what do you think?fired for a comment

Published

Well today the charge nurse an R.N was doing her job and adm. walked by and said "Don't forget the meeting today" The nurse replied "Oh I forgot my brain is off today haha." .................................She was fired for that comment.(I was there to hear and see this)

The Adm. is a very "gossipy" kind of guy at the end of the day I overheard him talking and said " jane do is fired, you know what she said to me? Her brain was off ....imagine a Nurse dealing with peoples lives and her brain is off."

From my point of view she was not being serious she was busy doing her job. I'm not getting involved but I just wanted to see what others think. Is this normal? Does this happen all the time? I'm scared for my job now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Something else is going on that you don't know about. There is NO WAY that a nurse can be fired for a comment like this. How many times have we said offhandedly, "Oh my goodness. Dummy me! I guess I left my brain at home today!"

If the adm. is shooting for her to get fired, he must have a list of reasons why. If not, then the nurse that got fired has a nice shot at suing.

My advice to you (not that you are asking for it or need it) is to steer clear!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

I agree with Canes, there is a lot more to this than this comment! Sounds like it could be a personal thing between the administrator and the charge nurse...or there was something else they had an eye on her for, but no way was she fired over just this remark! Absolutely not! Otherwise, like Canes also pointed out...I hope she has a good attorney because she can sue the pants off of this guy and the hospital!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

no snark here - but why is it that the comment would be the "straw" that broke the camel's back? even if they were gunning for her, the comment is innocuous enough...its not like she told him she didn't want to go to his effing meeting anyway!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
no snark here - but why is it that the comment would be the "straw" that broke the camel's back? even if they were gunning for her, the comment is innocuous enough...its not like she told him she didn't want to go to his effing meeting anyway!

I'm not saying that the comment was the "straw" at all!!!! More like some ridiculous excuse he is trying to use to get rid of her instead of whatever the real reason may be!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

ditto canes and diva. they must have other "things" on her. Otherwise I would get fired almost daily for my "comments". Like the others said, stay out of it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My 2 cents: In most states you don't need a reason to fire an employee so I don't agree that the fired employee has strong grounds for a lawsuit. Agree that the admin or someone probably has another (or other) reasons for wanting her out of there. It's good that you're staying out of it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PCCN.

if its an at will state can't they fire you for no reason at all?

stuff like this makes me think i better start duct taping my mouth.

I feel like I've said too much already...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Even at will states need to have reasons to deal with the unemployment hearings- no facility wants to pay unemployment, and having worked in TX for 17 years, in LTC and acute care, LTAC, alcohol/drug rehab and psych, they ALL had to have enough write ups for valid things in order to fire someone. During the initial probationary period, they can do with less- however after that, they have to have reasons. :) I've heard administrators and DONs going to unemployment hearings with documentation to support the termination of an employee and they win. You have to have reasons even in an at-will state. They can't just walk in and play duck-duck-goose, and can whoever ends up 'goosed' :D

Just a suggestion to the OP- don't talk about this at work. Questioning someone's reasons can be construed as incredibly problematic, and make it much more likely that if in the future there's a question about whether or not to write you up, you lose..... jme

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
if its an at will state can't they fire you for no reason at all?

stuff like this makes me think i better start duct taping my mouth.

I feel like I've said too much already...

Oh crap, JR! I think you might have said enough to have a full blown report sent to your state's BON and have a full investigation launched just from this comment.

If I were you, I would go ahead and contact an attorney, start a job search and hope like heck that you don't lose your license from this very post.

I wish you the best. Good luck. We all understand...:jester:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical Surgical.

I think as well that there is a lot more going on here than you know about. It's been my experience that an employee who gets fired for something like that has done something about 3 or 4 months ago that made a boss look bad, especially to a physician. They bide their time and then pounce.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PCCN.
Oh crap, JR! I think you might have said enough to have a full blown report sent to your state's BON and have a full investigation launched just from this comment.

:lol2::lol2::lol2:

big brother is watching :-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion