blackmail by hospital

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Hello, everyone, I'm new to this forum but I'm hoping someone can help me. I've been working in ER for about a year and have been unhappy with it for several months. One of the reasons I went staff was because we have self scheduling and therefore a lot of freedom. For the past 2 months, my manager has been changing our schedules after we completed them to fill holes in the ER at our other campus. This current schedule has me working 5 12's and overtime after she plugged me in to cover a hole . I told her I did not want overtime or 5 12's. I know some nurses schedule that, but I dont. 3 12's is my limit and I get fairly loopy on my 3rd one. Basically was told "too bad". She has also taken away our float nurse and we are already overburdened with going into winter. To make a long story short, I decided to either quit or go back prn. I also work prn in another dept. in the same hospital and was going to increase my hours there. (I work 2 12's in ER and 1 12 in other dept.) Icing on the cake was that I found out I was scheduled 7a-7p Dec 24 and Dec. 25 in ER. We're supposed to work 8's-one day and a eve. So I gave my notice. Then receive a call from ER mgr saying she was not going to allow me to transfer to other dept unless I fullfill my holiday obligation. I fill I have given adequate notice ( until 12/14) and should not have to do this. ER mgr says do this or I want your resignation from the hospital. Did I mention I just had my merit and received excellent rating? She even told me she hated to lose such a good employee. I called VP of nursing who said she was backing up ER mgr and Ihad to work Holiday shift or I would have to resign from hosp. and would not be eligible for rehire. I explained to her this was not about holidays and told her what was going on. She is having a meeting today with ER mgr and will callme. Also, asked me not to resign yet as I was such a valuable employee! So here I sit waiting. I feel I'm going to have to leave hospital regardless of outcome b/c I will have to constantly be having to watch my back now. I just don't want this black mark on my record. I feel I did nothing wrong. i have given adequate notice and should be able to move on with a good reference. I even thought of going to our CEO with this and sign a formal grievance. This just seems like blackmail to me! I'm sorry this is so long. I just want all the facts out there. I would really appreciate any input. No one understands this quite like other nurses. Thanks, poppyrn

And how fast would admin. back you up if you came to work so tired that you made a serious mistake...nooooooo, they would say that it was your responsibility to not come to work if you were too tired to function (then, of course, you would get dinged for calling off...damned if you do, damned if you don't).

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poppyrn.....

I managed an ER where self scheduling and 12 hrs were in play. It is very difficult to balance a full schedule with the appropriate mix of staff especially in an ED

Know and play by all your hosp P/P and then stick to you guns. You are being suckered by the administration. I know. I've seen almost every dirty trick by uncaring managers. Staffing is the managers job and there are tons of nurses to be had at the lift of the phone. NEVER jepardize your license or a pt's safety by being bullied by a manager that isn't a leader. You are in charge of your career, you decide how to practice your profession, you are the person in control of your actions. These are all of the thoughts you must believe or they will come back to bite you when you make a mistake and your manager asks, "Didn't you know what you were doing?"

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A huge thank you to everyone!!!! The support from this board is unbelievable! You are all a great group of people. I did have a conference call with VP and my manager this afternoon and stuck to my guns. We spoke for 30 minutes and I even told them they were blackmailing me, but it didn't change anything. They told me to let them know by tommorow if I was resigning or not. So , I got off the phone and thought- yes they are screwing you, are you going to b*tch and moan about it or do something? I called around and spoke to places and ended up interviewing with a husband and wife RN team who own a HH agency. Not sure if I want to do HH, but I have nothing to lose and a change might do me good. These guys were wonderful and they understood the problems with hospitals. Best of all, they had even been through a similar thing. No weekends or holidays and the husband says he'll do just about anything to keep happy employees- happy employees mean more money for him. I start Dec. 15. Tommorrow I will tell my manager the "good news". Not that she'll know where I'm going. And i'm still going to file a grievance. She 's got another thing coming if she thinks I'm backing down! I WILL have a good reference from that place. Thanks again so much to everyone. I'll keep you posted. Poppyrn

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Even if HH isn't for you, it'll give you a break from this hospital. The hospital probably thinks that you will just fold...won't they be surprised!

Let us know what happens when you tell them!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Hi & Welcome. Nothing new to add. When is management going to realize this type of stuff causes loss of nurses.

It's no wonder that unit is short staffed if that is the way you're treated.

Good luck!

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Don't be a slave to a job. You have thankless management. Like the others said on this thread, experience is golden you can go anywhere. Never kiss a job's ass. Screw them. You do not live your life to serve them!!!!!!!

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Specializes in ICU, nutrition.

I just looked through my P&P book. It said nothing about working upcoming holidays if you give sufficient notice that you are quitting. I'd vote with my feet! Broken promises are just not cool. Your manager sounds like a real ass. Too bad there are so many like that!

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Congrats on your decision to take the HH position.

This all or nothing attitude is for the birds. For folks who did not want to loose you the have a funny way of showing it.

Sometimes I'd like to take management by the neck (oops I didn't really mean that) and take them back to school to actually learn what you are suposed to do in management. You know how to really manange. They actually do teach this stuff. I often wonder why these folks never learned it. And If they never took a class why not?

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Specializes in Clinical Risk Management.

I'm proud of you, poppyrn, for standing up to them & taking care of yourself!

Good luck in the HH position. I hope it works out well for you!

Positive thoughts being sent your way,

Joy

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Good for you Poppy!!! Don't back down!!! And enjoy the holidays!!!!:)

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Life is way too short...you did the right thing. You are the only one who will look after your own best interests, after all. Good luck!

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YOU GO POPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so glad you stood up for yourself:)

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