I’m a unionized nurse and basically I’m on an unenforceable PIP because management simply wrote what I, according to them, do wrong and gave me the filled form, but without conducting an interview with me, the union wasn’t contacted and they even didn’t ask me to sign it. Union already told me this is not enforceable.
There are union representatives and union representatives: the one who feels a job is a job told me to calm down and keep applying for jobs elsewhere if I so decide, not asking for a 2 month ‘reprieve’ to be better at a job most days I don’t want to do anymore (working bedside with difficult patients).
The other union representative who still considers nursing a calling but works with compliant patients (pediatrics), told me the hospital can fire me if I don’t ask for a meeting with management to ask how I can be better and that only after being better I should apply for jobs elsewhere (which I call BS).
I’m still undecided about how to play this, but I sure want to quit bedside. If playing theatrics and pretending I have an interest in becoming a person they consider a better nurse helps me quit this job, even if the PIP is unenforceable, I’m playing this game.
Except that my first impulse to the question if I like my job would be a 5 minute rant about non compliant patients, stupid family members working against you, people calling for you to refill their water when they can walk, being blamed for things I cannot control, bad ratios, having to get up at 04:00 to get to work, having to work nights, listening to my coworkers talk about their holidays in the middle of report, drama…
So, how do I become a better liar to the tune of: I want to keep working here, I like what I do, I like seeing patients leave healthy and independent to live their lives… until I find a job I like more?
Why did you become a nurse? Why don’t want to continue being a nurse? Those are your answers — unless you no longer want to be a nurse that is.
But you don’t have to say anything. No need to embellish or lie. If you’re asked directly, do you like your job, then just say yes, you like your job. You have no incentive or reason to say anything more than that. If someone prods you for more info, you should ask them why they want to know.
If you feel pressured into saying more, then go back to why you wanted to be a nurse. Keep it simple. Don’t give more than what you’re asked. Stick to facts and leave your emotions out of it.
You’re on a PiP, official or not. I’d be looking elsewhere. I’ve never seen someone survive a PiP (this after 30+ years in corporate environments).
Just start looking, seems like nurses are needed everywhere.
I survived a PiP - new manager who totally misunderstood the situation. I worked with them to help them understand the context, and still have the job (but not the manager).
imho you play the game.
These are weak people who want to make themselves believe they are strong.
Give them their little victory and move on.
Save your energy for the things that matter.
So, how do I become a better liar to the tune of: I want to keep working here, I like what I do, I like seeing patients leave healthy and independent to live their lives
You have to believe the lie yourself. That’s it. Find a challenge in the BS, smile, and look for growth and development opportunities.
In my line of work, I have worked closely with HR and have been involved behind the scenes in things like this. I have seen PIPs that are fair and actually used as intended, and I have seen PIPs that are so demanding, it’s beyond obvious that they want you to fail so they have an excuse to let you go. Which do you think this one is?
I’m getting the vibe that this is the latter. I am not at all familiar with working under a union contract, but in a hostile situation, I would consider the likelihood of success of going to HR and saying “let’s skip the PIP that you can’t enforce anyway, offer me a reasonable severance, and I’m out of your hair today/this week.”
You don’t need to be running yourself ragged pretending to try to meet their unreasonable demands at the same time as you’re job hunting.
I have to ask. What is a PiP?
Performance improvement plan. Documentation showing management was dissatisfied before they fire you.
Performance improvement plan. Sometimes a legitimate way to help an employee who is slow or failing at tasks to improve and perform better.
More often it’s a management ploy to start a paper trail to legitimize terminating said employee or deny pay raises without repercussions, regardless of actual performance metrics.
“Performance Improvement Plan” aka an excuse to fire someone but have data to try to deny unemployment as they “weren’t performing” in accordance with the “plan”.
Meh, plenty of them are to help the person get their shit together.
It is a job… I don’t understand the like angle.
Just do what you need, do it right and ignore the bushit. This a professional type job, ain’t there standards of care, processes etc?
Nurses literally get the shit work.
Yeah BC we wage slaves accept it and when any of us get anymore more than basic subsitance we forget this fact…
Nurse manager here. I’m really confused why you would need to lie? Especially if the PIP is “unenforceable”.
If you want to quit bedside just do it. Theres so many other fields of nursing out there. Honestly and genuinely speaking, you sound miserable :(
P.S. Peds pts may be compliant but overbearing parents with unrealistic expectations or peds deaths are not fun to deal with. Its not all rainbows… I would never touch nicu, PEDs, picu for that reason
On the contrary. I think peds, especially nicu and neonatal surgery depts can be incredibly rewarding. Or so my mother who retired from it as a nurse after forty years tells me.
Also, yes, the Union rep that said you can get fired is wrong. Its super super super hard to fire people under Union. Even nurses that dont do their nursing interventions or watch Netflix day. Its truly wild what some Union nurses get away with. Pros and cons…
Just don’t say anything negative. Fake smile, ask your coworkers how they’re doing and completely ignore anything they say.
Just be professional, don’t give anyone a reason to talk smack about you. Keep your head down and GTFO ASAP
OP has been griping about this job (and possibly prior ones?) for 7 months now.
I really hope you can get to that desk job.
No advice but for what it’s worth, I’m doing the same thing at work now. Just wanted you to know I relate. Sorry your job sucks. I hope you find another soon
What you say will absolutely be held against you, especially at work. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. If you’re cornered and specifically asked that question, keep the reply short and sweet.
Last time I was cornered for an assessment I replied “I’m a happy worker” and left it at that.
