3 Written Warnings for a Facebook Post

Nurses Relations

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I worked at a hospital for three years and in that time I showed up to work on time and did my job. I was hired as a new grad and worked in Adult Med/Surg. I floated to another unit for a friend and had one of the worst shifts of my life. After the shift, I went home and wrote on my friend's facebook wall something like "I am never working for you! I had the worst shift ever on 3e! Manual disempaction, psych patients..." I wrote about my night, but did not meniton any room numbers or any patient names. About 3 weeks later I recieved an e-mail from the nurse manager of the unit I floated to. Apparently someone had seen what I had written and printed it out and showed her nurse manager. Then, that nurse manager brought it to HR. I was given THREE written warnings that I signed, I was told that I broke their social media policy. I was so upset and quit the job shortly after to go into pediatrics. Several times I have thought how unfair it was that I was given 3, not 1 written warning! I had never before had an disciplinary actions against me at this hospital. Now a year later I have applied for a job in pediatrics at the same hospital (but a different campus). I am concerned that they will not hire me over this silly mistake I made when I was a new nurse. Does anyone know if a nurse's file stays at that hospital forever? How many years until their file is deleted or is it never? And should I bring it up at my interview to explain or let them bring it up? I really want this job, as it is three miles from my house. Any advice!?

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Specializes in Intake, Home Care.

But you wrote what floor you were on, as well as the actual procedures/issues you preformed? How is that not a violation of any hospitals' policy, as well as entirely too specific. What if your friend's mom was on that floor and read what you wrote?

Managers talk, as well as it seems to be quite political in the hiring process. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.

It's a hard lesson to learn but you can't post ANYTHING about work on social media. You're lucky you were t fired outright. As for applying to this new job, unless you are marked as a do not rehire you should be fine. But stop thinking that you were unfairly disciplined, you screwed up big time and got off easy. Good luck in your job hunt.

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Most people are fired for this type of infraction. Especially if you have the place you work on your social media information section. (and if you do, I would take it off pretty quickly and going forward).

That type of venting is best off not put on social media. You were a new nurse at the time, so I am sure that now you know that. Three warnings is not a usual thing, however, with three the next infraction would usually be termination.

This type of stuff is kept in a personnel file. Unclear how long these files are kept, however, it will just take one person to say "heyyyy isn't that the nurse who trashed us on social media" and you could be looking at not getting hired. You can only attempt, and see what happens.

Best wishes.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Generally, when something is in your personnel file, it will stay in there forever, and can be accessed by hiring managers.

Like others have said, you were lucky you were not fired outright. Doesn't matter that you didn't give names or room numbers. It doesn't matter that it didn't violate HIPAA laws; it DID violate your company's social media policy.

Do not post about work on Facebook!!!!!

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It actually could be a HIPAA violation. If someone can figure out who you're talking about from info you give, it's a violation. So let's say your profile says which hospital you work at, your post said you were on 3E, and a friend has a family member who has psych issues or needed to be did impacted and was on 3E that day. They can figure it out, there's your violation.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Massachusetts? Yes they talk, a lot, at the MONA meetings. Technically your records are kept for 7 years. The HR people in MA have very long memories and they jump from facility to facility it is a very incestuous group. Own up to your mistake and that since then you have matured and learned from your mistakes.

Yes they will remember.

Put NOTHING on Facebook or anywhere else on the internet. EVER.

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Thank you all for your comments. I know now that it was a stupid thing that I did and I have since then never mentioned another thing about work, positive or negative!!! If I get an interview if they ask me a questions pertaining to it, or outwright ask me about it I will explain myself and state just how much I have matured as a nurse.

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sorry, but why in God's name would you post that on Social Media? It blows my mind some of the personal/professional dirty laundary that people air on facebook/twitter/linkdin.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
Thank you all for your comments. I know now that it was a stupid thing that I did and I have since then never mentioned another thing about work, positive or negative!!! If I get an interview if they ask me a questions pertaining to it, or outwright ask me about it I will explain myself and state just how much I have matured as a nurse.

Yeah, next time, just text or make the call outright to your friend...live and learn, as you have.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
sorry, but why in God's name would you post that on Social Media? It blows my mind some of the personal/professional dirty laundary that people air on facebook/twitter/linkdin.

Some people have grown up with this media it is a natural to them as the telephone was to me. I have 2 teens...well technically they are teens 18,17 one a freshman in college and one a senior in high school.

They text they don't call. Heck they text in the car to each other if they want to "whisper" about something. They skype instead of 3 way call...it is their medium...they don't see it as...public.

OP, I am glad you have learned. Be honest and open.

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Specializes in RN/Hematology/Oncology/Long-termcare/SNF.

What do you mean "do not hire" I recently left long term care on not so good terms. I am concerned about this facility affecting my excellent previous job performance and references.

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