How to I address this with my boss

[Nienna Celebrindal]

I need help, I'll try to keep this short and sweet.

I'm a new grad RN, I accepted a position to work as CNA until January when I would be put into the hospitals new grad program and transitioned to an RN position. I took this because a) getting a 1st job as a new grad RN is very hard in socal, and b) they have an amazing and difficult to get into new grad RN program. This hands down the best hospitals with a 2 hour drive of me.

They hired 72 of us over a 2 day period (and I know about 50 already have their RN license like I do, the others are still in nursing school). It became clear to me in orientation that we had all been told different versions of the same story, with varying time lines. Those that had been hired day 1 were told Jan/Feb, those hired the next day were told it would take 6 months. I asked for clarification on this but got a non-answer. I've waited a bit to see how this goes while applying to other places but that is going no where (very normal for my area). I do have a friend who can get me hired where she works, I'd rather not go there for a variety of reasons (primarily the hours-8 hour shifts- and they have some hippa issues such as Doctors making nurses use their (the nurse's) personal cell phones to text them patient issues, labs etc. and they text orders back to the nurses cell phones).

I just got an email from my boss stating they are working out how to do the residency and they want to know who has their bachelors, who is their associates, who has an ADN but is in a BSN program and who is still a student nurse. Umm how the heck do they not already know this?! Its in all of our hiring stuff. I have 12 years of LVN experience in addition to being a hospital corpsman in the Navy. Most of the people I met in orientation have never even had a job in the medical field. Not to sound snotty but if I have to wait behind them I will flip.

I need to answer this email from her and ask about this process. I need an answer. I have no idea how to in a professional way without getting emotional, sounding like I'm giving them an ultimatum but also selling myself (since they obviously don't know anything about us). The bottom line is I just can't afford to work at this salary of a CNA for 6 months. I am using savings to make up for the difference now and it will not carry me that long. We are already cutting back everywhere we can and I am getting extra shifts (including not travelling to see our family for the holidays) because don't know is happening with this job. Not to mention all the stress the uncertainty of this has put on my family. My husband is supportive but not happy. Can't blame him. I would not have taken this job had they said it would be six months. I would have kept my previous LVN job (that paid what new grad RNs make) until I found an RN position. [I really don't want to go anywhere else. I already have benefits here, they are willing to pay off some of my student loan, its a university hospital and it gives me an edge for their NP program in addition to them paying for some of it.

Can anyone help me write this? Or give me an idea of what you would say? I've been staring at my computer for the last 24 hours and everything I write sounds whiny and pushy.

[Loo17]

I would email a request for a sit down meeting. I think this is something you need to discuss face to face. When face to face you should be direct, I need to plan my finances, will I be transitioned to the new grad program in January? Politely let your boss know that you can not survive on a CNA salary for 6 months, and need to know if you should be pursuing other options. If your boss can not give you an answer then, ask for a date when they will know. Smile and thank your boss for her time. It will be up to you whether you decide to wait it out if you don't get answers.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I would email back the specific answer to their question and then ask how long until you would be transitioned from CNA to Nurse.

If you do not like their answer that is the time to request a meeting.

[caliotter3]

It is too bad that it seems you may have been caught in the bait and switch trap. Take the advice given above and see if things work out. Good luck.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I don't mean to blame you, the victim, here ... but this is a good example why you should always get promises in writing before accepting a job.

If they don't present the offer in writing, then do it via e-mail. E-mail them saying that you just want to be sure you have understood what they offered you. State your impression of what you have been offered ... and ask them to confirm whether or not you have understood them correctly. If they say "yes" then you have their promise in writing, which may help you in this type of situation later. If they say "no" then they will have to state in writing what the offer actual is -- and you'll know what the real deal is before you accept the position.

Good luck to the OP. I hope it works out for her.