Bait and Switch... It keeps happening. WHY????

Steeleworks · Jul 12, 2011

Irrational Disbelief Syndrome

If you have ever seen the Irrational Disbelief Syndrome Commercials from 2009, then you might appreciate why this happens.

Business have models that they run by. They are in business to make a profit and can only see the one way and nothing else.

Like the man on the commercial who says, he has only one word to say about gravity....'no way,' they have the same attitude. When it comes to how to run a business and take care of the staff in an equitable fashion, management says, "We only have one word, 'no way.'" Not in that they won't but that it is not possible. They just do not believe that it can be.

Another problems is that management does not believe it is a real problem.

Here is the scenario.

You are promoted to a supervisory position, maybe even the ADON on call. Sounds prestigious. Then you have to do 72 hours on call, sleeping with one eye open. You complain, stating that the nurse practice act does requires that you not work more than 18 hours in 24. The management, who all had to do the exact same to get where they were...say, 'this is just the way we do it. Besides, you are management, so the law does not apply to you.'

You say, 'OK, I don't want to be supervisor, I just want to be per-diem.' No problem, however, you go in to work the next day and you find that you are not needed. The schedule has been rewritten and you are not on it.

Because it is the way they have always done it, they cannot see any different way of doing it.

You offer to do only weekends but also only 18 hours, which ever 18 on 8 off from Friday to Monday. They say no because nobody would do that schedule. Actually there is a culture of nursing and a niche of us who love working this way and having the week off. But, again, they do not believe. But wait, you just said you would...oh, I forget, management is often not good at hearing either.

Oh yea, when you quit, you suddenly realize why the three people who quit when you came on said, "you will find out why."

It is the same with agency nursing. I just happen to work for an agency that does not do this. They also pay about $5 more than the rest of the industry and they charge less the other agencies charge. They also will not hire just anybody. They screen their nurses and CNA's to make sure they are made of the right stuff. Oh yea, they are starting a hospice. Please do not write and ask who they are. They do not hire with out insider referrals.

By the way, I am a big fan of 18 hour shifts. I have done them for years and only work 3 days a week. Several times through the years my being there through two shifts may have saved a patients life, for seeing dramatic changes that happened at the change of shift. But more than 18, even on call, is way too much for anybody. Even doctors have moved away from this model.

The point is, you and I are not going to change it. All we can do is work for a place that will respect and take care of us and our colleagues.

There is another option...do not give up on nursing. Move your career to holistic nursing. I am just getting started and it is, to say the least, a wonderful place.

caliotter3 · Jul 12, 2011

The only thing I have had them turn around on me has been wages. Disgusting to be told one thing then find out through casual conversation that one was given a bill of goods.

SoCalRN1970 · Jul 13, 2011

Well, welcome to hospice... it's alot of smoke and mirrors.

I have been in hospice 8 + years. Only two of my employers ( and i have worked alot of perdiem or part time hospices.. too ) have never done the bait and switch.

I will say the worst thing I did. I agreed to work lets say for the wage of 31/hr. It was a verbal offer I recieved from the manager of *** office. I worked my first 40 hours.. got my check and was paid 3 dollars less an hour. I asked about it. The manager claims he never offered that rate.

MY ADVICE.. GET YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION OUT, AND MAKE YOUR OFFICE STICK TO IT. ALSO WITH ANY NEW JOB.. GET A WRITTEN OFFER LETTER EVERYTIME. Had I done that. I wouldn't of been making -600 a month less than what I was really offered.

jschut, BSN, RN · Jul 14, 2011

Oh yea. WHen I was hired a year ago, I was told I would be able to spend such and such amount of time with my patients, have holidays and weekends off, and would be making this much with this bonus..... Yea, you get the picture...

Now, we have to pick up extra on call hours, we are being made to be "2nd" RN on call for an entire week at a time, we are expected to "sit" by a patients bedside from early sign of death until passing (Days or hours... no matter).

I am sent an hour away to see clients... every day, because it's "company policy to drive up to 60 miles away". And whether I have already driven that drive that day or not, if a call comes in at 4:55pm, and they "think" there may be a referral or an admission, I am sent to go again.

Frankly, I am sick of working till 10- 11 pm every night. I do make decent money, but the wear and tear on my body and my mental status is getting to me...

SoCalRN1970 · Jul 14, 2011

I really feel for you. I do know that one of the things I learned early on is get a job description written when you are newly hired and also an offer letter with rate of pay outlining any kind of bonus program.

This way anything "said" is not "forgotten" when the conditions change. Hospice has changed alot in the few years I have been in it. A times I do not recognize it. The majority of my past employer have done some sort of smoke and mirrors to get you in. THings change to the point of "I just dont' recognize this Job anymore" sets in.

I have often thought of leaving this specialty just because of the irregularity of policy and expectations put upon the staff. It's ever changing and it always will be.

Ginapixi, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2011

been there as well! hired for one position but ended up working 3 different ones, depending on the need of the day or the week and at the end of the day doing 8 hrs of continuous care (because in order to bill medicare at a higher rate the first 8 hrs have to be done by an RN) So you get home and have things to do there, get 4 hrs of sleep and they expected you to do your regular job the next morning..... all on a salaried position - you do that a few times and then you look for another job before they drain you completely...

good for you - who ever it was who likes 18 hour shifts! i could not do it! i find myself fading after 10 hrs running from pt to pt, in the rain and bad roads it is really draining; as soon as i got home the phone rings again and off i go....

so it does all come down to management in the end - if they would leave well enough alone, not only give us self scheduling on paper and their need to micro manage when ever it hits their brain cell it might work really well...

good luck to all of you out there struggling WE SHALL OVERCOME :)

AtlantaRN, RN · Jul 30, 2011

I have been there, done that, and wore out the t-shirt! I am w a good group right now, nurses cover each other and help each other. I see the mgr n Asst mgr butt heads w corporate to admit folks that aren't ready and although the head honcho of marketing chews them a new one, they back us up.

Last place I worked for, chewed me up n spit me out, while mgr spent Monday's and Fridays at her vAcation home in a neighboring state.....all the while saying she was "marketing".

Amen to getting everything in writing.