Venting in progess, unjust termination

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Well, it's about time for me to unload my problems on those who will listen (or read):crying2: . I was dismissed from a job about 3 weeks ago for something incredibly stupid. Something that eveyone else in that facility does but I got caught for. Nothing that would endanger my patients, of course. It all happened because I had a supervisor that had it out for me. She's pretty vicious, so she goes for blood. We had been into it about the staffing for our unit. She would ALWAYS assign 3 CNA's for 46 residents. She was farely new, and we gave her the benefit of the doubt with everything she did. The old supervisor would make sure that we were properly staffed. She would call people at home and get them to come in. But this one, too damn lazy to do so. Here lately she would show her frustration with us and flaunt her authority, and did things because "what I say goes and I don't care what you think". The last time I worked I decided it was the last straw and called the administrator. He was totally on her side, saying we need to give her a chance. When she found out I called the adminstrator she was furious that I had questioned her authority like that! So, I left on a break. I was gone 10 minutes! She was waiting on me when I got back with a write up slip. I left the facility without her knowledge. I left the keys to my med cart with the nurse that shares the hall with me, that is standard when you leave the facility. People leave all the time! I always make sure somebody knows. But because she was pissed at me she did it "because she could". I have always been a good employee and a damn good nurse to my residents. I have had this job for quite a while. There are nurses on my job that steal meds and God knows what else and are still employed. I did not even get an official warning from the office. I was just fired. No notice or anything. I truly feel like I was set up. All of my coworkers are telling me to fight it but I don't even want to go back to that place. Do you guys think that was worth termination? This woman is evil, and I do mean that. I honestly thought the administration would see through her but I guess not. This has me down because I am currently going back to school to be a RN, and all I can think is how she used those 2 letters to do and say whatever she pleased. Any comments....:crying2:

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Specializes in er, pediatric er.

I am sorry this happened, but don't let that prevent you from going to school. I don't think it's worth fighting. I would go and find another job and put it behind you. I have known people who went to the labor board to fight a wrongful termination, usually they side with the employer. Just hang in there, you might find a job you like better. These things happen for a reason.

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Something that eveyone else in that facility does but I got caught for.

Well, that doesn't make it right, does it? That defense is pretty poor.

She was farely new, and we gave her the benefit of the doubt with everything she did. The old supervisor would make sure that we were properly staffed.

Change is hard on everyone. The workers who hate to see change, and the new supervisor wants to make changes she thinks is for the good. If staffing was adequate, why did the old one call people in? Sounds like a typical understaffed LTC situation.

Here lately she would show her frustration with us and flaunt her authority, and did things because "what I say goes and I don't care what you think".

Perhaps she got tired of people questioning her authority? Afterall, she was hired as the supervisor.

The last time I worked I decided it was the last straw and called the administrator. He was totally on her side, saying we need to give her a chance. When she found out I called the adminstrator she was furious that I had questioned her authority like that!

Did you try talking to her first, or just decide to bypass that step?

So, I left on a break. I was gone 10 minutes! She was waiting on me when I got back with a write up slip. I left the facility without her knowledge. I left the keys to my med cart with the nurse that shares the hall with me, that is standard when you leave the facility.

You left without her knowledge. I wasn't there but I believe there may have been some anger involved. Probably on both sides. But, you did leave, and technically abandonded your patients, if only for 10 minutes. Did you report to another person so that your patients would be covered?

There are nurses on my job that steal meds and God knows what else and are still employed.

Those are some pretty serious accusations, I am sure you have proof of this. If you do, isn't part of your responsibility to report this type of behavior?

I was just fired. No notice or anything. I truly feel like I was set up.

You were only set up if you allowed it to happen. How does your leaving the facility of your own accord during work hours equate to being "set up"? If you are in a right to work state you can be fired for any or no reason at all.

Do you guys think that was worth termination?

With only one side of the story, it is hard to tell.

Any comments

You asked, and you got some from me. They may not be what you want to hear. But, that is what happens when you ask for comments.

Hopefully this will become a learning experience for you. Number one being; just because everyone does it does not make it right.

bob

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To Bob: I do understand that what I did was against the rules. I would have accepted the punishment for my actions. I still don't think it was worth getting fired over. Also, just because someone is my supervisor does not mean they are always right. She is a flamboyant ex-stripper whose has had her fair share of jobs and has been ran off from most of them. Her car was "keyed" badly after her 2nd week of being there. I actually felt sorry for her:nono: She is nothing but trouble.

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let it go...it is not worth the trouble...explain in your next work interview what happen, that you left with knowledge of your co worker...this has been done in different times...sometimes you need to run an errand if you can do it in a slack time and you have coworker cooperation it is not an abandonment.

determine facility policy in new job and cooperate with it...

good luck

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I agree with Bob here. If we want to leave the facility we have to have a super's permission and clock out and back in upon return. I think its more of a facility liability issue than a control one. I hope you gave another nurse report on your patients before you left, or you could be dealing with a lot more than just termination... namely maintaining your licensure with the state BON after a charge of abandonment.

Just thinking aloud here... if I had a supervisor that was 'out to get me' (thankfully I haven't been in that situation), I don't think I would give her any ammunition to use.

I hope your next job is better. LTC in general is an area I would never want to work in.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

I agree, let it go and move forward. Just learn from your mistake. I wont quote everything here but you too were wrong in some of the things you cited. But, as far as the facility goes,, she has control,, she was looking to make an example out of someone to gain the respect she felt she deserved even if it was through fear now and you gave her a prime target. Now everyone else there knows how to handle situations when they come up with her.

