[Mega Nurse]

Hi All,

I hope you will take the time to advise me. Here is my situation. The facility I work for is Magnet Certified, and this past week Magnet was surveying the facility. I was walking out of the hospital at the end of my night shift when the VP of Nursing for the company asked me to talk to the Magnet representives briefly in one of the conference rooms. She said she only had one other night shift nurse and needed someone else. I agreed and spoke with the Magnet Reps. They were very kind, and ask me three questions. I answered them positively and honestly. Overall, I thought the meeting went very well, and that I represented the Hospital in a positive light. That was until I received a nasty message two days later on my home answering machine. It was from the Director Of Nurses at the hospital. She was vague in her message, but stated " This is -------, I am totally disgusted and heartbroken that you would say anything negative to the Magnet Reps. May I remind you 2 years ago, when I came in during the night to be nursing supervisor....." It went on... I called my Supervisor immediately to ask what had happened, as I had no idea anything I said was negative and that I really had no idea what the D.O.N was referring to. My supervisor stated she did not know anything about it, and instructed me to call the D.O.N back and ask her to explain what she is refering to. I did... The D.O.N stated that the feedback that she received was that the Managers and Directors are not accessable on the off shifts and she accused me of saying it. The sad thing is I said no such thing. I wasn't even asked that question by the Magnet Reps. I told her this, and in detail described to her what I was asked and my answers. She then said, "Fine... Whatever, I just don't want any dirty laundry aired in front of the Magnet Reps..."
Now, I am angry... As I have had time to stew over this. I feel what the D.O.N did was very wrong. First, she should never have contacted me . Secondly, she made an incorrect assumption that she should have never made in the first place. The Magnet Reps talked to many staff nurses over the past week.
I feel as though I was truly harassed by this D.O.N and don't exactly know what to do from here. We do not have a union at this hospital. I am almost tempted to write to Magnet and inform them of how I was contacted.... I know, however, I probably will lose my job at this hospital if I do so. I should mention, that I have worked happily for this hospital for over a decade and have never been councilled or disaplined. My evaluations have always been excellent. I guess I am just having a hard time accepting this.... What would you do?????

[AmandaWIRN]

If you plan on staying at this hospital, I wouldn't say anything. If, however, you are planning on finding a new job, then you could contact the Magnet reps and let them know what happened. I agree, it was inappropriate for her to contact you.....

[Mega Nurse]

AmandaWIRN,

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I agree with your thinking. I'm am going to really consider what I need to do this week. I really like my job and the people I work with. However, this episode with the D.O.N has me really wondering if I want to continue working for an organization that allows its administration to act with such harassing and inappropriate behavior. I am, also, leary of her "Dirty Laundry" comment.... I didn't know there was any to hide????? It left me asking, "What Dirty Laundry????"

[rnhart12]

I learned a very hard lesson in a similar situation that I am absolutely dispensable to the hospitals that I work for as long as the hospital and doctors have a good image. Good luck with your decisions

[Mega Nurse]

You are very right rnhart12.... I have always known and felt that to the hospital administration everyone is dispensible. Also, they seem to care more of how they look on paper than the actual care that is provided to the patients. This is a sad fact that I believe is prevelant in most hospitals today.

[stillearning]

Mega-nurse --
How sad I was to read your posting.
I am the Magnet coordinator at our hospital. If our managers, DON or even the VP were to behave as you described, I would not be able to endorse their work as representative of Magnet's committment to excellence!

One of the tests of true leadership (not the kind of leadership that has a title attached to it) is the willingness and abiltiy to "speak truth to power."

I don't know if you can tell the VP, but if you can, your VP deserves to know what s/he put you through.

When the site visitors come to review a facility, they request, well in advance, specific meetings with groups of staff. That they did not receive a warm and responsive reception from your night shift seems telling to me.

To be dragged in (on your way out the door) is unfortunate, but to be accused of saying what you did not say, is worse!

Also, if the site visitors were doing their jobs appropriately, they would not have attributed a particular comment to any one nurse (so, perhaps they spoke more generally and management at your facility jumped to the conclusion it was you!?!?)

You deserve an apology.
In my heart of hearts, I am hoping your facility will NOT receive the Magnet designation -- it sounds like they do not deserve it!

YOU however, deserve to work where the 14 forces of Magnet are practiced every day! Keep your chin up.

You do not need to apologize to anyone for comments made with sincerity. I hope you recover from this personal attack and the distress it has caused you.

Thank you for your willingness to demonstrate the team spirit you did, just by agreeing to speak to the site reviewers at the last minute!

You can work at MY Magnet hospital any time you want!

--p

[Mega Nurse]

Thank You so much, Stillearning, for your kind response. I still work for the hospital, as I have many years vested. We have not yet heard if we have received Magnet Status again. After my ordeal with this, I must say, "I have lost a lot respect for the administration of this hospital; and, do not believe they deserve Magnet Status either." I must say, however, the nurses and staff that I work with is top notch. I will let you all know what the Magnet outcome is.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

[Nurse_Advocate]

I'm floored! The D.O.N. sounds like the most unprofessional and immature hospital exec. that I've ever heard of...I simply can't imagine being called at home and harrassed in such a way by the D.O.N.!!!

Talk about a morale buster!!!

I understand that you have time vested at your hospital and you love your co-workers. Those things count for a lot!

If this had happened to me, however, I know I would have to do something! I would make a complaint with HR against the D.O.N.

What a shame. What a fool she was! My heart goes out to YOU.

[Mega Nurse]

Well here is the final outcome.... I did speak with the VP of Patient Services (who asked me to go in to talk to magnet that morning and is the direct supervisor over my D.O.N.) She was very kind, but just made excuses for the D.O.N. saying, "We were all under a lot pressure with magnet... I'm sure she just wanted to make sure you didn't have any concerns about management's support to the night staff." So... We found out that we got Magnet Approved the same day that OHCA investigated night shift staffing concerns reported by patients of one of our floors... How ironic is that??? I am still at the hospital, but am looking at some other opportunities that are available to me. I have no further respect for this hospital or the Magnet recognition it has retained. I am disheartened that our health care organizations are so corrupt. Thanks for all your support. Your comments and encouragement has meant a lot to me.