Can they switch your unit after hire date?

Nurse-o-Matic · Jan 5, 2007

Did you sign a contract describing your orientation and final position in the ICU stepdown? If so, refer back to it to see what you have to work with. Next, meet with the supervisor/ human resources person who hired you and make it very clear that you wish to continue with the original plan of hire. Be assertive but not aggressive. Do this ASAP! Good Luck and keep us posted.

By the way, any time you sign a contract with a hospital, feel free to write in any specifics promised to you before it is signed by you and your supervisior. I think it is horrible how nursing staff is treated like cattle that can be shuffled here or there without considering an individuals personal goals.

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 5, 2007

As far as changing your job....where I work, while you are a new grad in orientation, everything and anything is possible because they cover themselves the very first day when you sign the agreement you work for the hospital and not a specific department. Plus on our contract, it also says in very small letters that nothing you signed is 100% and that it is subject to change with proper notice. Now, who decides what proper notice is...I have no clue.....

I would get with your manager and see what is going on. That is really the only way to figure this out. Perhaps education has changed their requirements and wants more time in one area or another? I've figured out the last 2-3 weeks that education changes their mind almost every other day as far as the classes and the things I need to do.

Good luck!!!

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 6, 2007

Thanks for the responses. I will talk to my unit manager next week when I see her. I did not sign any contract with the hospital. Is it the norm to sign a contract?

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2007

Medic2RN. . .I am so sorry this is happening to you. It happened to me, but I was a seasoned nurse with 22 years of hospital experience at the time. It was a huge teaching hospital as well. And, like in your case, they waited until 3 weeks into my orientation until I found out what was going on. They never told me. I finally figured it out. When I tried to track down the nurse manager who had interviewed and hired me--surprise!--she was no where to be found. She wouldn't answer my voice mails or messages I left taped to her office door! I quit after giving her two weeks and complaining about this to the manager, supervisor and nurse educator of the group of units that they had placed me in. And, I know they were very happy to have a nurse of my experience and caliber. They understood what was going on, but had no response for my questions.

My feeling is that any place that permits this kind of behavior to occur has people of really low caliber working for them. They are just trying to fill holes in their schedules.

So, you have a choice to make. Stay or leave. In my case, I had the experience and marketable skills to get a job elsewhere. As a new grad I don't know that you have that same flexibility. But, the managers responsible for this did a really rotten thing to you and are less than honorable people.

ccrn2b · Jan 6, 2007

As a new RN, I got hired for a position in an ICU stepdown unit. I am very interested in working in this unit. I was told that I would spend around 4 weeks on the med/surg/tele floor to get a feel for the place and then spend the next 2 months going through preceptorship in the stepdown. I am a couple of weeks into the med/surg part. My preceptor told me today that she thinks that I will be moved into the med/surg area instead because they hired too many people for the other unit. I asked to see my schedule for the upcoming months and it shows me doing an additional week in M/S and only 2 in the stepdown. Can they just switch your position like that? Has anyone else experienced this? My unit manager has not talked to me about this yet, but I want to be prepared if it comes to pass.
I seriously do not want to work on this floor F/T.

I think the HR person should have informed you during your meeting/interview with them. I was told something similiar even though I decided not to accept the offer because i got a better one....i was told all 3 of us would work in M/S/tele floor for about a month, then prior to the end of the 4-weeks they would determine whether i should continue to the step down or if i need to spend more time at the M/S area before coming in. Spending more time means that they need you to acquire more skills and have taken the ones they think are more suitable at this point. IMHO, I'm thinking it's the same thing that happened in your case. i don't know why they are not telling you upfront. don't worry about it. It's actually for your own good that you learn more skills and be more proficient and independent before moving on."Step-down" is no joke. If you are seeing your NM, be sure to ask what plans they have for you, that way, he/she can explain better. Goodluck

Katnip, RN · Jan 6, 2007

I've always gotten written confirmation from hospitals stating what department and what shift I'll be working after they make the verbal offer. I sign it and send it back, keeping a copy for myself of course.

incublissRN, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2007

When I accepted my first job as a RN in May I received written confirmation and signed it also.