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Broken · 03-12-2010, 07:43 AM

I reported every violation I knew of currently taking place to JCAHO and DHEC, and crap hit the fan at work. An unlicensed tech lost her job, my boss was suspended, and the hospital had to reimburse every patient the unlicensed tech did over a few years of working without her license.

I'm sorry this is so long. I'm getting to my point now. 2 months after reporting those violations, I was fired. I'm not here for legal advice. I knew when I reported them that I was suppose to be protected by the whistle blower law. I have a lawyer, and I have a case, but these cases are NEVER easy, expected to be long and drawn out, and right now I'm having to wait for my damages to exceed the expected legal fees before my lawyer will proceed on a contingency basis.

Emotionally, as far as my confidence in my ability to perform my job, what happened there very abruptly cured me somehow.... or maybe it was just time combined with one more straw to break the camel's back and uproot me from the dump. My attitude isn't what it was at 23 yrs old. I'm not the same immature, unwise, and highly stressed kid that got fired in 2002 in my 20's. I am 35 now, have matured alot, and have learned over the years how to pick my battles for the most part. Much more laid back too. I do still have social anxiety, and sometimes this translates as me not caring in the eyes of my patients, because the problem is there are many times I don't know what to say to them and how to respond to some things. I don't know how to talk with strangers comfortably. My bedside manner suffers. I just get in, get done, and get out. I'm not rude. I'm just not chatty. Some people complain, usually the ones who are there to be petted and pampered. The really sick ones that only care about getting help like me because, again, technically I do a great job and with the least possible discomfort to the patient.... and I guess they look at that to see that I do care regardless of how chatty I am.

So now I'm single, living alone, unemployed, and the job market is horrible. My unemployment isn't approved yet, and even if it does get approved, the amount is laughable. I can't live off it.

Years ago when I was going through so much that I couldn't handle, I needed psychological help. I needed all kinds of help. It was an insult to me back then for someone to suggest I needed to see a therapist. I denied it, did the best I could to push it all down, and just went on trying to fix everything in my life and my family members' lives. Denying that I needed help to overcome my issues, in my eyes, has finally costed my career, and inevitably will cost my credit rating, apartment, and independence. I will soon have to move in with my mother, sleep on the couch, put my furniture and belongings in storage, and pray that someone hires me before my retirement runs out. How to I get my foot back in the door after being fired twice? I am honest on my apps and tell them what happened, but what director wants to hire a tech who reported her last director to JCAHO, regardless of being right or wrong? Maybe I'll win a lawsuit, maybe not, but it will still cost me a credit rating and so much hardship before I get there.

I'm just spinning my wheels now. I don't know what to do. If not for having grown up going to church and if not for my 12 yr old toy poodle that would starve himself to death in depression without me at this point, I would put myself out of misery. I never will because I'm scared there may be a hell after death, worse than the one I live in now... and I love my dog like I would my own kid. To me he is my baby and I couldn't abandon him like that.

People tell me I'm going to be okay, that I'm strong, and they can't wait to see me give that D-head what he deserves in court. Personally, I'm not so confident about winning the case. They know the laws and they went out of their way to build a case against me before firing me. It isn't going to be that easy eventhough everyone knows that in reality they did fire me in retaliation.

I'm sorry this is so long.

03-12-2010, 07:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
Broken Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 7	I reported every violation I knew of currently taking place to JCAHO and DHEC, and crap hit the fan at work. An unlicensed tech lost her job, my boss was suspended, and the hospital had to reimburse every patient the unlicensed tech did over a few years of working without her license. I'm sorry this is so long. I'm getting to my point now. 2 months after reporting those violations, I was fired. I'm not here for legal advice. I knew when I reported them that I was suppose to be protected by the whistle blower law. I have a lawyer, and I have a case, but these cases are NEVER easy, expected to be long and drawn out, and right now I'm having to wait for my damages to exceed the expected legal fees before my lawyer will proceed on a contingency basis. Emotionally, as far as my confidence in my ability to perform my job, what happened there very abruptly cured me somehow.... or maybe it was just time combined with one more straw to break the camel's back and uproot me from the dump. My attitude isn't what it was at 23 yrs old. I'm not the same immature, unwise, and highly stressed kid that got fired in 2002 in my 20's. I am 35 now, have matured alot, and have learned over the years how to pick my battles for the most part. Much more laid back too. I do still have social anxiety, and sometimes this translates as me not caring in the eyes of my patients, because the problem is there are many times I don't know what to say to them and how to respond to some things. I don't know how to talk with strangers comfortably. My bedside manner suffers. I just get in, get done, and get out. I'm not rude. I'm just not chatty. Some people complain, usually the ones who are there to be petted and pampered. The really sick ones that only care about getting help like me because, again, technically I do a great job and with the least possible discomfort to the patient.... and I guess they look at that to see that I do care regardless of how chatty I am. So now I'm single, living alone, unemployed, and the job market is horrible. My unemployment isn't approved yet, and even if it does get approved, the amount is laughable. I can't live off it. Years ago when I was going through so much that I couldn't handle, I needed psychological help. I needed all kinds of help. It was an insult to me back then for someone to suggest I needed to see a therapist. I denied it, did the best I could to push it all down, and just went on trying to fix everything in my life and my family members' lives. Denying that I needed help to overcome my issues, in my eyes, has finally costed my career, and inevitably will cost my credit rating, apartment, and independence. I will soon have to move in with my mother, sleep on the couch, put my furniture and belongings in storage, and pray that someone hires me before my retirement runs out. How to I get my foot back in the door after being fired twice? I am honest on my apps and tell them what happened, but what director wants to hire a tech who reported her last director to JCAHO, regardless of being right or wrong? Maybe I'll win a lawsuit, maybe not, but it will still cost me a credit rating and so much hardship before I get there. I'm just spinning my wheels now. I don't know what to do. If not for having grown up going to church and if not for my 12 yr old toy poodle that would starve himself to death in depression without me at this point, I would put myself out of misery. I never will because I'm scared there may be a hell after death, worse than the one I live in now... and I love my dog like I would my own kid. To me he is my baby and I couldn't abandon him like that. People tell me I'm going to be okay, that I'm strong, and they can't wait to see me give that D-head what he deserves in court. Personally, I'm not so confident about winning the case. They know the laws and they went out of their way to build a case against me before firing me. It isn't going to be that easy eventhough everyone knows that in reality they did fire me in retaliation. I'm sorry this is so long.