Threatened by employer

beekee · Jan 31, 2019

If they won’t back up your colleague, they also won’t back you up if needed in the future. Time to get out.

Emergent, RN · Jan 31, 2019

It sounds like this job is running its course. If I were you I would definitely be looking around.

allnurses Guide · Jan 31, 2019

I suggest you edit your post to remove any identifying information, such as your name and the sex of your boss. This board is very public and well known.

I hope it all works out.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2019

I never had individual nursing malpractice insurance until I worked for a boss whom I believed would never stand behind me. Might be a good idea for you to investigate as you look for a new job. I would also document the event exactly as you did on a legal pad (so it's obvious it can't be altered) and sign it like a nurse's note. Continue to document until you're well and safely away. I wish you the best - this sounds like a terrible situation.

Asystole RN · Jan 31, 2019

Sounds like your boss was honest.

Do not for a second ever in your career believe that your company has your best interest in mind, ever.

When things get tough the company will always, ALWAYS, choose the path that first protects itself. Sometimes you get lucky and the interests of your employer and yourself align but do not confuse that for altruism.

BTW, I always carrier malpractice insurance. It is cheap and through NSO I gained access to their malpractice library which taught me a lot about healthcare and the law. 100% worth it.

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 31, 2019

I'm with Asystole on this one. I have worked for many hospitals in my career and I have never bet my financial security on the hope that my employer would back me to such an extent that I wouldn't need to protect myself.

We should all be protecting ourselves ... always

1. Documenting appropriately -- including documenting that we have noticed our supervisors of a problem, notify the doctor, etc.

2. Having our own professional Liability Insurance. The employer's insurance covers them, not you. The insurance company's attorneys work for the insurance company, not you. The employer's attorneys work for the employer, not you. Staring to see the theme here? If push comes to shove, you will need a team of people working for YOU, not the other people.

3. I firmly believe that my employers would do their best to protect me -- but only up to a point. They are good people and would try to do what is right. But in the end, they will put their own needs and preferences ahead of mine.

I am not so naive to believe that anybody else is going to sacrifice themselves for me.

Katillac, RN · Feb 1, 2019

It seems like you feel you have an agreement, or at least have expectations of your boss: you "help run the company" and he backs you up. You thought you were part of a family, and your boss let you know that you are an employee of a business. Up to you whether that's OK with you or not.

On the positive side, if you stay you can stop worrying about helping his business. If you go the extra mile it's because you want to, not out of feeling you're doing it for the team or your boss. You get yourself good insurance, conduct yourself strictly within your nursing board's standards of practice, and go home every night having given the company a good value for what they pay you. No more, no less. For a lot of people, having "just a job" works well. Others need to feel like part of a brother/sisterhood. Nothing wrong with that. But I agree with other posters, never assume your boss will take a hit for you. If he does, great, if not, you've protected yourself.

caliotter3 · Feb 1, 2019

He was under stress when he said that, but that does not mean it is not true. Of course, that is the stance of probably 99.9% of employers. Most just don't come out and say it beforehand, that's all. If you are unnerved enough by what was said and how things appear at this point, take the advice of others and look around for that next pasture. But don't for one minute think that because someone does not say something inappropriate while in an aggravated state, that you are any more covered elsewhere, than you are at this place. No employer looks out for the peon. That is a given.

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Feb 1, 2019

19 hours ago, beekee said:
If they won’t back up your colleague, they also won’t back you up if needed in the future. Time to get out.

Agreed....it's going to be hard to run a home health business with no nurses.

CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2019

21 hours ago, Asystole RN said:
Sounds like your boss was honest.
Do not for a second ever in your career believe that your company has your best interest in mind, ever.
When things get tough the company will always, ALWAYS, choose the path that first protects itself. Sometimes you get lucky and the interests of your employer and yourself align but do not confuse that for altruism.
BTW, I always carrier malpractice insurance. It is cheap and through NSO I gained access to their malpractice library which taught me a lot about healthcare and the law. 100% worth it.

Lots of truths in this post. I will add one more. HR works for the company, not the employee - don't ever doubt that.

As to the OP, time to polish up the resume and look for another position

BlueShoes12, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2019

And that is why you document your butt off and maintain your own professional Liability Insurance. Probably time to start job shopping, unfortunately...