Truely,, i think EVERY facility has one supervisor who thinks their word is as good as gods and you pay H*** if you have the audacity to question them about ANYTHING. We have one,, she even hears a whisper about someone not being able to take one more patient, or question why THEY have to take an admission and you can plan on them getting the next 5 if she can manage it. She walks on the unit and even gets half a feeling you are having a crapy day,, shell make it worse just because she can and she enjoys every minute of it. And on the other hand, people learn quickly, noone gives her half a second of their time when she comes to the unit, most ignore her or move on down the hall away from her. Doesnt that sound like a happy comfortable workplace for her. She's just sad.

You move on,, and be happy.

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Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.
To Bob: I do understand that what I did was against the rules. I would have accepted the punishment for my actions. I still don't think it was worth getting fired over. Also, just because someone is my supervisor does not mean they are always right. She is a flamboyant ex-stripper whose has had her fair share of jobs and has been ran off from most of them. Her car was "keyed" badly after her 2nd week of being there. I actually felt sorry for her:nono: She is nothing but trouble.

What does ex-stripper have to do with any of this?:confused: :confused: :confused: There are a lot of Ivy League women and men who paid for their educations this way. Stripper does not equal bimbo. Also, the fact that her car was keyed by (I assume) an employee does not speak highly of the type of people the other employees at the institution are. :twocents:

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Just painting a picture...she's trash! Ivy League brains never lived in this woman. The two are not in any way comparable. After all, this was a vent for me. Opinions are appreciated...but please remember I am also still very upset. I am aware that I could have been fired for worse. I know she is a crappy nurse. I do think her past of "ill repute" is in no way flattering to the nursing profession. Like I said before, she's trash.

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Just painting a picture...she's trash! Ivy League brains never lived in this woman..... I know she is a crappy nurse. I do think her past of "ill repute" is in no way flattering to the nursing profession. Like I said before, she's trash.

Well, at least we know there are no personal feelings involved here!! :rolleyes:

bob

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I have to say that I agree with Bob 100%. It sounds like you're angry at this supervisor, but at the same time your behavior wasn't in the clear. Sometimes you just have to accept it for what it is.

ETA: I guess technically, your termination wasn't "unjust". Sorry.

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Well, it's about time for me to unload my problems on those who will listen (or read):crying2: . I was dismissed from a job about 3 weeks ago for something incredibly stupid. Something that eveyone else in that facility does but I got caught for. Nothing that would endanger my patients, of course. It all happened because I had a supervisor that had it out for me. She's pretty vicious, so she goes for blood. We had been into it about the staffing for our unit. She would ALWAYS assign 3 CNA's for 46 residents. She was farely new, and we gave her the benefit of the doubt with everything she did. The old supervisor would make sure that we were properly staffed. She would call people at home and get them to come in. But this one, too damn lazy to do so. Here lately she would show her frustration with us and flaunt her authority, and did things because "what I say goes and I don't care what you think". The last time I worked I decided it was the last straw and called the administrator. He was totally on her side, saying we need to give her a chance. When she found out I called the adminstrator she was furious that I had questioned her authority like that! So, I left on a break. I was gone 10 minutes! She was waiting on me when I got back with a write up slip. I left the facility without her knowledge. I left the keys to my med cart with the nurse that shares the hall with me, that is standard when you leave the facility. People leave all the time! I always make sure somebody knows. But because she was pissed at me she did it "because she could". I have always been a good employee and a damn good nurse to my residents. I have had this job for quite a while. There are nurses on my job that steal meds and God knows what else and are still employed. I did not even get an official warning from the office. I was just fired. No notice or anything. I truly feel like I was set up. All of my coworkers are telling me to fight it but I don't even want to go back to that place. Do you guys think that was worth termination? This woman is evil, and I do mean that. I honestly thought the administration would see through her but I guess not. This has me down because I am currently going back to school to be a RN, and all I can think is how she used those 2 letters to do and say whatever she pleased. Any comments....:crying2:

There's one in every crowd. As 14 year veteran RN my experience has been that no matter where you go to work or how many times you change jobs there's always going to be that one difficult, vindictive, power hungry person that's going to be a thorn in your side. In my case, i'm a male, and what it has come down to on many occasions is various issues like: they feel threatened, they love the power, male discrimination (however subtle, it's definitely out there), jealousy, your a better nurse than the former and the only way he/she gets self acknowledgement is by usurping his /her power. And how do we deal with these bullies? We learn the game of politics, come out smiling, cus to ourselves but knowing it's not your issue but theirs, remind ourselves of who we are and why we are, above all not to be intimadated by that absurd use of power. This might not work, god knows the times that i've been a victim of same. Sometimes you lose. In those times we're told by many "maybe something good will come out of it", which i never used to believe but as it happens, opportunities abound and something better has usually ended up being the story. (Although sometimes i may not have realized it immediately). Nursing is a cut throat business. Even when you watch your back it doesn't help a good part of the time. I try to mind my own business, not get involved with cliques, just do my work. I love nursing (ER) and i'll be damned any more if i let that one person in every crowd spoil it for me. Diplomacy is your best source of security, i wish i could say it works every time. I also believe strongly in what goes around comes around. Only problem with that is we're usually not around to see their downfall, but eventually, it will happen. the lack of professionalism will show through eventually. One hopes.

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