Anyone a Nurse? I've been an RN for 15 yrs. After Many sucessful ER yrs, I went into Management and Med/Surg. I had a very difficult day last week and alerted my supervisor I was overwhelmed. and she told me to "just stop talking about it and do it". I did not harm anyone, yet was late on a couple once every 24 hour meds, and a couplke other minor things. I have been terminated because "I create too much Chaos when I work that they feel it is not safe for me or my co-workers". I have never had a black spot before and I am one of a long string of senior employees to be let go in a 2 year span, in leu of a bunch of new grads (very good ones). I am an excellent nurse, safe, dedicated and intelligent. I can not argue that I create chaos, I just did not know it effected my surroundings so much. I am devestated. I'm the bread winner and insurance carrier. She will not let me keep my full time position, (unless I put in a list of ways I plan to over come this as well as she watches every move I make! She says she may not even do it at all) but I can work another unit, but no postion exist or is in the near future. I am in the process of stopping adderal xr and starting straterra and effexor, and starting menopause to top it off! My self esteem is crushed. I'm afraid now to even start another job. I have had many patient praises, employees that would want me as their nurse, and Doctors that compliment me. Now I feel like I should get a desk job (and I'd screw it up too). I am in Nursing to advocate for patients because I had my own child die in the past, and it became my mission to help pts speak up and help them understand whats going on.

I would talk to my dr(therapist) on how to deal with this. She cant get away with treating you like this. The ADA protects from such abuse form our employers.

Is there someone @ work that you can talk to about this. Like a staff ddevelopment person?
Worse case scenerio, get another job where your passion for being a nurse can be betrter used. There are so many options out there..and so many ppl that need you.

Hi Eunis --
what I would recommend is go to employee services if you have one. Talk with someone there and see if they will mediate. Try to get an agreement that keeps you employeed, maybe FMLA and get medication / treatment under control. Meanwhile applying to a less chaotic environment. I've talked with many about where I should apply, and any units that have many many different dynamics is not for me. General med, ER etc. Doing this, such as a cardiac floor, patient cares are within a certain perimeters and a sense of continuity. Take a break, and come back refreshed.

I am not sure if you are on any treatment, or if your employer knows of ADHD, those are tough calls and only you can determine if it's what they need to know.

hang in there,
Amy