Wrecked my career in 40 days

[turtle rain]

Hi all,

After about 40 days at my first LTC facility as an STNA I quit without giving a 2 week notice. I am devastated. I can't believe it happened - during my time there I witnessed several abusive events - this facility is a larger one and I was being floated on all the different units as well as working both 1st and 2nd shifts - so I never really developed any bonds with my co-workers. The last abusive event I witnessed with my co-worker, who is also an STNA and she went with me and I reported it to the nurse on duty. The nurse immediately had me in her office along with the aide I reported as being abusive. I felt very intimidated by the other STNA (she has a lot of friends who work there) and backed down. Today I was called into the DON's office ( on my day off) and was formally reprimanded for not reporting the other events the day they occurred. In addition I was reprimanded for lack of care during a shift the previous week (bad personal care).

I was shocked. I felt like I had been doing a good job and many of the residents often thanked me for the good care I gave them.

I felt that at this point I was in a no-win situation so I quit without giving a 2 week notice. I have never done that before with any job.

I'm guessing that I have really screwed up my future as an STNA or an LPN which I am in school for now. Worst of all the aide who caused the abuse is still there and the resident has lost me as an advocate.

Is nursing over for me?

[yousoldtheworld]

Not necessarily. You didn't walk out in the middle of a shift or anything, did you? If you left in the middle of a shift, you could get in trouble for "patient abandonment", depending on your state's laws. Did you tell them you were quitting, or did you just stop showing up? That might or might not affect how easy it is for you to find another job.

I have worked with several people who have quit by just not coming to work, and they have found other employment. In fact, I quit my first ever CNA job for similar reasons to you, without a two week notice. I have had four other CNA jobs since. I still put the job that I quit down as a reference, and I have never had any problem finding another job.

If any job you apply for asks you about it, just explain to them the situation. Please don't view it as "wrecking your career" - just be honest about it to any potential employers

[angelgrlia]

NO, Never put them on application. When you are a new person like that and report abuse to anyone at that facility they look at you as a trouble maker. Next time write down the time, person, place and what who and what ever else you call think of and put in safe place and CALL STATE. Once you have worked in a place awhile you earn respect and then you can go to RN or they cover it up. Been their done that.

[yousoldtheworld]

I have to disagree with never putting them on an application. Some employment things can come up on background checks and whatnot, and no employer looks favorably upon dishonesty.

I do agree that in the future, all abuse should be reported, but I would always start at the facility (either the director of nursing or another big boss, I wouldn't report it directly to the nurse I'm working under). If that gets no results, THEN I would notify state.

[turtle rain]

yousoldtheworld, I did not quit in the middle of a shift, I did call-off in advance for my evening shift and went into the facility to have that meeting with the DON and the unit supervisor. After the meeting went so poorly I felt like my safest move would be to quit then and there. I had never spoken to either the DON or the unit supervisor before and neither one offered any encouragement whatsoever. I was accused of lying, (because I backed down when they had me and the co-worker I saw hurting the resident together in the nurses office the day it happened. ) I was told that I would never be eligible for rehire within the corporation. The DON's only advice to me was to never share a hall with anyone again. In other words to always divide the hall equally between myself and my co-worker. That way they would know who was responsible for what. The DON wanted me to give a full 2 weeks notice, but I just felt like I had made too many enemies at that point - a lot can happen in 2 weeks! My understanding is that the woman I worked with that shift was also reprimanded. I've read other posts and some posters encourage "looking the other way" and never to complain in order to keep your job. That can't be right, but it certainly would have made saving my reputation easier.

Oddly enough, I have an interview with another facility next week - I had applied at this place awhile back. What do I say about this event? How do I protect myself and my residents? What confidence I had gained over the last few weeks is gone!

[Tippy-ta-ta]

No..i have quit one job w/o giving a 2 week notice, In fact I walked out after I seen the assignment that was not safe. I was the only CNA and I was assigned 2 halls, 40 residents and one of them was a lock down unit, where you had to key in the code just to open the door. I told the charge nurse that that was unreasonable and she told me that was my assignment and if i didnt' like I could leave. So i left. Since I was never clocked in it wasn't considered abandonment.

I just never put them on a resume or application.

[rancelumsden]

No. It won't be over unless, as other respondents asked, you were 'officially' (on the record) accused of something illegal. It doesn't sound like it --- you left, they'll leave it alone.

As another respondent stated, it WILL show up in a background checks. Background checks are supposed to check every place of employment where you fill out state/fed forms for your paycheck.

You may be asked about this in a future interview for a new employer. In all honesty, I don't know what a good answer about this experience would be. You may want to post that question. As long as you can get another position, things will work out. You're not the first person who has had this type of experience.

[yousoldtheworld]

I understand.

If they ask what happened with your last job,tell them that it was not a good fit for you, there were communication issues and you thought it best to leave before things got worse. I just really urge you to be honest about it. There's no reason it should affect your hireability, especially when CNAs are in high demand in most areas.

[jb2u, ASN, RN]

Remember you can always call a toll free hotline at any facility you work for and report abuse while remaining anonymous. NEVER look the other way!! You have an obligation to report abuse. Working in healthcare is a huge responsibility. It doesn't matter if you work in housekeeping, cna, lpn, rn, whatever your title you have a responsibility to the residents/patients. I wish you all the best in your next job. Also, I agree with yousoldtheworld, be honest, but don't talk yourself out of a job. Answer the questions that are asked and give positive answers!!!

Good luck,

jb

[turtle rain]

Thanks to all of you for the helpful comments. jb, I had forgotten about the 800 number option. Of course I could never not report abuse and if it ever happens again I will be sure to go about reporting it in a more professional manner. I just need to pick myself up, learn from this and move on. You guys are great.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Kudos to you for standing up for your patients. I agree, I'd tell future employers that the job was not a good fit and that it seemed best for both parties for you to leave. The facility can not say anything to prospective employers except that/when you worked there and that you are ineligible for rehire.