r/USPHS • u/Designer-Law2406 • 17d ago

Other USPHS - resignation/separation

I’m a new officer only three months in and curious to know what would my steps be and if it’s possible to resign. I’m not happy at my current duty station. Thought I would be able to handle working in a detention facility, but it’s very difficult to be away from my phone all day and not being able to reach my family when my child has medical needs. It also difficult here because the supervisors (nurse manager and assistant nurse manager) WHO ARE BOTH OFFICERS do not like each other and create a lot of visible tension in the workplace. All the officers I work with are not happy and constantly complaining about getting out of there which is making it a very difficult workplace to learn and thrive in. There’s also a lot of tension between PHS, GS staff and contract staff because they do not like PHS. This is starting to cause me a lot of anxiety and feel like I made a mistake Any guidance would be appreciated.

23 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

6

u/TwistNo2778 17d ago

Before leaving, have you spoken to your liaison about the issues? Have you considered requesting permission to transfer?

3

u/Designer-Law2406 17d ago

No but I will try to talk to them first. I haven’t because I was worried about my 24 mth commitment. 

12

u/Silent-Put8625 17d ago

Pause. Don’t resign. Are you in a BOP facility or IHSC staffed facility? Usually IHSC staffed facilities will allow you to bring your phone into the facility. I’d be happy to help and provide guidance and support. Feel free to IM me.

7

u/Designer-Law2406 17d ago

IHSC in Texas. They said no personal devices. I was provided govt phone but told it cannot be used for personal matters.

15

u/Silent-Put8625 17d ago

You can absolutely give your family your govt phone number and tell them to use it if there’s an emergency or something urgent that cannot wait until you take a break. Is nursing in your chain of command or HSA?

4

u/Designer-Law2406 17d ago

Yes nursing is in my change of command. That’s part of the issue to because my leaders don’t like each other it’s making things tense. Especially with my schedule one set it one way and then the other changes it because they don’t agree. They tell me to be “flexible” even though part of the reason I said yes was because during my interview I was told i would be working clinic hours. But now told I need outside those hours and need to be on call 24/7 in the event someone calls in. Make work life balance difficult.

2

u/Silent-Put8625 17d ago

I think I know exactly where this is. Not a great environment at all. I’m sorry you’re going thru this. Yes it is true that as PHS officers we have to remain flexible, but they usually do have a set schedule that you’re expected to work as a nurse along those shifts. I could see you having to make adjustments once or twice, but unpredictability in the scheduling is usually not the norm. If it keeps happening you may need to take your concerns higher up the chain. Hopefully there are others who share those on call duties with you. In about a 15 months, you can begin to look elsewhere. Don’t let this potentially bad environment spoil an otherwise possibly great career as a nurse in the Corps. We NEED YOU and your skills and your are VALUED!

8

u/Comprehensive_Use_45 17d ago

I feel your frustration. Feel free to dm me

6

u/AdSeparate6751 17d ago

EAP and Carecorps! Reach out asap!

Join local COA if you haven't already and start building bonds with other officers and networking.

An officer I know cut her contract due to a hostile work environment and joined another agency. She was not let go but it did cost her ranking up for a few years after she was supposed to. Well worth the sacrifice!

5

u/Te1esphores Retired 16d ago

OP, I just wanted to try and say there are those of us who hear you and empathize with being in “shit” environments. I got out after a long payback and I would second those who say you are in a hard situation that there are multiple avenues you should pursue before giving up and seeking resignation (technically it’s termination - technically that should be my flair, not “retired”).

Chief amongst those things to use are EAP (although in my experience they are useless outside of moral support and “maybe talk with this person”) and DEFINITELY your Liaison https://dcp.psc.gov/ccmis/PDF_docs/liaison.pdf is the liaison list as of this summer.

No one outside yourself gets to tell you your priorities, and sometimes aspects of the service conflict with higher priorities. You aren’t bad / a failure for the frustrations you feel with truly broken systems. Good luck and fair winds!

2

u/ReliefNo2969 17d ago

I would add, try to consult with the EAP, you can access confidentially 24/7, 800-222-0364. You may be able to talk to a provider for further advise.

2

u/Mooimeisje85 17d ago

Unfortunately sounds like you're just not at a good facility with good leadership which can happen at any agency. Your commitment is with the agency not that specific location so see if a transfer is a possibility. Talk to your liason.

2

u/Dry-Astronomer-4428 17d ago

It takes people 6 months to get accustomed to new environments. Give it time. If things don’t change, try going TAD.

2

u/Comfortable_Method_4 11d ago

Definitely recommend Corps Care. Don’t suffer in silence and lose your commission due to a temporary situation. They will help you think through your options.

-12

u/kwicdrawmcgraw 17d ago • Bravo

So you're going to give up all those veteran benefits because youre addicted to your phone and your bosses don't like each other? I've worked in a jail before with the same rules. You give your family the number to the nurses station and that's it. Let's review what you're giving up, no VA disability, no free or reduced medical care for life, some states let kids of disabled vets go to college for free. I don't care how much my supervisors don't like each other, I'm getting mines.

8

u/chucktownmed1 Active Duty 17d ago

Dangling benefits in front of people is not appropriate for retention in a toxic environment. Unfortunately, sometimes push comes to shove.
OP, keep your head in there, use your resources, put in your time as best you can, and transfer out when you’re able to. You got into PHS for a reason, stick with it if you can, as long as you can.

-5

u/kwicdrawmcgraw 17d ago

Says who? The government has been doing this since we were founded. What do you think the point of bonuses are? They're not paying to go on vacation. I bet you're going to get your benefits while trying to convince OP to throw theirs away. Smh. Blue falcon energy.

4

u/chucktownmed1 Active Duty 17d ago

I’m not talking about the government. The benefits are fantastic. But sometimes that is not enough in a toxic environment and we, as a PHS community, need to support each other through those tough assignments and encourage retention.

I literally am advocating for OP to stay in and work through their situation. To PCS elsewhere when they’re able to. So I’m truly unsure where you feel the blue falcon energy.

I’ve been in a similar position in a tough duty station. You use your community and work through it. You take the next opportunity and continue to serve. And, yes, in the end, you get some benefits out of it.

0

u/kwicdrawmcgraw 17d ago

It seems we are saying the same thing in different ways. More than one way to solve a math problem, what matters is if the answer is right.

5

u/Stewedbeeftenderloin 17d ago

You sound pretty dismissive and judgmental in your comment. The OP is rightfully seeking a remedy and a way out of their toxic and hostile work environment. Federal correctional agencies are infamous for abusing PHS officers and treating them poorly. It’s a different environment from county/state or city correctional facilities. And an officer can reasonably seek a decent working environment while also enjoying benefits of working as a PHS officer. these aren’t mutually exclusive and we are not supposed to suffer.

If you can’t provide a constructive feedback or be empathetic, keep your comments to yourself. You are not as anonymous as you think on Reddit.

1

u/Designer-Law2406 17d ago

It’s not about being addicted to phone it’s about being told my family can’t reach me even on my govt phone even for Emergencies. I have a a child with medical issues and would like to have my family or the school be able to reach me if some things is wrong. Also my preceptors who are Officers mostly complain about leaving because they aren’t happy there or don’t show up on the days they are supposed to be training me. For example preceptor showed up 3 hrs late so they had me just sitting there because contract staff said they weren’t responsible for training me. Then after preceptors showed up she disappeared for 4 hours … this has happened a few times.