What is the name of your state?VIRGINIA
August 26, 2005
Dear Mr. A (corporate HR)
I want to thank you for your prompt return call this morning. I have just returned from CUL_(PLACE OF EMPL) where I spoke to my DON and she explained only that Mr. R(administrator) was dealing with DP (the individual involved). I would like to give you the facts as I understand them in a timeline.
I was informed by my DON on Saturday the 13th of August that DP, MDS coordinator, had come into her office, on August 12th, sat down and proceeded to make accusations that I am a drug addict. The comments that were quoted were, “Con(DON, dir of nsg), you know you have a legal drug addict on your hands”, “you haven’t seen her shake and can’t keep her eyes open half the time?”, “thank god she is not on a med cart and you better hope she doesn’t talk to any families or do any patient care” I hate to even quote this one, Connie had to alter/spell it out because it is so vulgar, she said “J(me) is a ‘f--ing’ junkie”. Con attempted to defend me by expressing how the families and residents love me and she didn’t want her spreading information like this throughout the building. DP said that that is where she heard this information. Con ended the conversation at this point and due to the severity of the situation discussed it with Mr. R.
When I was informed of the accusations I actually laughed it off as just another empty stab comment from her but the more I thought about it the more angry I became. I have rapidly moved up the ladder with Cul, first as a night shift supervisor, then unit manager, and now ADON. I have made incredible positive changes there and have been praised for my work. I have strived to have a wonderful reputation and rapport with the staff, residents, and families and I feel as if she is determined to ruin that if she hasn’t already which I feel she has. She (DP) has said with each one of my promotions, “she isn’t qualified”, “they will eat her up”, “she will never make it”--I just let her comments roll off my back but she has gone to far this time. I want her charged with harassment and slander and I do plan to seek outside counsel to do so. I am taking a personal leave this week much in part due to this situation. I am seriously considering other employment even though I absolutely love my facility and the people I work with. How can I expect them to respect me as they have with someone spreading untrue, ridiculous accusations such as these? I would do a drug test at any time, surprise or planned with no problem. I even provided Con with a copy of my medical history. I have nothing to hide.
I gave it to the two week mark before calling you. I want this dealt with quickly and I need advice on how to go about pressing slander charges against her. She has made working conditions unbearable after I have worked so hard to bring positive change to a struggling facility and staff. It makes me very sad that there are such vicious people in the world especially when we have to work so closely with them. I have never done anything personal to her or commented about her, that is not the kind of person I am nor wish to be. I was so upset Friday August 19th when I was told to put the events in writing for Mr. R I feel I left out many of these important details. I just feel that this could potentially ruin me and I needed you at the corporate level to be aware of her actions. I love my job and being an advocate for these residents and I take great offense to someone who challenges that. Can you help me with this matter? I appreciate so much any advice or guidance you could provide.
Respectfully,
Dear Mr. A (corporate HR)
I would like to go into more detail related to my previous letter. My medical history explains the ’shaking’ hands that I suffer from occasionally. I was diagnosed Bi Polar 11 years ago and it is successfully controlled by Lithium. Unfortunately it causes ’tremors’. I take propranolol to lesson them but it doesn’t eliminate them completely. I also have recently been caring for a very ill parent who tends to stop breathing at night even with her c pap machine. I do not get much sleep due to this issue and it has caught up with me. I am a very private person so people I work with only know me as ‘happy go lucky, always positive J’. I don’t share these things with co workers because I do not believe it is appropriate to mix personal and professional and there is always a fear of being discriminated against because of the illness even though it is well controlled.. I choose not to mix the two and now I have to deal with DP and her attempt to ruin everything I have built by her inaccurate accusations. This is the other part of taking a short personal leave. I am trying to find placement for my mother right now because I am unable to go 24 hours each day caring for her and continue to be successful at Cul. I am supposed to return to work as of Monday 8-29-05 but my physician has said to stay off and continue to balance myself out at least until 9-1-05. I had blood drawn earlier this week which I do not have the results yet. If an adjustment needs to be made my doctor wants to get that taken care of immediately. He believes by Thursday this can be done. I have told him financially I cannot stay off any longer. These medical issues have never been an issue as far as my nursing is concerned. I function very well daily in all areas. I believe due to the EXTREME STRESS that has occurred at the facility with the state issues and the attitude that has been displayed by our administrator has triggered, not only me but multiple staff members, an environment that has been unbearable. I know (CORPORATE) policy states that termination can occur if an employee fails to return directly on the date scheduled to return after a leave of absence. On Friday 8-19-05 I was given a corrective action and was told that my attendance was unsatisfactory, even after coming back early after surgery months ago, or working 15 day stretches and my job performance has all of the sudden become “poor”. I do these things by choice because I care very much about this facility and especially the residents. I have had nothing but praise until now. I was completely caught off guard. I am concerned because my doctor wants me to stay out a few more days that Mr. R will use this against me and terminate my employment. I would like to return at 110% and if a few more days will help me get there then I want to use them. I want to continue the positive environment I have brought to Cul. I am praying that now that ‘state’ has come and gone, Con will be allowed to perform as our director and lead the nurses and I will be able to help her if I choose to stay. I am struggling with the situation DP has created and I hope somehow I will be able to put my mind at ease that the damage she has done is not severe.
