Can My Director Of Nursing Do This?

roser13, ASN, RN · Sep 12, 2013

My decidedly non-legal opinion is - of course she can change your job descriptions. Job descriptions fluctuate all the time and most will contain that clause "and other duties as assigned."

Just as your job description can change, you can choose not to work there.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 12, 2013

I am no lawyer ... but as the poster above said, "It happens all the time." I think it is perfectly legal. Job descriptions are always changing, evolving to meet the changing needs of the business. Patient populations change, health care policies and procedures change, financing changes, etc. and employers need to adapt to survive. Employees are expected to be flexible and evolve as their environment changes. That's one reason on-going education is so important. The job you have at any given moment is not guarenteed to stay the same forever.

CMLPN08 · Sep 12, 2013

Yes it can be done!!! Without an increase also!!

MunoRN, RN · Sep 12, 2013

Be glad if you get to keep your current salary. You have to remember that this type of a restructure basically involves dissolving all current positions, which means you're technically getting laid off from your old position, but newly created positions are then offered to (hopefully) everyone who was 'laid off'. What these positions entail, and what they pay, can be completely different from the old ones. Unless you have Union rules or state rules that prevent this, there's not much you can do.

In a previous life I worked in a career that was even more 'sneaky' than healthcare, and when the job market was an employer's market you'd sometimes be told "we're dissolving your position, but there will be a new position you can apply for", this "new position" was usually your old job, plus some extra duties, usually for less money.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Sep 12, 2013

They did that to the LPNs at the hospital I worked at years ago. Dissolved 100 of 120 LPN positions and offered them the opportunity to apply for tech jobs. They got to keep their LPN salaries if they enrolled in RN school, if not, then pay cut. Nice. One of too many reasons to list that I left.

amoLucia · Sep 13, 2013

Just be careful your indignation doesn't earn you a 'troublemaker' title. And if you think not signing will protect you, again, be careful.

Nobody is irreplaceable, and there are literally dozens of nurses eager to take your place.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2013

I'm curious as to why you think she COULDN'T do this? Are you in a union/do you have a contract? If not, there will likely be nothing to sign. You'll simply be told "this is your role now" and if you don't like it, you'll be shown the door.

Oh, and HR exists to protect the company, not to look out for your best interests. They will take management's side.

amoLucia · Sep 13, 2013

And if you're working in an at-will state, you can become history very quickly. Mgt won't even need a reason to let you go.

PMFB-RN, RN · Sep 13, 2013

Yes, sure she can do it. Up to you to decide if you are willing t go along with it. Welcome to the world of the nursing glut. It was manufactured using the false "nursing shortage" propaganda for this exact reason.

lmccrn62, MSN, RN · Sep 13, 2013

Any job description can be changed. You will have to decide whether you want to change. If you don't I am sure they will hold the door for you. Given how hard jobs are to come by you should remain open to new opportunities. You may just like the change and grow professionally. Good luck!

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Sep 13, 2013

Sit back , take a deep breath and re-evaluate this.

All aspects of health care must change to stay relevant and current. This will happen throughout your career.

Your expanded role can be a positive change for YOU.

It's going to happen , embrace it and learn from it. Support your manager (loud and strong) on this.

You will benefit from supporting the change.