blackmail by hospital

Nurses General Nursing

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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

I would be a zombie working 5-12's. Trouble is there's always a few workaholic nurses around so management thinks they can threaten and cajole the rest of us to abuse our bodies in that way. :(

"Dickensian maids"...I like that reference to how nurses are treated....very appropriate.

Good for you for sticking to your guns! Even if you do not get a good reference from 'em...not to worry.... simply and unemotionally state your case to future employers and that should erase any negative vibe they get from the hospital.

'Their policy was to mandate 5 12 hr shifts a week and I cannot tolerate a 60 hour week...I am not safe...so I felt compelled to resign."

Hope you enjoy your HH job...let us know how it goes!!! :roll

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Experienced ER RN & now HH too? Do you realize how in demand you will be in the home care setting with your critical care skills??? You may end up loving it. And even if you dont, youre at least filling up your resume and making yourself more marketable for future endeavors. Good decision. Theres just too many places for RNs to go now - you dont have to work in the conditions your manager is forcing on you. Their loss. Tell your VP youre sorry she chose to lose an excellent experienced RN, especially at this time of a national RN staffing crisis, but pt safety must come first.

I think once you resign, you give up the right to a grievance at the workplace. But you dont have to go away quietly. You can always file with the NLRB instead, get a lawyer & fight that you were forced out of the job. If you win, you dont have to take the job back, but they may have to pay you back salary. A 1 hour consultation with a labor lawyer would let you know if you have a case strong enough to go after that money.

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

I hear you for sure! When I was working at the hospital I applied to tranfer to radiation oncology from a BMT unit. I met with the DR. on the unit who was interveiwing. He told me my boss met with him and she could not find anyone who would work as much overtime as me so she did not want me hired. Pissed me off big time. I did not get the job. Hospital politics stink. Are you union?

renerian

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Specializes in CV-ICU.

Remember, it's YOUR license on the line everytime you go to work; and I find that 3 12's are enough to cause serious judgement lapses in me as I age! That is my limit; I will NOT be scheduled for more than that.

Definitely write a letter of resignation to your manager, with copies to your CEO, and any one in between (hey even the Board of Directors and the Medical Director of the hospital!) and write as objectively as possible your reason for resigning is mainly related to PATIENT SAFETY-- and employee safety, health, and satisfaction. And throw in the abuse of nurses causes the nursing shortage. You have lots of good advice from other posters here.

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Poppy

Keep us up to date on the new job. I never stop being astounded by foolish nursing managers. There is a critical shortage of RN's. Yet, these idiots continue to treat employees shabbily, thinking the nurses don't know about the nursing shortage. As if any nurse couldn't walk out, and have a new job within about 15 minutes. And when the units are completely empty of nurses, they wonder "what's wrong with my nurses?" Well, like I said, idiots. There are so many open positions in nursing there is no reason to put up with this nonsense.

Kevin McHugh

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You are so right, Kevin. It hasn't been so long ago that I reported to work at a LTC. To make a long story short, I didn't clock in, did not get report, and refused the assignment. I was told that if I didn't take the assignment, I would be fired. I thought that was a real good idea, so I told them 'thank you' and left the building. Mind you, I'm in uniform and ready to work. I drove two blocks to another LTC, walked in the door. They hired me on the spot because they were desperately short. I went to the floor to help pass breakfast trays; and I only lost about 30-minutes pay. (BTW: the new facility hired me at more than I was making at the other one!)

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Youda, I LOVE IT!!!!!:D When will these nursing managers get it?What does it take?

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On my way out the door for the last time at the old facility, I'd probably smile nice, and wave at my old nurse manager.............

One finger at a time.

(OK, probably not. No need to burn bridges.)

Kevin McHugh

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Originally posted by kmchugh

One finger at a time.

:roll :roll

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Specializes in ER.

renarian I hope you stopped working all that OT for your old unit- naybe offered to do per diem on the unit you wanted to go to ?

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renerian that was cold. See keeping you from doing what makes you happy because she knows you work a lot of overtime. I hope you find something better and drop the bomb on their orifice!

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Home health is a wonderful choice!!! I left a hospital med/surg position, & have never looked back.

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