Unable To Transfer Due To Write Up

[KatC, BSN, RN]

I am currently working on a MS/TELE unit.  I started working here Oct '20 as a new grad RN... It is one of the busiest units since we are the only MS/tele unit (small hospital) and so I have been feeling burnt out and after one year I feel confident in my experience and wanted to transfer to a different unit.

In April, during a rapid response, there was someone from our infection control department rounding, and they wrote me up as not sanitizing my hands when leaving the room. I remember this day clearly and I knew she was watching me just did not know what for. I remember using the sanitizer in the room then telling the patient I would be back and left the room. I guess the lady from infection control did not see me use the sanitizer inside the patients room. 

Anyways, I remember later that week, my manager had me sign a form and mentioned the hand hygiene incident and said it was just a warning. 

Just last week I applied to transfer to our surgery department, met with the manager and was offered the position. I called HR to make sure it was okay for me to transfer and found out the  "warning" from April was sent to HR.

Since this considered a write up, I am unable to transfer to any department until next April. I find this very ridiculous! 

I just needed to vent......

I know I may not be able to have much control since it is "hospital policy"..but any tips? suggestions? similar experience? 

[Guest 1152923]

     A write up for not hand sanitizing?  Seriously? I don't know, personally, if the hospital I worked for was this petty and punitive, I think I would be looking for another job ASAP

 

[BeatsPerMinute, BSN, RN]

Look for another job... avoid quitting if you can until you get new job. And don't sign forms that you disagree with. I refuse to sign write ups when it comes to BS like that. 

 

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

Sounds like an excuse to keep you where you are. I mean, they have no problem with you continuing to work on the unit where you were "written up", why would they have a problem with you working elsewhere in the hospital...?

...unless you were trying to transfer to an HS-ICU.

(Hand-Sanitizer Intensive Care Unit.)

[Emergent, RN]

And they wonder why nurses are leaving the profession? Such BS...

[LovingLife123]

To be honest, I would have refused to sign it if you sanitized your hands in the room.  I would have asked for a sit down with the unit manager and the infection control person.

I stopped signing that crap earlier this year.  If I’m not in the wrong, I’m not signing it.  I told one of our supervisors one time that this is why people don’t want to work here and why they quit quickly, you guys write people up for everything.  
 

I could go on over the ridiculousness but don’t want to out my unit as I cannot believe that any other hospital does what my unit does.

I should say, my old unit.  I started a new position and I couldn’t be happier.  

[Davey Do]

A red flag is raised when a new nurse proclaims burn out, when it could more appropriately be termed stressed or disappointed. However, stress and disappointment don't sound as dramatic as burn out.

It is the responsibility of the chart carrying pencil-necked pot shooters to find things wrong otherwise their existence is superfluous.

When I had been written up unjustly, I objectively documented the facts of the matter, returning punches whenever possible, met with my superiors, and made darn sure a copy of the documentation made it into my employee file along with the write up.

I have been written up, along with other ramifications, for everything from client neglect/abuse to propping open a NS door with a trash can.

One bump in the road in the first year of nursing, when one doesn't get what they want, does not constitute a major life decision like quitting a job.

Unless one is attracted to making mountains out of molehills.

[chare]

At every facility in which I have worked, not signing a counseling record sheet was not been an option.  Signing the counseling record sheet is not an admission of guilt, nor does not indicate that you agree with what is being documented.  You should have had an option to attach a statement in which you could have explained that you performed hand hygiene inside the room.  And, consider this, once you refuse to sign one, and have a documented history of doing so, nothing stops your manager from loading your personnel file with any number of unsigned writeups.  

@KatC, in the absence of ongoing disciplinary issues, I'm gobsmacked that you were written up over this and agree with previous posters that, if this is the culture of the unit, you should consider leaving as soon as possible.

Best wishes.

[JKL33]

14 minutes ago, chare said:

You should have had an option to attach a statement in which you could have explained that you performed hand hygiene inside the room. 

This.

"I object to this incorrect report. Hand hygiene was performed during my exit from the room. Failure of monitoring personnel to observe this is not an indication that it did not happen."

I would be in business mode when faced with a situation like this. Being professionally assertive (clear and straightforward) is important. They terrorize passive people and those who are uncertain about advocating for themselves.

I would look for a new job over this. The personal criteria that I would apply here is: messing with my professional employee record. Now they won't even allow a transfer because of this false report? Good BYE.

[Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

That's ridiculous. 

Im curious the overall vibe of the hospital? 

[OUxPhys, BSN, RN]

Just another tactic to keep staff. Start looking for a job at another facility and don't quit until you have another job secured. Like one poster said I wouldn't sign anything either for something that petty, especially during a rapid. 

"But why can't we keep people at bedside?"

[ClaraRedheart, BSN, RN]

On 10/7/2021 at 11:03 PM, KatC said:

I am currently working on a MS/TELE unit.  I started working here Oct '20 as a new grad RN... It is one of the busiest units since we are the only MS/tele unit (small hospital) and so I have been feeling burnt out and after one year I feel confident in my experience and wanted to transfer to a different unit.

In April, during a rapid response, there was someone from our infection control department rounding, and they wrote me up as not sanitizing my hands when leaving the room. I remember this day clearly and I knew she was watching me just did not know what for. I remember using the sanitizer in the room then telling the patient I would be back and left the room. I guess the lady from infection control did not see me use the sanitizer inside the patients room. 

Anyways, I remember later that week, my manager had me sign a form and mentioned the hand hygiene incident and said it was just a warning. 

Just last week I applied to transfer to our surgery department, met with the manager and was offered the position. I called HR to make sure it was okay for me to transfer and found out the  "warning" from April was sent to HR.

Since this considered a write up, I am unable to transfer to any department until next April. I find this very ridiculous! 

I just needed to vent......

I know I may not be able to have much control since it is "hospital policy"..but any tips? suggestions? similar experience? 

I've not ever wanted to transfer so that has never been an issue. My practice is to put sanitizer in my hands, but not rub it throughout until I've walked through the door and addressed the patient. I got caught from someone watching from the hallway watching who did not come in the room or look through the window and was accused of not using sanitizer. Luckily, my manager was with me and was able to refute it. 

I believe patient perception is very important. They need to know you care about their safety. The people in the hallway watching don't seem to understand that. 

I am sorry this happened to you and I hope you are able to do what you need to