Recently I transferred states and my nursing aide license. I have been working at a new facilty for 3 weeks. I showed up for work and was informed I had been suspended. I checked my voicemail and had two new voicemails. One stated, "I had complaints you were being not so nice to a resident". I was also informed not to come into work for the weekend because I had been suspended. Immediately after another voicemail stated to call back this evening, to come in on Monday, or they would see me at work on Tuesday. I recieved calls again later on saturday, and was asked if I wanted to come in on sunday. I accepted and got more details on my suspension sunday evening. I had been informed the incident in question occured in a bathroom with a resident, and another aide. The conversation was about the resident in the room. The other aide asked how they were doing. I stated "She gave me hell last night" I also stated immediately after "I still love you though,_insert name_". This was reported to the head CNA on the hall. Who felt it necessary to report to the head boss and not the charge nurses The decision was made to suspend me without even confronting me. The charge nurses had heard nothing of the incident until saturday when I arrived. My name was crossed off the schedule, so I checked my voicemail and find out about the suspension. I informed the charge nurses. This proved to be my saving grace. They called the head boss and defended me. Thus, I was called back later that night. I was also informed once suspended during the probationary period you don't come back.
The issue with this whole scenario is I am currently pursuing my registered nursing career. I have a son on the way and am the only income for my family. I plan on continuing a long career with this hospital in the future. I feel this suspension wasn't valid. This wasn't slander or liable. This wasn't neglect considering I took the resident to the bathroom promptly when asked. This wasn't verbal abuse as I wasn't putting the resident down or calling them names. Finally this wasn't emotional abuse as I wasn't trying to convince the resident to change their opinion or beliefs. The resident wasn't even phased by the comment.
Is it just me or was I really out of line? If you considered me out of line was this harsh punishment (pretty much fired) appropriate? Should I consider legal action? For reputation damage, and slander?? I am not sure what exactly was said to the head boss, but I feel it must have been exaggerated to come to such a harsh punishment. Not to mention the fact that the person reporting wasn't there when the incident occured. Also this person works on a different shift (we all know about shift rivalry).
You make a good point leslie. LTC is a different sort of place. Some of those old birds are pretty crusty and you can really let your hair down once you know them.
You make a good point leslie. LTC is a different sort of place. Some of those old birds are pretty crusty and you can really let your hair down once you know them.
i don't work ltc, but any specialty where you're w/the same pts, really does bring the nurse/pt relationship to a whole other level.:redpinkhe
What if that happened to your mom and they have been talking about her like that how would that sit with you ??? I would be furious if found out one of my staff members was treating a resident like AN animal . I think they should have fired you what gives you the right to talk about and innocent resident . Disrespect should never be tolerated and excepted in the workplace with employees / residents .
And also if you are the only bread winner in the family you should be especially careful about how you act around staff and patients so you can keep your job , and not jeopardize your future with a disrespectful comment to the resident.
I cannot believe the grief and harsh comments I am reading.
What she said is no worse than me telling my kids "you are driving me crazy, (then smile) but I still love you!" What bothers me is working in an environment that I would have to watch every little thing I say. I'm sick of this PC world we now find ourselves in. If she said it in a mean or nasty way, that is one thing, but I dont think she did, I took it as an endearing tease. I would not want to work in a place that I had to watch every little thing I said. And no, I would not be offended if someone said that about my loved one, if I knew the nurse and how she interacted with her. It seems like the cna that went and "tattled" is either a troublemaker, gossip, or who did not like her. The professional thing to have done would have been to take her aside and say "I know you were kidding, but that could have been offensive to her" she probably would have replied with " Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that, but I hear what you are saying, thanks for telling me" that would have been the end of it.
OP..I personally think someone took what you said and embellished it. You will learn that in this field, there is always someone looking to make drama where it doesn't exist. I do think we should be respectful to pts. But, we also have to realize that there should be some room for personal preferences of pts as well.
I do think a suspension was a bit harsh. The PTB should have come to you and gotten your side..if it were me, I might have just mentioned that some people/pts are sensitive, prefer a more formal manner, and to be careful. I think pursuing this legally would just be a waste of your time and money. I would write a letter laying out your side of the story, keep one copy and give the other to HR.
Use it as a learning tool..unfortunately, you have to watch your back in this field.
I went to my Head Boss this week when we were both working. She was glad she had wanted to talk to me.
She had talked to the charge nurses and said she felt it fair to let me give my side of the story.
I simplly told her the comment I said.
Her response was shock....because that was nothing even close to along the lines of what was said to her.
Turns out somewhere between the other CNA and the Head CNA (both who are on first shift....I am on second) the story was EXTREMELY GLORIFIED.
