I would like some advice please. I worked in a rural hospital for 6 years. The unit was very busy most of the time. There was no real team work there. Most of the nurses that worked there did not make rounds and did not even help those of us who were very busy. I saw long personal phone calls made, or nurses sitting having "coffee break" time for extended lengths of time, and some who refused to help the busier nurses when asked. This became very frustrating and it came out in me to the point where I was written up for my "temper problem". I was already in counselling for another issue in my personal life, so I decided to go to what was called "anger management counselling". I put all the tools to use immediately, transferred to an LTAC, and had no complaints for almost 3 years. While there I saw nurses who broke P&P jeapordizing patient safety and other unprofessional things going on too long to list here. Too many people complaining about the other things, coupled with the patient safety issue led me to speak with the DON, who in turn spoke with the nurses involved. I began getting looks and attitudes after that. I began to be verbally abused myself by these other nurses, but did not want to make waves, so I said nothing, thinking it would blow over, and besides, I had learned great things in counselling-I didn't need to react. A major transition came, DON's changed, and it was about 2 weeks later that I was called in to the nursing office, handed a paper that said I had exploded one day and I was being fired. I was told they received a letter about this "blow up" and because of my "history" I was fired. Only problem was, I was innocent of the charges. It didn't matter that I had had not one complaint from anyone until I reported the wrong nurses-those that put patients in danger and acted in an unprofessional manner. These nurses knew others who worked in the other hospital and had been given information about my history. I defended myself saying the allegations were false and it was all too conveniant to me that soon after complaining about the nurses and the change in management, that I am being fired. I guess I angered the wrong nurses. Now I work for a nurse staffing agency, get cancelled quite a bit, and still can't get hired on in a staff position. Some say I am being blackballed. I keep putting my applications in and getting "declined for interview". What can I do to "sell" myself again, to let prospective employers know I'm not a bad employee? I can't survive much longer.
I thank you for your input. I have found a great way to deal with stress, anger, frustration, what ever anyone wants to call it. I know I will land on my feet, I just have to keep on keeping on. Thank you again.
It was because of patient safety I said anything. But, also, as the shift supervisor I was getting real tired of hearing complaints about this nurse on a daily basis, and these other nurses were afraid to say anything to her, so I did, and that is what sent her on a mission to for my butt. But, from now on I have determined that unless it puts patients in danger, I am not saying anything.
You may discuss this with an employment attorney, who can evaluate the situation and discuss possible legal options that may be available. Good luck and keep us posted. Nurses must be able to advocate for patient safety without fear of retaliation. A recent case mentioned on allnurses.com involved an endoscopy nurse who sued a New Hampshire hospital that fired her after she raised safety concerns. The parties settled the case, which would seem to suggest that the hospital may have wrongly terminated her, but the settlement prevents the nurse from discussing the case.
Rebecca M. Patton, president of the American Nurses Association, called the verdict in a whistle-blowing case "a resounding win on behalf of patient safety."
Ms. Patton said, "The message the jury sent is clear: the freedom for nurses to report a physician's unsafe medical practices is non-negotiable."
lynkay
3 Posts
I thank you for your input. I have found a great way to deal with stress, anger, frustration, what ever anyone wants to call it. I know I will land on my feet, I just have to keep on keeping on. Thank you again.