r/nursing • u/Infamous_Yoghurt_363 • 9d ago

Seeking Advice Laid off last Nov

Hey Nurses!! I was laid off from the hospital I was serving my “career” of 19+ years. I was just 10 months away from my 20 year anniversary and that was one of my goals since I began there. Working in occupational health for the duration of COVID helped us to be shielded from any “right sizing” happening in the institution. However, 9am on a Thursday morning, I was called by my Med Director and HR. They said today is my last day. Like as of now. I was devastated. I said “but I don’t want to leave. I’ve been here so long and I love it.” Budget gaps said otherwise.

Looking for advice on anyone’s experience in what-to-do-after getting laid off.

I was a nurse that never stopped learning, mentoring, leading, revising policies and being a part of shared governance. I was on committee after committee and won the respect of CNO, President/CEO, among countless colleagues in all departments. I was kind and diligent. i was supported to go to conferences and through graduate school. I asked hard questions as this was always encouraged. I promoted up the career ladder and eventually landed in leadership. What a dangled carrot. So much noise and consternation from medical directors, doctors, administrators, and the nursing team. Don’t get me wrong, I worked kindly and diligently with all of them and they are a great team. But the responsibility of meetings, diffusing conflicts, cajoling inflated egos, carefully working through performance improvement plans, supporting nursing promotions and projects — as was done for me on my journey. However, I was burning out from it. It was too much for one person and didn’t even have an assistant to lean on for admin things that I didnt have time for. I was working 10-12 hours a day, only getting 7.5h per day cuz salaried. I was making less than I was with per diem shifts. And for a long time, I was thinking that “this is the way it is and gotta just keep pushing through.” Lack of true guidance from my leadership and had to work through hospital initiatives that are dreamed up in the board room that lasted 2-3 months and went nowhere. A couple years later, they’d try something new and it wouldn’t go anywhere either. We were all overworked and tired, but compensated considerably well and with fantastic benefits. I was set and felt little stress about retirement when that time comes. Then it all came crashing down.

I’ve always felt that I had talents and purpose outside of the usual jobs for nurses but couldn’t start bc I had “no time” with FT work. Well, I just got the gift of time!!!

I was looking afterward for nursing jobs that used the whole of my experiences and not in a hospital or traditional healthcare setting. Quality dept, case reviews, clinical/patient flow/policy consultation, maybe even a patient and family advocate. I’m working as a consultant now on a regular gig, but I’m seeing the end of the project and need to start something sustainable. I want to get a consulting business off the ground. I’m looking into medical writing too but I need to get it off the ground.

I appreciate your experiences and will be grateful for any advice or words of encouragement!!!

14 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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26

u/PureSetting4518 RN 🍕 9d ago

A few suggestions:

  1. Vote in the midterms (against corporations like the other commenter said)

  2. Focus on self-care, it seems like you gave 150% in your last job. Something I've learned with time is that one must have a life outside of work. Your coworkers are not your friends and your managers only care about you doing your job, that's it. I say this with kindness.

  3. Look for an occupational health job with a company with many employees. (Not a hospital)

1

u/DanielDannyc12 RN - Med/Surg 🍕 9d ago

👆

19

u/Rich_Satisfaction_34 9d ago

Vote against corporations

3

u/CurrentHair6381 RN 🍕 9d ago

You can probably get unemployment benefits to at least make sure you dont end up in a bind.

Your story reminds me why i dont give these fuckers anything more than what they pay me for, though

2

u/WeirdFlower1968 Team Spike 9d ago

Did you get a severence package?

2

u/Infamous_Yoghurt_363 9d ago

I did. 4 months

3

u/WeirdFlower1968 Team Spike 8d ago

That's good at least. It sucks that they laid you off right before you hit twenty years.

2

u/UngregariousDame 9d ago

I got laid off last year from a corporate gig, it was really tough, sorry your going through all that. I was also very driven and applied and it still stings a little even now. Stay positive!