I didn't put this out there so publicly, but now that it
has come to naught, I feel it needs to be stated. Not only did I get fired from the most toxic
job I have ever held, I also had a cloud hanging over my nursing license, they
really couldn't just let me go in peace, they had to make the special torture
last with one last threat.
When I was canned, they told me that they had filed a
complaint against my nursing license with reassurance that “these things rarely
get investigated or become anything.” The reasoning they gave is that they had
to cover the county in case of liability. I also spoke to the union
representative who said that they used to do reports on nearly every nurse’s
license and that she had to send them the state regulations and tell them to
cool it. What this tells me is that they
have quite a history of filing BS complaints… and the next thing that pops up
in my mind is “The why do it?!”
I think that “Why” question is the one that really sticks
in my craw. With as personal as the
firing was, it just seems like it’s another way for them to twist the knife and
feel like they have power. There is also
an element of them playing C.Y.A. and trying to convince the world that their
feces is odorless and made of solid gold…. and that they train people well too! No matter the reason, I have more pity than
anger for them.
The reason I was given for the complaint was a vague “you
gave wrong information over the phone” to someone on 2 occasions. I have acknowledged my mistakes all
along. I’m not perfect, and they said I didn't
have to be perfect, while the unspoken subtext was that I did have to be
perfect. One of these occasions I remember and I called to correct the
situation as soon as I was aware of it.
The other one, I really don’t know.
However, the letter I got from the state yesterday said, “The Washington
State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission received a report about an
alleged failure to satisfactorily learn and perform duties as a public health
nurse. After careful consideration of
the information received the Nursing Commission decided not to investigate because
there was no violation of nursing law and it is considered an employer-employee
issue.” That is rather different,
IMNSHO.
Unfortunately, I have had to mark “yes” on some job
applications when asked about complaints against my license. I had to be honest. However it shows that
their petty, vindictive action has had some lasting effects that may have cost
me some interviews. I cannot prove or disprove this, any more than I can about
my being in the military being part of the reason that I was fired. I just don’t understand what exactly would
make a person or organization act in this manner unless it was warranted. The good news is that I can now answer that
question “no” on future applications.
Because of everything that I survived in that 3 ½ months,
I am a bit bumped and bruised, but I will heal and I will prevail. They cannot
take my dignity, they cannot take my soul.
They tried to tear down everything that was important to me, because
they didn't “approve” of something… who I was, where I was from, my Army service,
perhaps my very existence on the planet… I will never know. In almost every situation I have done fine
with people using my quirky charm, even those I haven’t liked a whole lot… but
this was the rare instance and for whatever reason, there was no way I would
have or could have ever fit into their special little corner of hell. For those who have known me a long time, I
will say that given a choice, I would return to the dining hall at Rhein-Main
before I would the Seattle King County Public Health Department… the latter of
which has earned the special distinction of being the worst job I have ever
had.
I know I’m stronger for the experience. I also know what is important to me. I will take the gifts and walk away.
Please be kind to yourself and others. Gentleness and compassion go a lot farther
than vindictiveness and revenge.
No comments:
Post a Comment