They Changed My Resignation To Being Fired

[Aggie610]

I hope it's okay to post about this here. I am only a 1.5 year nurse, and due to moving away, I had to look for a new job (left my old job on great terms). I picked up a job as a PRN but the training schedule was hectic and I found myself there about 4 to 5x a week. I discussed this with the educator and manager several times, but little was done. I never did anything wrong I guess, but I didn't do enough to manage the vigorous training schedule. I had to call out twice.

In the one month of my training, I experienced a lot of lateral violence aka nurse bullying. Many times nurses would argue over who was to be working with me that day. A few of them refused to train new nurses and I was moved around a lot. Other times my preceptor made me do everything for her while she sat around chatting. She even asked me to do tasks for other nurses such as start fluids or do admissions, again while they all sat around chatting together. I finally decided to not complete the training and I turned in my resignation letter. My manager was upset with me. Later on that day I got an email I was fired. There were a few other things they did to make me feel unwelcomed and bullied, but I tried to brush it off and complete everything. It finally became too much to handle. I feel really down about why they want to attempt to hurt my career like this, because nothing I did really hurts them. At least that's how I see it. I knew I couldn't complete the training and I let them know. That should have been the end of it right? Not sure. 

[Beausoleil]

First of all, I’m very sorry for what you’re experiencing. Obviously there are two sides to this story and I’m only hearing your side, but that doesn’t change the fact that you are feeling down and are in need of a shoulder…or maybe just a different perspective? What I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around is you receiving an email terminating you after you submitted your letter of resignation. So, I guess what I want to know is: 

• To whom did you submit your resignation (your manager or HR)? Did you give notice or was it effective immediately?

• From whom did you receive the termination email (your manager or HR) and what did it say? Were you given a reason? Did the email acknowledge the fact that you’d already resigned?

• Did you have any negative performance reviews or disciplinary issues?

I hope you don’t feel like I’m bombarding you. I’m really just trying to get a better sense of the events that lead to you being fired after you quit! 

[John2018]

That is rough, anyone would easily get burnout in that kind of work environment, really sorry that you went through all that but what happened in the middle, from the time you have submitted your resignation letter and upon receiving an email that you got fired. There must be an explanation with that. Anyways, I hope you find the most suitable place where you can work properly,

[xbananachipsx, BSN, RN]

Keep a paper trail of when you submitted your letter of resignation to when they notified you of getting fired.

depending on your governing BON - either the employer or you have to report that you got fired. seek legal advice - if you have nursing Liability Insurance I advise legal counsel.

you left a toxic environment and they're trying to be petty and punish you. I pray you don't ever end up in my position. feel free to e-mail me if you wanna talk some more. [email protected]

[PollywogNP, ADN, BSN, MSN, LPN, NP]

3 hours ago, xbananachipsx said:

depending on your governing BON - either the employer or you have to report that you got fired. seek legal advice - if you have nursing liability insurance I advise legal counsel.

 

I have never heard being fired is reportable to BON in any state I have had license. What would be the purpose?

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

4 hours ago, xbananachipsx said:

depending on your governing BON - either the employer or you have to report that you got fired. seek legal advice - if you have nursing liability insurance I advise legal counsel.

Some states ask if you've ever been terminated when you renew your license. But to directly report a termination unless there was some reason the BON should know is unnecessary, and the facility would report that

[heron, ASN, RN]

I wonder if you can make a case to collect unemployment? I suppose it would depend on the documentation you can provide.

[xbananachipsx, BSN, RN]

11 hours ago, PollywogNP said:

I have never heard being fired is reportable to BON in any state I have had license. What would be the purpose?

Nurse Beth had a post about it: 

I'm due for renewing my CA RN license at the end of the year, so I can't quite recall the jargon.

My NP relative stated every time she renews her license she has to report that she had disciplinary action at work (legal case, but didn't involve the BON. she's in CA), even though the case was aeons ago. 

So termination is technically disciplinary action by employer. 

10 hours ago, heron said:

I wonder if you can make a case to collect unemployment? I suppose it would depend on the documentation you can provide.

Good question. If anything based on the mental distress, disability is more likely obtainable. 

[kp2016]

I have worked at a facility where I personally saw management refused to accept letters of resignation and fired the RN's instead. While I agree it wasn't entirely unfair to end their employment based on their actions / work performance insisting on listing them as fired seemed abusive to nurses who had not done anything that the BON would be even remotely interested in. 

I am not in any way suggesting you should lie to a BON or on your renewal. But, There was no Disciplinary Action or Performance Plan given to you and based on what on what you have stated they are simply retaliating against you for your decision to resign. I would personally be of the opinion that you resigned while in good standing as the job was not a good match for you. 

When asked about the job in your next job interview I would state that you assume that they have listed as not for rehire based on the fact that they were very unhappy with you for resigning. If your account is anywhere near accurate they will not be "reporting you" to your BON as that would require that they actually detail behavior or practice that violates the Nurse Practice act or somehow endangered your patients. I have actually told a manager that she would not hear good things about me if she contacted Employer X as we did not see eye to eye and I resigned as I felt their department was unsafe and did not follow establish policy and standards. New Manager told me having interviewed me and read my references she was confident I was a good nurse and would be an asset to their department and had no interest in the opinion of Employer X.  

Obviously I am a nurse not a lawyer but that is the position I would go with. I would not pay money to get a legal position (unless you you do in fact hear from the BON) on something I don't think is ever likely to go any further.

Count yourself lucky to be done with this horrible unit. Best of Luck!