Being Strong Armed by DON

[Texashardhat]

hello! everyone

I need some advice. If my situation would be worth notifying the licensing board or not.

I was hired on to work 32 hour weekends, 7am till 11pm. Everything was going well until they canned the DON and a new DON took over. The nursing home I work for has a revolving door, and that is primarily due, to poor management.

Last week nurses were on vacation and some quit, so the nursing home was low staffed, I agreed to work additional 12 hours on monday. The scheduler was trying to get me to work additional days on Tue, Wed, and Thurs, I told him I couldn't. Then toward the end of my shift the DON called me into her office, told me to sit down and she asked me "so what do you do on the weekends?" I explained what I was hired to do. She then calls in the scheduler, opens his schedule book and says she has these shifts available. I told her I couldn't work anything of those shifts because I had previous obligations. She then said she would have to take me off the schedule, so now I am working two 8 hour shifts this coming weekend. And then my employment will be over with them.

I'm going to file a complaint with the Texas workforce Commission, would it be worth my while to notify the licensing board of this?

Thanks

[herecomestrouble]

I don't know if the licensing board could/would do anything but I would be notifying everybody.The workforce commission should do something for you,you were hired for a certain shift and certain hours I don't see how they can cut those hours.It doesn't even make sense too cut your hours when they are short handed to start with.Try calling the local TV stations,they love those kind of stories,may not get your job back but they'll maybe think twice before they do that to someone else.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Did you sign a contract for the hours you were working?

[Soup Turtle]

I live in Texas and I've always thought it was an "at will" state. I think they can pretty much let you go for any or no reason.

Regardless, I'd flush them! I feel sorry for the residents of that place.

[xNursePinkx2b]

what a bunch of crap! I'm not a nurse or anything but I sure as heck wouldn't work for them this weekend, I'd call out.

There's gotta be something you can do, they can't just fire you b/c you wouldn't work extra shifts, can they?

[farmgirl_dee65]

hey, texas! i'm just recently graduated and newly licensed, but here's my 2 cents worth. does the DON think that your life revolves around that facility? granted, i'm practically begging for more work hours for myself, but still, i do have a life outside of work (as do you), and fortunately my DON respects that. what she's asking you to do, and what she's already done is just not right. don't know about the legality of it all, but ethically it stinks! good luck!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

What you're experiencing is indeed a bunch of crap.

However, employment is at will in your situation. You can again state your willingness to work weekends only but if your new DON isn't open to that then you're out of luck.

Sorry you're going through this, and wishing you better days ahead.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I recently resigned due to unsafe staffing/patient care issues.

I sent my letter to the Board of Directors, as well as every manager in the hospital.

Do not ever allow yourself to treated this way. There are better jobs. I found one.

steph

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

That stinks. Do what stevielynn said.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Texas is a 'right-to-work' state, which means that your employer can terminate your employment with the workplace for any reason. In addition, you are permitted to resign from your position with the workplace for any reason.

If you were to notify the licensing board of this issue, it simply would be your word against that of this employer. And, unethical employers will make things up to smear your good name. I would tread with the utmost caution. Good luck!

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

I sent my letter to the Board of Directors, as well as every manager in the hospital.

steph

That is awesome! :yelclap:

[oramar]

Sad to say this DON and her managment techniques are not all that unusual. I have seen other nurses treated this badly and worse. Been on the recieving end of some of the nastiness myself. I wish you the best.