She spoke with the resident who was also in question and she (THANKFULLY) remembered the situation and confirmed my story.
Turns out these CNA's have done this several times in the past. Yet, nobody else was as lucky as I was....with finding out at working and informing the charge nurses.
She apologized for the way the situation was handled. She said this had been a learning experience for both of us. We both agreed the my comment may have been unprofessional at best. She understands the level of relationships between LTC patients. I also explained the resident in question reminds me of my grandmother and is why I have already developed such a strong, personal relationship with her.
She said I will be getting paid for the day I wasn't allowed to work. She said especially since I went ahead and eagerly came in on Sunday, she knew I cared about this job and residents. She said she had also had reports from other staff members about how obvious it was I cared for all the residents I work with.
As for the other CNA's they were informed of the legal actions that I could have taken against them for slander. They were also informed from now they will use the correct chain of command.
I am very thankful for the way this situation turned out. It showed me who my enemies were who my friends are. Also that my charge nurses, and boss aren't unreasonable. I am also aware to watch my mouth, and do realize how lucky I am this turned out the way it did.
Also, Thank you everyone for your posts!! Both sides were taken into consideration, even those who disagreed with me. I also that it would be fun to add, that I am not female. Shocking, I know. I got a kick out of everypost that referred to me as "SHE"!! Hopefully we all learned a little about this situation.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I cannot believe the grief and harsh comments I am reading.
What she said is no worse than me telling my kids "you are driving me crazy, (then smile) but I still love you!" What bothers me is working in an environment that I would have to watch every little thing I say. I'm sick of this PC world we now find ourselves in. If she said it in a mean or nasty way, that is one thing, but I dont think she did, I took it as an endearing tease. I would not want to work in a place that I had to watch every little thing I said. And no, I would not be offended if someone said that about my loved one, if I knew the nurse and how she interacted with her. It seems like the cna that went and "tattled" is either a troublemaker, gossip, or who did not like her. The professional thing to have done would have been to take her aside and say "I know you were kidding, but that could have been offensive to her" she probably would have replied with " Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that, but I hear what you are saying, thanks for telling me" that would have been the end of it.
Your patients are not your children and should not be spoken to as if they were. Huge difference between your child and a patient. Although I don't think suspension was called for, I would have thought a warning would suffice, I also don't think you should talk to your patients like you do your children, you have a completely different relationship between the 2.
The professional thing would have to not have said it at all, especially when you are on a job for just a few weeks. I am not a fan of "tattle tailing" but at the same time, it's absurd to shift the blame to the person that reported and off the person that said the reportable offense.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Here is an update for everyone!!
I went to my Head Boss this week when we were both working. She was glad she had wanted to talk to me.
She had talked to the charge nurses and said she felt it fair to let me give my side of the story.
I simplly told her the comment I said.
Her response was shock....because that was nothing even close to along the lines of what was said to her.
Turns out somewhere between the other CNA and the Head CNA (both who are on first shift....I am on second) the story was EXTREMELY GLORIFIED.
She spoke with the resident who was also in question and she (THANKFULLY) remembered the situation and confirmed my story.
Turns out these CNA's have done this several times in the past. Yet, nobody else was as lucky as I was....with finding out at working and informing the charge nurses.
She apologized for the way the situation was handled. She said this had been a learning experience for both of us. We both agreed the my comment may have been unprofessional at best. She understands the level of relationships between LTC patients. I also explained the resident in question reminds me of my grandmother and is why I have already developed such a strong, personal relationship with her.
She said I will be getting paid for the day I wasn't allowed to work. She said especially since I went ahead and eagerly came in on Sunday, she knew I cared about this job and residents. She said she had also had reports from other staff members about how obvious it was I cared for all the residents I work with.
As for the other CNA's they were informed of the legal actions that I could have taken against them for slander. They were also informed from now they will use the correct chain of command.
I am very thankful for the way this situation turned out. It showed me who my enemies were who my friends are. Also that my charge nurses, and boss aren't unreasonable. I am also aware to watch my mouth, and do realize how lucky I am this turned out the way it did.
Also, Thank you everyone for your posts!! Both sides were taken into consideration, even those who disagreed with me. I also that it would be fun to add, that I am not female. Shocking, I know. I got a kick out of everypost that referred to me as "SHE"!! Hopefully we all learned a little about this situation.
I am glad everything worked out and it was taken as a lesson learned, I would hate to see someone lose their job over something like this. May not have been appropriate but surely not worth loosing a job over.
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FireStarterRN, BSN, RN
3,824 Posts
You make a good point leslie. LTC is a different sort of place. Some of those old birds are pretty crusty and you can really let your hair down once you know them.