Anyone have some cheese?

Specialties Private Duty

Published

For my whine.

I feel like all I have done lately is whine about my job. I love what I do. Lately, everything is bothering me. It may be time for a vacation.

THIS is what has pushed me over the edge.

The company I work for is OK. Nothing great - I've had a steady income since starting with them. Since day one, I have helped them out when they needed shifts covered, worked over until they could get a day nurse on location, never called off - even when dead tired or feeling bad. I have been to some very sketchy homes/neighborhoods, spent literally hours on snow covered roads to help cover cases.

I recently had my one year eval. My 90 day eval was perfect as was this one. I was not offered a raise at 90 days and I did not ask for one. After busting my tail for a year, I decided to ask for one this time. My DON said they don't normally give raises, but sometimes they make an exception depending on the situation. She said she had to get with the higher ups and would let me know. That was nearly a month ago. She will not return a phone call. I have been trying for 2 weeks. Of course, that has not stopped them from calling me every day off I have had needing "a favor".

By her not calling, I'm certain they have decided to not give me a raise. That's fine. I can accept that. Not happy because I have proven myself to be a reliable employee - but what can you do? What ticks me off is that she couldn't bother to return a phone call and tell me.

End whine fest. Sorry for rambling on.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

They don't give raises??? Is this a company policy? I think I might start looking elsewhere.

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They don't give raises??? Is this a company policy? I think I might start looking elsewhere.

Not a company policy as far as I can tell. I have scoured the employee handbook. They actually made the employees take a paycut a few years ago. I didn't know this until after I took the job.

My husband suggests moving on to another agency. There just aren't that many in the area and I HAVE to have a steady income to keep my head above water. I'm also afraid of leaving just to end up in an equally bad (or worse) situation.

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Called them again. Finally got an answer. "Due to Medicaid cut backs, we are not able to give raises."

Um. OK. It's funny - the last time I went by the office it has just been remodled/redecorated. And I still see BMWs and other nice cars in the parking lot. Interesting.

It does no good to do be dependable and do them "favors" so the company doesn't get fined for not covering a shift.

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

Make them think they need you. By saying yes all the time, you look desperate for hours. The office staff get bonuses with most companies for getting cases staffed and for profit goals. By keeping you down, the office staff gets their bonus off of you working more for nothing. And the lowest paid nurse gets called more often, while the higher paid nurses get called less because the office gets less profit off higher paid nurses. Be careful what you wish for as well.

When these agencies figure out that if they take care if their nurses, the nurses will take care of them...things will get better. But they all try to get away with giving us as little as possible, while expecting everything from us.

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

I'm w the best company in our area and I have not had a pay raise since my start 3 years ago. They are liberal w overtime so I give myself a raise by taking an extra shift sometimes.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Ah, the wonderful world of home care, where everyone is paid the same (LPN/RN) and there is no shift differential!

Honestly, I make nearly double my home care/ PDN rate at the hospital when you add up all the differentials, but my home care position is sooooo much easier than PICU. I actually get a lot of personal stuff done on my home care case (grocery lists, bills paid, general planning and correspondence) that it is a positive impact on my personal life. So I keep at it- plus I like my client and his family.

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Honestly, I make nearly double my home care/ PDN rate at the hospital when you add up all the differentials, but my home care position is sooooo much easier than PICU.

That's the trade off for me. I got paid much more in the hospital (large busy NICU), but the low stress I have now in PDN makes the lower pay worth it to me.

For the first time in ages I don't drive to work with my stomach in knots!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I LOVE my PICU job- and the stress is not really a factor for me because our work environment is great. BUT two nights a week is enough for me at the hospital. I would probably feel differently if I worked 8-hour shifts at the hospital, but the thought of another 12-hour night? Not so much!

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I LOVE my PICU job- and the stress is not really a factor for me because our work environment is great. BUT two nights a week is enough for me at the hospital. I would probably feel differently if I worked 8-hour shifts at the hospital but the thought of another 12-hour night? Not so much![/quote']

Yeah...8 hour shifts at the hospital seem to be a thing of the past. That's another perk of PDN for me.

I put in my time at the hospital (20 years). PDN is perfect for where I am right now. That may change one day, but for now I am enjoying the "break".

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There is a hospital within 10 miles of my home. They hire LPNs but I would have to take an almost $5/hr pay cut and would only get between 20 - 30 hours per week. I just can't afford that kind of cut.

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Specializes in Peds, developmental disability.

Who fines a company for failing to cover a shift? Why?

And is that in every state?

I don't see how they can promise perfect coverage...and I think the displeasure (and subsequent migration) of families would be a better penalty.

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