I'm quitting today! Finally had enough!

[SoontoBNP]

Well… I need to vent…

I started my job as a delegating RN two years ago. My patients are physically/mentally disabled adults and children. When I started my position, it was a pretty straight forward job- triage, assessments, and supervising/training medication techs. I really enjoyed it! Since I started, the non-profit I work for has expanded A LOT. We ended up increasing nursing caseloads considerably, mine the most. I took on a lot of administrative and management duties that weren't in my original job description, simply because they needed to be done. I like to stay busy, and since I got stuff done, management kept putting more stuff on my plate.

6 months into my current job, I was told I was getting promoted due to all the additional duties they were asking me to do. I was so excited! I finally thought I had found the job for me. It never happened, no matter how many times I inquired about my promotion I was continually told it was in progress.” I was told I would get a review and raise annually, but I never got a single review in over 2 years. I was working for very low pay, and they continued to dump patients and duties on me.

I finally had enough. I told my boss I couldn't take anymore. I was working overtime every week (unpaid, I'm salaried), and something needed to change. Every time I complained, I was told I need to prioritize better” and delegate more work to other nurses who are also overwhelmed and struggling. We joked about striking but there's only 6 nurses in my company- We're not exactly traditional bedside nurses.

This spring I got into nurse practitioner school! I start this fall, and I can't wait. I told my boss in June I needed to discuss how my schedule would change, I was continually blown off. Finally push comes to shove and now I was told they could not make my job more flexible, and that I would have to suck it up and work full time 4 days a week while attending school full time. I asked about hiring another part time nurse to take on some of the stuff I do. I was told there wasn't enough money in the budget for this.

I told my boss no, and gave my one month notice. AN ENTIRE MONTH. My boss told me that this was unfair, that I was going to cause distress to my coworkers, to my already vulnerable patients, because there was no way they would find a nurse and train them to do what I do for such little pay in that amount of time. Apparently, this is my fault. I should have complained more. My boss then asked me to reconsider while she Thinks about what she can do for me”. The same boss that told me my promotion was in the works for 1 year and 6 months.

Why do administrators (In general) think it's acceptable to overwork nurses? Is it our fault because we take this abuse? What has anyone else done when faced with similar problems? How did it work out for you?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

All I know is that you should not for a minute consider any raise or promotion that may be offered to you at this point. You will end up paying for it dearly. If your boss/company truly valued you, they would have come through with appropriate compensation long ago. As it is, they have strung you along for 1.5 years on empty promises.

Comgrats on acceptance into your program!

[elkpark]

What I did when faced with a similar situation in the past was find another job and resign. A few other people had resigned and their core job duties had been added to mine "temporarily," while they found and hired replacements. As time passed (close to a year) and there was no indication that was happening, I eventually sat down and made a list, on paper, of all the things I was supposed to be doing and how much time, minimally, each one took. I met with my immediate supervisor and went over the list with her, pointing out that my current responsibilities added up to a bare minimum of 60 hrs/week, and I had been hired for and salaried for a 40 hr/wk position; I didn't mind that the job sometimes involved some extra time, that comes with a salaried position, but this was a v. different situation. I said I would be glad to continue doing the current position if they wanted to pay me for 60 hrs/week, or she could look over the list and decide which of the responsibilities/duties they could reassign or eliminate to get my workload back to a reasonable level. She agreed that was a problem and said she would look into it. When I hadn't heard any response at all in six weeks, I started looking for other jobs, and resigned a few weeks later. She seemed sincerely shocked when I resigned, which was surprising to me.

I agree with Roser -- based on their past behavior, I wouldn't believe anything they tell you at this point to try to get you to stay. Actions speak louder than words.

[PinayUSA]

. I was working overtime every week (unpaid, I'm salaried), and something needed to change.

Consult with an attorney, my hunting partner who's a lawyer says the big thing now is getting employers to pay for salary workers who work overtime and don't get compensated.

Sound like where you worked they basically took advantage of you, and offered you the moon and didn't give you jack squat.

I would make them pay

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Agree with roser and elkpark, just resign, employer's are more than happy to overwork employees until they have nothing left to give and spit them out. The employer is not going to change the working conditions, my guess is they have a track record of revolving door hiring practices and have no plans of investing in retaining staff by creating a healthy work place that encourages work life balance.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

Why do administrators (In general) think it's acceptable to overwork nurses? Is it our fault because we take this abuse?

In short, yes. I'm glad you resigned and you need to stick to your guns. Don't listen to a word your boss says to try to make you feel guilty. Good luck in NP school!

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I'd say you gave them more than ample time to right their wrongs, and any difficulty they incur was avoidable.

Congrats on your acceptance into the NP program!! Enjoy it, and enjoy leaving that job.

[TriciaJ, RN]

When the camel's back breaks from the last straw, is it the camel's fault? Yes, according to your employer.

They have strung you along shamelessly, but you're the one being unfair? And a whole month's notice isn't good enough? What do they need, 5 years? I have choice words for people like this, but there's TOS.

I would walk out that door with a big smile on my face and burn rubber out of their parking lot. And congratulations on your exciting next step!

[Creamsoda, ASN, RN]

Ha! Can you shorten the notice you gave them? Ummm boss, on second thought, heres my 2 weeks. Bye. So long. I shall soon forget you ever existed. Buh byeeeeee! Talk about using and abusing you!

[Tommy5677]

My favorite part is your manager laying on the guilt trip. What they do and how they manage things when you leave isn't really something you should think about on any level, including the wellbeing of your patients and the consequences for the other nurses. Any facility will tell you how much your needed and how you will be missed but in reality they don't really care if you leave or not. Seriously. They don't care.

Your supervisor is a shining example of people who shouldn't be in that position.

Congrats on being accepted to NP school. As an independent practitioner at least you'll have more control over your career and schedule. Don't even give what you're leaving behind a second thought.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

You should have complained more? Really? They can't find anyone for such low wages? That woman is a piece of work. Instead of trying to make herself look good by how much SHE could get some for so little money, she should have thought of the consequences of her actions a long time ago.

I would say good luck and see ya. Putting a guilt trip on you is golden.

I'm all for bring a team player and trying to respect the system, but this woman dug her grave a long time ago.

[SoontoBNP]

Thank you everyone for the comments! At least I know I am not alone in feeling this is unfair.

I tried to give my notice today, my boss avoided me the entire day. I finally found her in her office and told her I was so sorry, but I had to give notice, she said "I need to think about this" and refused to take the letter. I ended up turning in my letter of resignation to our very tiny HR department and emailing her a copy. When I went to HR, they told me, "Oh yes, she does this with every nurse. One nurse tried to give her notice for two weeks before she gave up and handed it to us. Don't worry, you'll get your vacation pay"

Wow. Unbelievable.