You want us to do what?!?

Nurses Relations

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So I work as an LPN in an outpatient clinic. I am fairly new, only been there a few weeks. At a staff meeting, our manager announced that for Christmas the entire staff was invited to go to a party at a local restaurant. Okay, that might be fun. Now for the kicker, she wants everyone to donate $20 each and treat all the doctors to dinner. :eek:

Yep, instead of talking about how great the staff was doing and how we all should celebrate the holidays together, she talked about how much the doctors do for us and what we should do for them. So me with my $11.66 an hour should pay for the dinner of someone whose salary makes a complete and total mockery of mine (not to mention the other office staff that make even less than us nurses do). Way to take my Christmas spirit, strangle it, then jump up and down on the dead body until there's nothing left but ash.

I don't mind the concept of doing something nice for the docs, but you need to consider our budget. I have about 500 other more important things to spend $20 on, like a winter coat for my kid, groceries, a desperately needed oil change, etc. It's just amazing to me that for a staff Christmas party the priority is treating the doctors. Most of whom I believe would be rather uncomfortable having us pay for their meals. One of our docs even said that it should be the other way around!

Anyway, thanks, but I think I have other plans that day, like doing laundry, or maybe scrubbing my bathroom.

Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

And yeah, 11 bucks an hour is shameful for an LPN. If you are being paid so little, how much do the unlicensed staff make?! :(

Just respectfully decline and move on with your life. That manager is nuts!!!

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
I worked for a large assisted living corporation a few years back, we got a nice gift card we signed for receiving it.

Next paycheck it was deducted from our pay!!!

Know how you feel.... Something like a nail but with grooves that's twisted.

WOW! If I am reading this right, you received a gift card...that you could reasonably expect was given as a gift, only to be charged for your own gift on your next paycheck??? That may be the most insulting and insane thing I have ever heard.

Are you trying to start up something?Not fair to the OP.

So me with my $11.66 an hour should pay for the dinner of someone whose salary makes a complete and total mockery of mine (not to mention the other office staff that make even less than us nurses do).

I make $14.22 an hr as a CNA. Get a better job hun, you deserve better. Your current employer is beyond ridiculous.

Yeah, the $11.66 sucks. I was pretty shocked by it when I moved down here to Oklahoma from Pennsylvania, but it seems to be the going rate around here. I'm stuck here for now as my husband is stationed with the Army here, but I am looking forward to a raise whenever we change duty stations. :) As far as the party, so far I haven't heard anyone say they are going, not even the doctors. Which is sad, but what are you going to do? Thanks for all the support everyone, I felt a little bit like a jerk about the whole thing but it's good to know I'm not the only one who thought it was crazy!

Specializes in Public Health, L&D, NICU.
That is weird. I think you are right that the docs would be just as uncomfortable with this as the nursing and support staff. What the hell? I love my docs, but generally speaking, the "higher ups" are supposed to show appreciation for us lowly support staff during the holiday season.

My favorite doctor buys lunch for all the staff on my unit (L&D), every single friday. He also keeps our staff fridge stocked with goodies. Last year he bought expensive chocolates and a bottle of wine for each RN. To be honest, these are the reasons he is my favorite OB! He can be.... slightly mysogynistic (calls us "his girls") and may not be the most patient with his primips. But, apparently I am easily bought with free lunch and alcohol! :blink:

One of my favorite OBs referred to us all as "wenches" and would say, on Sundays, as he headed to church, "Remember, it's a sign of weakness to call me." And we still loved the jerk. Honestly, though, it was all in fun and none of us took it seriously (nor were we meant to).

Specializes in Behavioral Health.
WOW! If I am reading this right you received a gift card...that you could reasonably expect was given as a gift, only to be charged for your own gift on your next paycheck??? That may be the most insulting and insane thing I have ever heard.[/quote']

I worked in the billing office of a large hospital (BC RN) where we usually received a nominal bonus at Christmas. One Christmas we played this game where everyone received a card in a plain envelope. We were all arranged in a circle where everyone had a chance to keep their card or exchange it for someone else's. When everyone opened their cards, one person received $100, one $50, and two $25. Everyone else received $1. There were about 40 people at the Christmas party. The ones who received $1 felt it was a slap in the face and would have rather not received anything. If they didn't make as much money that year they should have left it at giving us a nice luncheon!

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Specializes in family practice and school nursing.

When I worked in an office the drs would treat us! We would pitch in for a gift.. usually something funny.. for them

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