Between a rock and hard place

[KP_RN]

I am in need of some advice! I recently accepted a job at another facility (YAY!) that offered me a better schedule and more opportunity for growth. It is also a sister facility so I get to keep my vacation time and sick time.

On May 11th I notified my supervisor that I had accepted another job. I also went to HR prior to applying for the job and asked them what all I needed to complete in order to transfer to another facility. Their response was that I just needed to complete the job application and select that I was an internal candidate. However, they did not tell me that I needed to fill out a transfer paper and hand that to my supervisor. Last Thursday I was notified by my NEW facility that I needed to fill out the transfer paperwork and that orientation started 6/1/15. I drove to the facility the same day and filled out the paperwork and tried to get ahold of my supervisor so I could promptly hand her the paperwork. However, when I sent her a text, she said she was not at the hospital so I provided the house supervisor with my transfer paperwork. When I exited the elevator with my husband, (we were eating lunch when all of this transpired) I saw her walking down the corridor. She did not see me.

The following day, she sent me a text that stated she returned my paperwork to HR and that she was putting me on the schedule for this Sunday and the Saturday prior to my departure date from the facility. Long story short, she told me that I had to stay an additional 3 weeks from the time I turned my transfer paperwork in. The schedule has been completed since April 17th. She also knows that I have plans on those days that she scheduled me. My supervisor's daughter works in HR and worked with the other facility's HR department on my available date. This is not the first time she has bullied me into working days.

I can suck up the additional 3 weeks at my old facility but I think what she is doing regarding my schedule is pretty crappy. I am also concerned that she is trying to sabotage my transfer.

Advice and guidance is appreciated.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

This may sound unpleasant, but I would have to say that you bear some of the responsibility for this situation. Any time that a nurse applies for a transfer within the health system, he/she should take the time to know the policies regarding such transfers and not just depend solely on spoken words without paper documentation to back it up. I would also say that you are lucky it's only 3 weeks- my facility's policy is that the first unit can hold you for 90 days after approving the transfer before allowing the transfer to happen, and you must not be under any kind of disciplinary plan in order to even be eligible. So yes, suck up the three weeks.

As for the weekend thing, that's a tough decision. You could fight it if you've got documentation that you were not to be working, but then again you could make waves where your supervisor could make it difficult for you- if you end up in a disciplinary plan, you may see your transfer disappear if that's what the policy includes. Make sure you have documentation that you were originally off, know what the policy is for weekend schedule changes, and go from there.

[KP_RN]

I totally agree that I bear some of the responsibility for knowing what the policies are. However, there are no written policies regarding transfers, only resignations. I have learned my lesson on many things at this facility.

The weekend thing has been an ongoing thing with her and has targeted only me. I printed out my schedule when it was approved and then after she added the shifts. If this was the first time this had happened I would suck it up (like I did previously) and just work the shift. However, this is the fifth time and it only occurs with me.

The first time it occurred was the weekend I hosted my best friend's baby shower. She let me know the Monday prior to the Saturday the baby shower was going to take place that I would have to work on Saturday. I was very upset because I had hundreds of dollars invested in the baby shower not including the invites for 30+ people were sent out and responded they would be there.

I have tons of documentation to show that I am being singled out but worried about how it could effect my transfer process.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I would make sure that BOTH your new supervisor and HR rep are kept apprised of these developments and any new ones.

If I'm understanding correctly that you have a print-out of the already-posted schedule without your name on those extra days, I believe that I would notify the supervisor in writing (with an obvious cc to the new boss and HR) that I will be adhering to the originally published official schedule.

[KP_RN]

My soon-to-be old supervisor's daughter is the HR rep at my soon-to-be old facility.