termination

To the OP--it sounds to me that your privacy was violated as evidenced by your coworkers telling you you were terminated. That is a big concern as employees do have rights to confidentiality and it's a serious thing when those rights are violated. Don't assume your colleagues really know what they are talking about...they may just enjoy being the bearer of bad news, or gossip. Hang in there & good luck!

Unemployment compensation- for a nurse? To my understanding if there is a "nursing" job you could take anywhere within 50 miles of your home you have to accept it- no matter how crappy the position. (it varies state by state).

Not true. At least not in CA. And even if you take the first available job you still have a period of unemployment during the hiring process and until you get your first paycheck. Gotta buy the food and pay the rent somehow.

To the OP--it sounds to me that your privacy was violated as evidenced by your coworkers telling you you were terminated. That is a big concern as employees do have rights to confidentiality and it's a serious thing when those rights are violated.

Where is the violation? If she did something that was worth getting suspended for there is, in all likelihood, at least one witness. Admin wouldn't have to say a single solitary thing.

I am wondering about you saying that you went to work to see another employee. Are you saying that you went to work to visit someone but weren't actually scheduled to work? If this is so, this is probably a violation of your facility policy. Unless you have a legitimate reason to be at your place of employement (meeting, lab testing, education) it is NOT appropriate to go to work to visit with people who are on duty.

You are right. I used to think the same thing, that why would a nurse need unemployment benefits because there is such a demand in the field. A "comparable" job, not a "crappy" job... and you can hold out for the same salary for so many weeks, then go for 80% of the salary.... Then if you have been "blackballed" by your previous employer it may be quite difficult to find a "comparable" job in the same area of work.

I am wondering about you saying that you went to work to see another employee. Are you saying that you went to work to visit someone but weren't actually scheduled to work? If this is so, this is probably a violation of your facility policy. Unless you have a legitimate reason to be at your place of employement (meeting, lab testing, education) it is NOT appropriate to go to work to visit with people who are on duty.

I used to have my best friend, and then my fiance (now Hubs) meet me for my dinner break all the time.

You are right. I used to think the same thing, that why would a nurse need unemployment benefits because there is such a demand in the field. A "comparable" job, not a "crappy" job... and you can hold out for the same salary for so many weeks, then go for 80% of the salary.... Then if you have been "blackballed" by your previous employer it may be quite difficult to find a "comparable" job in the same area of work.

And what does one do for money in the meantime?

That's what unemployment is for, technically, but the max payable in TX is $378 a week.

GOOD luck to the OP!!!! hope it all works out...... What does OP stand for??? thanks....

TazziRN-I was responding to the OP's comment that her peers told her she had been fired.....not suspended. Yes, if she did something worthy of suspension there very well could have been witnesses, etc. However, if she were fired, and was not told by her supervisor/DON/whomever in authority that she was fired, for her to be told that by her peers rather than by her supervisor indicates there was a confidentiality breech, if indeed she was fired.

Unemployment compensation- for a nurse? To my understanding if there is a "nursing" job you could take anywhere within 50 miles of your home you have to accept it- no matter how crappy the position. (it varies state by state).

I've drawn unemployment three times as a nurse, in three different states, twice from downsizing and once from a facility closing, and in none of the cases was I forced to take any type of position. In two of them I was drawing the maximum amount of unemployment, and in one of those, I drew it for three months.

TazziRN-I was responding to the OP's comment that her peers told her she had been fired.....not suspended. Yes, if she did something worthy of suspension there very well could have been witnesses, etc. However, if she were fired, and was not told by her supervisor/DON/whomever in authority that she was fired, for her to be told that by her peers rather than by her supervisor indicates there was a confidentiality breech, if indeed she was fired.

I havent been officially fired yet but have a meeting tommorrow. I was suspended for not hanging an IV bag. (NSS)(Thursday AM) They said further offenses would result in termination. Today I was told by a peer RN who called me @ home that she was told I had a med error and the res. ended up in the hospital. I called the hosp. and they said she was d/c'd yesterday. Im not sure when she went to the hosp. but it must have been over the weekend. Now do I have a whole new issue. Can I loose my license for this? Help!

I've never seen a nurse terminated over not hanging a bag of fluids. Given a warning, yes, but suspended, no. What was the motivation of the other nurse to call you at home? Also, why was she told and not you? You should have a chance to review the error and see what led to it. Everybody makes med errors, that's how we learn. You should be counseled not punished. This whole incident stinks. I don't think you will lose your license over this, a nurse where I worked accidently killed a pt w/potassium and was remediated and keep her license and job, so don't worry too much about losing your license.

I've never seen a nurse terminated over not hanging a bag of fluids. Given a warning, yes, but suspended, no. What was the motivation of the other nurse to call you at home? Also, why was she told and not you? You should have a chance to review the error and see what led to it. Everybody makes med errors, that's how we learn. You should be counseled not punished. This whole incident stinks. I don't think you will lose your license over this, a nurse where I worked accidently killed a pt w/potassium and was remediated and keep her license and job, so don't worry too much about losing your license.

Deb- thankyou so much for your response. Im not sure about the motivation behind why the nurse called me. I got a feeling shes in on the whole thing :argue:because she was trying to get me to resign..she said "Im trying to give you an out here" plus she said she heard ADON call me and asked me what she said. How would she know ADON called me? She later said she was on her unit at the time. Needless to say Im not trusting anyone or opening my big mouth till this is resolved. A nurse called me today and said she heard I was fired because someone had to go to the hospital. So now Im wondering if they are gonna blame that on me. I called the hosp and the res has since been released. Ya know as late as 2 weeks ago the administrator was offering me bonus's to work memorial day weekend. 2 months ago I put in my notice and they(DON &ADMIN) begged me to stay. So whats changed? A bunch of their cna's just finished their school and are now LPN's making approx. 3.00 less an hour. Plus their in their 20's and I am 50 and probably not as fast. Im just so frustrated about this. I have a meeting with them tommorrow and I dont even want to go. Not sure if I need Legal representation or should bring a resignation letter or just let them fire me & try to get unemployment for the summer. Either way Im sure Ill get a bad reference. I feel like the last 2 years and my 1st 2 years as an RN have been wasted. All I did for that place Worked short, did CNA work, was charge nurse, worked 16 hrs when other nurses didnt show up, worked through breaks ( can count the # of breaks I had in 2 yrs) changed shifts, never complained, made residents feel someone cared about them, attended wakes. All this to see my own demise in the end not to mention my reputation in a small community. Signed: Honest, caring nurse:saint: living in a dog eat dog :paw:world. (I am learning:up: and hardening my heart:heartbeat as I go) thanks for reading this:yeah: