Identity Crisis

Raven Ambrose
Jul 31
3 min read

Updated: Sep 13

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Whose is it?

What do you mean it's not mine? My name is on it.

I wanted to share the worst excuse I've ever encountered in a professional setting, a moment that still leaves me incredulous. While I was working at a hospice company, a place that filled me with both anxiety and excitement, I genuinely loved the work we did there. The environment was nurturing, and the team was dedicated to providing compassionate care to patients in their final days. However, everything changed when there was a sudden shift in ownership. Such changes can either lead to positive improvements, revitalizing the organization, or, on the contrary, result in closure, which I suspected was the direction we were headed.

When my boss called me into the meeting room, my heart raced with apprehension. I had a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach, but as far as I knew, I hadn't done anything wrong. The atmosphere was tense as we joined a conference call with corporate. I could sense the gravity of the situation as the woman on the line delivered the shocking news: I was being let go because the Adderall found in my drug test did not match the Adderall listed on my prescription. What?! I was utterly baffled. Why on earth would I resort to using someone else's medication when I had my own legitimate prescription? My boss, visibly confused, was literally holding the bottle of my prescribed medication, which clearly had my name, the medication details, and a valid expiration date printed on it. This was not just a minor oversight; it was an outrageous accusation. What kind of flimsy excuse was that?

I felt a surge of anger and disbelief wash over me. Here I was, a dedicated and skilled hospice nurse, someone who poured my heart into my work, and they were willing to cast me aside over such a ludicrous claim. Nurses like me, who are committed to providing high-quality care, are hard to come by, and I couldn't fathom why they would choose to let me go. Whatever their reasoning may have been, I later realized that it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, although I certainly didn’t see it that way at the moment. All I could think about was the time and effort I had invested in the entire hiring process, the onboarding, and the extensive training. I had just begun to see patients independently, and now I was faced with the daunting prospect of having to start all over again, navigating through the same tedious procedures because of what I considered to be the most ridiculous excuse I had ever heard.

In that moment of frustration, I couldn't help but think, "Oh well, their loss." The entire situation was infuriating, and the irony of it all was not lost on me. The most amusing part came when my boss, noticing how upset I was, awkwardly attempted to comfort me with a hug. I firmly replied, “Oh hell no, I don’t want a hug from you.” The absurdity of the situation seemed to heighten my resolve. Recently, I heard that she no longer works there and is currently searching for a new job. A coworker of mine, who had also worked closely with her, warned our boss against her poor management decisions and lack of support for her team. It’s funny how karma works; she missed out on the fantastic company I am now fortunate enough to be part of. Take that, beeeooocch! The twist of fate served as a reminder that sometimes, what feels like a setback can lead to even greater opportunities.

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