Sincerely,
THIS SUMS IT UP, IS THIS WORTH PUSHING FORWARD WITH? tHANKS
August 26, 2005
Dear Mr. A (corporate HR)
I want to thank you for your prompt return call this morning. I have just returned from CUL_(PLACE OF EMPL) where I spoke to my DON and she explained only that Mr. R(administrator) was dealing with DP (the individual involved). I would like to give you the facts as I understand them in a timeline.
I was informed by my DON on Saturday the 13th of August that DP, MDS coordinator, had come into her office, on August 12th, sat down and proceeded to make accusations that I am a drug addict. The comments that were quoted were, “Con(DON, dir of nsg), you know you have a legal drug addict on your hands”, “you haven’t seen her shake and can’t keep her eyes open half the time?”, “thank god she is not on a med cart and you better hope she doesn’t talk to any families or do any patient care” I hate to even quote this one, Connie had to alter/spell it out because it is so vulgar, she said “J(me) is a ‘f--ing’ junkie”. Con attempted to defend me by expressing how the families and residents love me and she didn’t want her spreading information like this throughout the building. DP said that that is where she heard this information. Con ended the conversation at this point and due to the severity of the situation discussed it with Mr. R.
When I was informed of the accusations I actually laughed it off as just another empty stab comment from her but the more I thought about it the more angry I became. I have rapidly moved up the ladder with Cul, first as a night shift supervisor, then unit manager, and now ADON. I have made incredible positive changes there and have been praised for my work. I have strived to have a wonderful reputation and rapport with the staff, residents, and families and I feel as if she is determined to ruin that if she hasn’t already which I feel she has. She (DP) has said with each one of my promotions, “she isn’t qualified”, “they will eat her up”, “she will never make it”--I just let her comments roll off my back but she has gone to far this time. I want her charged with harassment and slander and I do plan to seek outside counsel to do so. I am taking a personal leave this week much in part due to this situation. I am seriously considering other employment even though I absolutely love my facility and the people I work with. How can I expect them to respect me as they have with someone spreading untrue, ridiculous accusations such as these? I would do a drug test at any time, surprise or planned with no problem. I even provided Con with a copy of my medical history. I have nothing to hide.
I gave it to the two week mark before calling you. I want this dealt with quickly and I need advice on how to go about pressing slander charges against her. She has made working conditions unbearable after I have worked so hard to bring positive change to a struggling facility and staff. It makes me very sad that there are such vicious people in the world especially when we have to work so closely with them. I have never done anything personal to her or commented about her, that is not the kind of person I am nor wish to be. I was so upset Friday August 19th when I was told to put the events in writing for Mr. R I feel I left out many of these important details. I just feel that this could potentially ruin me and I needed you at the corporate level to be aware of her actions. I love my job and being an advocate for these residents and I take great offense to someone who challenges that. Can you help me with this matter? I appreciate so much any advice or guidance you could provide.
Respectfully,
Dear Mr. A (corporate HR)
I would like to go into more detail related to my previous letter. My medical history explains the ’shaking’ hands that I suffer from occasionally. I was diagnosed Bi Polar 11 years ago and it is successfully controlled by Lithium. Unfortunately it causes ’tremors’. I take propranolol to lesson them but it doesn’t eliminate them completely. I also have recently been caring for a very ill parent who tends to stop breathing at night even with her c pap machine. I do not get much sleep due to this issue and it has caught up with me. I am a very private person so people I work with only know me as ‘happy go lucky, always positive J’. I don’t share these things with co workers because I do not believe it is appropriate to mix personal and professional and there is always a fear of being discriminated against because of the illness even though it is well controlled.. I choose not to mix the two and now I have to deal with DP and her attempt to ruin everything I have built by her inaccurate accusations. This is the other part of taking a short personal leave. I am trying to find placement for my mother right now because I am unable to go 24 hours each day caring for her and continue to be successful at Cul. I am supposed to return to work as of Monday 8-29-05 but my physician has said to stay off and continue to balance myself out at least until 9-1-05. I had blood drawn earlier this week which I do not have the results yet. If an adjustment needs to be made my doctor wants to get that taken care of immediately. He believes by Thursday this can be done. I have told him financially I cannot stay off any longer. These medical issues have never been an issue as far as my nursing is concerned. I function very well daily in all areas. I believe due to the EXTREME STRESS that has occurred at the facility with the state issues and the attitude that has been displayed by our administrator has triggered, not only me but multiple staff members, an environment that has been unbearable. I know (CORPORATE) policy states that termination can occur if an employee fails to return directly on the date scheduled to return after a leave of absence. On Friday 8-19-05 I was given a corrective action and was told that my attendance was unsatisfactory, even after coming back early after surgery months ago, or working 15 day stretches and my job performance has all of the sudden become “poor”. I do these things by choice because I care very much about this facility and especially the residents. I have had nothing but praise until now. I was completely caught off guard. I am concerned because my doctor wants me to stay out a few more days that Mr. R will use this against me and terminate my employment. I would like to return at 110% and if a few more days will help me get there then I want to use them. I want to continue the positive environment I have brought to Cul. I am praying that now that ‘state’ has come and gone, Con will be allowed to perform as our director and lead the nurses and I will be able to help her if I choose to stay. I am struggling with the situation DP has created and I hope somehow I will be able to put my mind at ease that the damage she has done is not severe.
Sincerely,
THIS SUMS IT UP, IS THIS WORTH PUSHING FORWARD WITH? tHANKS