ok i dont really know where to start so i will try to make this short and sweet. i was terminated after nine years on the job on thursday due to "excessive absenteeism". mind you i have not called off work since october of 2007.
when all of this started i was pulled into the managers office and given a paper to sign that basically said that if i called in again i was terminated. she just happened to skip the offical protocol and i was never given a verbal or written warning.
i signed it and went on about my business. i asked her SEVERAL times for a copy and was never given one. that is just how she is, will tell you what you want to hear and then never give you what you asked for.
in january (i had been off for a while due to surgery) i was called into her office again. she and her "asst" basically bereated me and accused me of refusing to discharge a patient, among other things. she used the "f" word several times screaming in my face telling me she wished she could fire me then, and that all of my co-workers hated me. i ended up in the hospital for chest pain and svt that night. i was to work the next day and i used my "personal" (safe) day for that.
after that i reported her to our hr department and had written about 14 pages in response to her one. i had had enough of her and a few others bullying ways, constant comments about me personally, heavy assignments, etc.
after that i just put it all behind me. went to work my two days and shut my mouth. after a while things seemed to be going ok......
about a month ago she told me she wanted me to do our facilitys program which had to do with extra education and things to get a pay raise, and also to be on the unit leadership committee and pain resource nurse. i really felt that things were looking up and getting better. she also wanted me to take the pccn exam also. when she approached me with this i asked her about the absenteeism issues and if they would hold me back from doing the ladder program (you cannot be in any disiplinary probation to do it). she flat at looked at me and told me NO that that was over with and i was out of that. about two weeks ago i asked her for copies of those dates that i had missed. she said again that I DIDNT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
well, this week i got very sick very suddenly. tonsils the size of golf balls, fever of 102. would you go to work? this was wednesday that i called off.
on thursday at 3pm i got a call from her and she said sorry to tell you this but i have to terminate you. heres the number to hr if you have any questions.
i point blank asked her why she told me i had nothing to worry about and she FLAT OUT DENIED
I would just like to say in regard to your situation that I am sorry and i have been in the same boat. I was recently terminated from a supervisor position because nurses who I supervised created lies and of course the DON believed them. Then again, the DON is one who can't stick to one story and plays the RN's against each other. However, in lieu of your situation, please do not be down on your self. For some reason, nurses like to make it hard for each other and I think the whole absenteeism excuse is that, an excuse. If a company wants to keep a good nurse, they will do anything to do just that keep them happy. When one door closes another opens and please just hang in there. I am sure that you have plenty of great experience to land a job that you really enjoy and that you won't mind going to everyday. I know it bites being fired, but take it as a learning experience and move on. There are places that do appreciate a great nurse!!
I think you made your mistake when you did not get the hint months ago and go job hunting then. You hung around to get fired when you should have been proactive about finding a new job. Now you have the onus of having been fired when you look for a job. Learn from your mistake and be prepared to have some uncomfortable interviews.
I think you made your mistake when you did not get the hint months ago and go job hunting then. You hung around to get fired when you should have been proactive about finding a new job. Now you have the onus of having been fired when you look for a job. Learn from your mistake and be prepared to have some uncomfortable interviews.
Could not have said it better myself----hate to put it in back in your court, but if you have 14 pages (did I read that right) of problems. Then it was time to go then.
I am so sorry that this happened to you, but it sounds like the writing has been on the wall for some time. You knew this because you had already applied for another job.
My experience in the business world is that HR in any company will respond to legitimate complaints. That means you have a beef and specific documentation and a list of witnesses to events. Walking in with a 14 page laundry list of complaints is not something a HR rep would take seriously, especially if there were already complaints by that supervisor regarding your performance. The most graceful thing at that point is to plan an exit on YOUR TERMS (i.e. find another job).
I know it hurts--I've been there. Some folks just have a talent for wrapping superiors around thier fingers while stomping on the people working under them. This is not something exclusive to the nursing field. Just hold your head up and find that next place to practice. Institutions have thier own methods for determining who they hire--go in and knock them out at the interview AND NO MATTER WHAT, DO NOT TRASH YOUR PRIOR EMPLOYER/JOB AT THE INTERVIEW. If the question comes up about why you left your prior job, explain that you were let go due to excessive absenteeism related to a health issue that has since been resolved.
so sorry about what happened. i understand it must be very hard without a steady income. this may be your window to find something you truly love. hugs and best of luck.:icon_hug::icon_hug:
I think that you were definitely bullied at length. To make a long story short I went through a similar dynamic with a previous supervisor. I filed complaints and had numerous examples of harassment. I ended up taking a demotion. I went to nursing school and just graduated. I interviewed for a position and they asked me if I had ever been disciplined. I told the truth. I took the power away from that old supervisor. It was uncomfortable but I was able to convince the interviewers that I was their best candidate. (I turned the job down because I accepted an offer at a better organization.)
Anybody who has been around for awhile can recognize when someone was targeted unfairly. Wishing you peace and healing.
In the future never sign anything if you don't agree or proper protocol hasn't been filed. Once you signed that form they had you. Also, never leave the office before getting a copy of anything you sign because as you've seen it's hard to get a hand on at a later date.
I really think after signing this paper they were looking for a way to fire you as they accused you of things they had no actual proof of. That's always a sign you are on your way out. Once you complained to HR there was no tunring back.
Chalk this up to a good old fashioned learning experience. They were crappy people and you will move on to greener pastures. Good luck.
In my state, employers can only give the dates of employment and if you are eligible for rehire. Most applications i see ask, "may we contact this employer", and you may check yes or no. If that is the case, then i would check NO, since they already kept you from getting one job in the past.
in january (i had been off for a while due to surgery) i was called into her office again. she and her "asst" basically bereated me and accused me of refusing to discharge a patient, among other things. she used the "f" word several times screaming in my face telling me she wished she could fire me then, and that all of my co-workers hated me.
Specializes in CTICU, Rapid Response Team, telemetry.
Did you have a union there? I have not seen any mention of it, but if so they should be able to help you with this. I think it is a shame and that nurses are treated this way to frequently. Sometimes your job performance just doesn't matter to the administrators. If it did they may not be so quick to take measures like n your case. As far as a reference, where I live, they are not allowed to give the reason you left.I believe the information they can provide is minimal. I wish you good luck! Maybe this is a sign that you are due for something better?
frankly, i found hopeful's first post somewhat offensive myself.....she ASSUMED that the op had been excessively absent, and went on from there, not particularly helpful.....perhaps not to the point of NASTY, but not helpful.......and i was wondering about some others talking of getting another job, did they miss the point were she had tried, and she found out she had been given a bad reference?
LadyJRN1
65 Posts
I would just like to say in regard to your situation that I am sorry and i have been in the same boat. I was recently terminated from a supervisor position because nurses who I supervised created lies and of course the DON believed them. Then again, the DON is one who can't stick to one story and plays the RN's against each other. However, in lieu of your situation, please do not be down on your self. For some reason, nurses like to make it hard for each other and I think the whole absenteeism excuse is that, an excuse. If a company wants to keep a good nurse, they will do anything to do just that keep them happy. When one door closes another opens and please just hang in there. I am sure that you have plenty of great experience to land a job that you really enjoy and that you won't mind going to everyday. I know it bites being fired, but take it as a learning experience and move on. There are places that do appreciate a great nurse!!