Anyone have cheese? I need to whine !!!

[suzannasue]

I have been just a bit on the, umm, ANGRY side for the past 2 days...recieved my annual evaluation and although it was not "bad", it was not all that good either...the "raise" I got would barely buy a pack of crackers from a vending machine...I am quite aware that this is a small rural facility, however, a friend of my manager was hired a few months ago, making more $ than I am, and she has no where near the experience...I was flabberghasted...I have no problem with ego...please don't think that I think I am indispensible...but dang...on nights when inexperienced nurses work I actually take the time to show them why a dysrythmia is what it is...I never ask anyone to do anything that I would not do myself...I have come in extra when staffing sux...and it seems odd to me that my manager, who by the way, never works with me, could give me "acceptable peformance" ...

So, I have been checking out the local jobs available and have interviewed at an extended care facility....am applying for DON at LTC today...I guess I could stay with my daughters in Raleigh or Charlotte and work at larger facilities but I am dearly afraid my hubby would not feed my cats in the manner which they are accustomed during my absence....

The timing for this is horrid also...we are going to Detroit in May to see grandchild to be born in April and I am sure a new employer would not give me the time off...

I feel STUCK...and it is not a pleasant feeling...

I was also counseled for having 6 absences last year...ummm, hello there, I had a bowel obstruction and had I known it would have made such a bad impression on my eval, I would have worked, puking into every available trash can...took a long time for my body to adjust to some semblance of normalcy and the whole thing ended up with the diagnosis of IBS...

I am not a happy camper...

Thanks for allowing me the time to whine...it's time for action....

[suzannasue]

Union????? Ummm, no...mention union around here and you are subjected to the most horrible response...trying to get a bunch of nurses around here to discuss the issues at hand would only frustrate me further...tried that once before and had a great group but their jobs were threatened by management, only a few of us sticking it out to the end...lesson learned...

I guess we ARE expected to sign a "sickness, family crisis" waiver...have had several co-workers injured on the job,

develop contagious diseases contracted from patients, or develop conditions such as lupus and they have also been treated like crap by management...penalized for absences, coming in sicker than most of the patients...jobs threatened...

Patient safety issues are not addressed in these circumstances...semi-warm bodies in shift slots is what they want...

I have definitely made up my mind that someone out there would appreciate my chosing them as an employer...but you know, I may be dreaming....

[nurseandmom]

You are not dreaming. Just go for an interview and you will see them jump all over you. Especially the agencies. If you are lucky there will be a nice signing bonus and that will pay for your trip to Detroit. There are better opportunities out there!!! One of the best things I ever did for my sanity was take a per diem job. Now I can work when I want and not deal with all the political BS.

Best of luck- and positive thoughts for your daughter and the new grandchild.

[Going80INA55]

You have desribed one of the biggest problems with nursing. Being UNDERVALUED.

They expect us to work like dogs and then give us the equivalent of a pack of gum as our reward, while the CEOs get rich. I have seen more people quit after their yearly evals....when will they figuare it out.

Or have they? I used to be a manager, but not in nursing. The district manager me would tell me to treat people like crap (which I would not do...so I got canned) when it came close to eval time, because they did not want to have to give them raises. He felt it was cheaper to keep hiring and retraining than to have a group of people with higher salaries.

[passing thru]

Try agency ! Your local agencies can put you right back in your current position after a 6 month wait at a lots more $$ ! No more crap or evaluations...the agency works for you!

It takes some newbies a while to realize that.

You tell the agency when you want to work and where. No evals.

Did you ask your mgr how she came up with her eval? Your performance eval is usually given to her by a co-worker on your shift....she gives them a form and they fill it out......

Good luck...take off a couple months for a well deserved rest and vacation...

[JBudd, MSN]

Gotta love that union, our contract says you can't be questioned about why you call in sick, and you can only get counseled if they see a pattern (like calling in sick every Monday for MN football:D )

As for evaluations, mine are always terrific. I get handed the form, I fill it out, everybody signs it.:kiss :rotfl: