I work on a Labor & Delivery Unit, I have been there a little over a year. Orientation is FOREVER. I was told in one year I would be oriented to post partum, nursery, and labor. I am oriented to post partum, nursery, and special care nursery. Still 4 people ahead of me to be trained for labor. In my yearly evaluation I expressed interest in becoming a Lactation Counselor, my unit puts a few nurses through the course every year. I was told I could definitely do the course and my DON was so nice and acted like she thought I would be really good at it. Well since then I have had to go to her with a few problems, we recently changed to couplet care nursing and there have been some unsafe assignments. She does NOT like anyone complaining about anything and obviously did not lie me bringing this info to her attention. She is extremely defensive. She has treated me differently ever since. Last month she told me I would not be going to the lactation course due to starting labor orientation. I said I thought it would be a while still before I did labor because there are 4 people ahead of me and we overlap 2 at a time and orientation is 10-12 weeks. She then said I needed to learn to see things from a management perspective and understand she can only afford to send 2 nurses to the course. OK.....so she lied originally about why I could not go. AND THEN.....she approached my friend and asked her to go to the class!!!!! I was extremely offended as I am a very hard working nurse and I take pride in taking excellent care of my patients. Normally I would not have let this go but I am learning I need to let things go! So I did. I did not say anything further but she continues to give me the cold shoulder. I love this unit, love the patients, have made a lot of friends. I am not going to leave because of her. And I want to complete labor orientation before even considering leaving. Anyway, she is just a terrible DON. Soooooo I currently work per diem in a peds office where I only get 4 hours every other week. A new peds office just moved in to the same building and the one I currently work for gave me a great reference. I was hired to work there one day a week. And I can not believe this but without me saying anything about lactation they asked if I would be willing to be their lactation counselor at the peds office so they could bring in breastfeeding moms who need help. I said of course and that I would love to be able to do this. (They asked me because they know I work L&D). I told them I was not certified and that I had tried to take the course through the hospital but only 2 nurses could go and I was not going to be one of them. The pediatrician said she would pay for me to take the course! I could not believe it! So the course is in November. 40 hours days Monday thru Friday. SOOOOOOOOOO do I tell me DON at the hospital? I can do 2 12 hour shifts on the weekend and a few 4 hour eves and take a little vacation and not even tell her. Should I just do it and then let her know when I am done? She will likely find out because the nurses from my unit will be there. I mean it is not like I am betraying her in any way it really has nothing to do with her. Sorry this post is so long!
