs like crazy everywhere - try nursing agencies, home health, everywhere.

Let us know what happens to you so you don't drop off the radar.

Good luck.